Page 4 of The Milliner and the Griffin Rider

He looked nothing like the Duke or even the other nobles. Whereas the Duke wore colorful, ostentatious outfits, designed to seize and keep the gaze of others, this man wore almost entirely black, the lines of his clothing simple and clean.

But while the Duke’s elaborate clothing was designed to hide a figure that clearly enjoyed no greater exercise than gentle walking, the well-cut clothing in front of her highlighted a tall, strongly muscled form. For all his simplicity of garb, her rescuer was the more striking man.

Chloe ground her teeth together. Everything had gone horribly wrong, and however unfair it might be, she couldn’t help directing her irritation toward the man in front of her. It hadn’t been his fault she had gotten distracted and fallen for real, but he could have put her down immediately! If he had, she might still have salvaged the situation.

She looked away from him, finally noticing the two men who lingered at his back. Her heart sank as she took in the similarities in their appearance. With the leather bracers all three wore around their forearms, they looked like a strange cross between gentlemen and guards, and Chloe immediately realized their identity.

These were members of the Duke’s elite griffin squad—little better than guards, though they might have been gently born for the most part. And from the way the other two deferred to her rescuer, he had to be their captain.

His actions in holding her for so long took on new meaning, and she flushed. Had he seen through her ruse and suspected her fall of being a stratagem? Had he purposely held her, waving the Duke on so he could complete his escape?

“I suppose you must be some of the griffin riders,” she snapped, her irritation getting the better of her. “I’m surprised the Duke keeps you so close.”

One of the men stirred in either surprise or offense, but a quick gesture from their captain prevented him from speaking.

“I didn’t realize the Duke needs constant protection on his own lands.” Chloe glanced again after the departed Duke. “Is the captain of his guard required to shadow him everywhere?”

If he was, it would mean trouble for her, especially if the captain was already suspicious.

The captain gave a slow smile. “You might be surprised at the number of young ladies who fall on his head.”

She flushed even darker, barely refraining from stamping her foot. His words were only the more galling because his accusation was entirely true. If only she wasn’t forced into these hateful stratagems!

“Plus, he is fairly besieged by griffin lovers desirous of discussing the creatures with him,” the captain continued, the amusement in his eyes too strong to mistake.

“I have no interest in griffins,” Chloe said coldly. “And no desire to speak to the Duke, if that’s what you’re implying. Why, I’ve never spoken to him in my life and have no reason to start now.”

“Of course not,” the captain said in a straight voice, stooping to pick up her fallen book.

He handed it back to her with a straight expression, but his eyes danced more than ever.

She whipped it out of his hand, bereft of speech. Why had she ever brought such a ridiculous title with her? Her whole plan had been pure foolishness from start to finish.

One of the men behind the captain spoke, clearly stifling a laugh as he did so. “Perhaps the captain could show Your Ladyship around the mews himself some time.”

The captain shot him a quick warning look, but the man grinned back unrepentantly.

“I’m not a lady,” Chloe snapped, but her mind was turning over the rider’s suggestion. Was it possible she could get an egg directly from the griffin squad without involving the Duke at all?

She’d barely had the thought before she was discarding it. The riders might have been the ones chosen by the griffins, but the Duke was the one with final authority over them all. Plus, the captain’s eyes were far too knowing. He would be much more difficult to fool than the Duke.

“My apologies, Miss—?” The rider waited, his question hanging in the air and demanding an answer.

Chloe wanted to scream in frustration at how badly everything had gone wrong, but she managed a stilted smile instead.

“Chloe.” That was quite enough information to give them.

The rider gave her an elegant bow. “My apologies, Miss Chloe.” He turned to his captain, a laugh still on his face as he forced the captain’s hand. “And this is—” He waited again, forcing the captain to introduce himself.

“Captain Harrison,” the captain said with a lightning sharp look at his men that only made them grin more broadly.

“I wish I could say it has been a pleasure to meet you,” Chloe said sourly, “but it’s been a most uncomfortable afternoon.”

“One of my men will see you safely back to your home.” Captain Harrison glanced up toward the outcropping of rock. “I’m sure you’re shaken after your unpleasant experience.”

Chloe followed his gaze, wincing at the memory of just how uncomfortable her time up there had been. And as he looked coolly from the rock to her, she was afraid she could read the same knowledge in his eyes.

Somehow the polite distance in his expression was worse than the earlier amusement had been, and Chloe could suddenly think of nothing but what it had felt like to be cradled in his arms. She couldn’t honestly say that every part of the afternoon had been uncomfortable. Not that she would ever admit as much to the interfering captain.