Marquess Next Door by Earl Kristina

Author:Earl, Kristina
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-01-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

A Midnight Escape

“Come on before Arthur’s adversity catches up to you again,” Arabella suggested, taking Alexander’s hand in hers as they began to jog.

It was almost midnight.

The wind had picked up, billowing her dress behind her.

It felt like the lightest dress she had ever worn at that moment.

They ran through the labyrinth as fast as they could.

They turned to each other and kissed at the very edge.

Desperate kisses left them both more breathless than all the running.

“Wait here,” Alexander whispered against her lips as he walked towards the stables, leaving Arabella alone with her thoughts.

She had no doubt that people would talk about today’s spectacle for weeks.

It would be another highlight of the season.

She scoffed at the thought.

A spilled juice was not even scandalous if it happened as a genuine mistake.

If the Ton ever found out the actual reason, they would never hear the end of it.

She hoped no one had noticed her and Alexander escaping the ballroom.

She had not seen her mother in a while and knew that she would be getting an earful come morning.

She winced at the thought.

A neigh caught her attention.

She turned to see Alexander holding the reins on his horse.

“Fancy a ride?” he asked with a smirk.

Arabella’s heart threatened to beat out of her chest as she realized what she was about to do.

This was not her countryside, nor was she back at her estate in London.

They were guests on this land, and there could be dire consequences if caught.

But even with all those points stacked up, she could not refuse Alexander.

She nodded.

He helped her up onto the horse and climbed up behind her.

Arabella shivered at the touch.

His entire front was touching her back.

The contact made her feel hot and a bit out of depth.

She had never done something so daring before.

But this was Alexander.

Even with the enmity between them, they had known each other since childhood.

They had confessed their love to each other merely an hour back.

If she could trust anyone other than her parents, it would be him.

With that clarity, she let her worries rest and enjoyed the moonlight which basked the entire land stretching ahead of them.

The horse galloped forward, taking them away from the estate and all the trouble they had caused before escaping.

“I have to say,” Arabella shouted over the wind in their ears, “I have never taken part in something so scandalous yet exciting.”

Alexander slowed the horse down until it was trotting; only then he replied, “Happy to be of service, my love.”

Arabella shivered at the timbre of his voice.

She turned around and pressed a kiss to his lips before leaning away to breathe the air in deeply.

“This moment is so peaceful,” Arabella said out loud.

Alexander’s hand left the reins and circled around her waist as his chin came to rest upon her shoulder, “I wish we could just stay like this.”

“We can,” Arabella whispered, “For a while at least.”

They left their perches on the horse lest it tire quickly. Alexander took Arabella’s hand in his as they started to walk.

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