Dark Duke by Sabrina York Read Free Book Online Page A

wicked expression,
Kaitlin burbled a laugh.
    “Oh. Take his queen. See there?” Malcolm waggled a finger at
a blatant opening. Edward had been teasing her like that for a while.
    Kaitlin sighed. “If I do, he will have me in check in five
moves.”
    “Four.” Edward batted his lashes innocently and nibbled on
his knuckles.
    “I wanted to talk to you, Kaitlin.” Malcolm’s whine
was an annoying drone.
    “After the game.”
    “But it’s taking so long.”
    “Fine.” She pushed away from the table and crossed her arms.
“What did you want to say?”
    His brow furrowed. He glanced at Edward. “It’s…private.”
    “It can wait,” Edward grunted, countering her move, swiftly
taking her bishop.
    She tried very hard not to smile. Fifty guineas .
    Malcolm watched a few more moves and then yawned hugely.
Stretched. “It is so late. Aren’t you tired?” He fixed his attention on Edward.
“You are rather old.”
    Kaitlin smothered a laugh. Edward was not amused. He glared
at Malcolm.
    The boy pulled up a chair and pretended to study the board.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Edward forestalled him. “If you’re
going to sit there, be quiet.”
    “I was just going to suggest—”
    “ Quiet ! This is an important game.”
    “It’s only a game.” Malcolm’s foot knocked the table and
several pieces toppled over. Edward set them back up with a glower. A glower so
fierce, Malcolm winced. But it worked. He fell silent.
    The game continued.
    As the pieces disappeared, the tension rose. There was a
moment when Kaitlin realized she’d made a mistake—sweat popped out on her
brow—but she corrected for it. And then he made an error. A stupid, stupid
error.
    Triumph flared in her chest as she gleefully took his
castle.
    And then her heart stilled. Horror washed over her.
    Her dream of fifty guineas evaporated.
    “Checkmate.”
    He said it softly, oh so softly, shattering her hope. She
looked up at him. His face was tight, his eyes shone with a flickering triumph.
Something else shone there as well. She shivered.
    “Finally!” Malcolm gusted. He stood and grabbed her arm,
pulling her to her feet.
    Kaitlin gaped at the board, still befuddled by her loss,
replaying the past few moves in her head— Oh. Oh. Yes. That was where he
had her. Damn. He was good. Her gaze snapped to Edward’s face. He smiled.
Bowed.
    “Excellent game, my dear. I look forward to our
continued…play.”
    Och! She could just bet he did.
    But a bet was a bet. She would pay.
    Would she.
    The prospect thrilled her.
    Malcolm tugged at her arm. “Come, Kaitlin, let’s go for a
walk in the garden.”
    She blinked. “A…what? Malcolm, it’s late. I’m tired.”
    “I’m…tired as well,” Edward said through a small smile.
“Perhaps it’s time to retire.”
    “Oh, now you’re tired?” Malcolm put out a lip. “Fine. I’ll
escort you to your chambers.”
    “There’s no need.” Kaitlin disengaged her arm. “I’m
perfectly capable of finding my way.”
    “I insist.” Malcolm took her wrist in a tight grip and
hauled her to the door.
    “We shall all go up together.” The unsettling thread in
Edward’s voice should have unnerved her, but it did not. In fact, she was
rather thankful he was there, prowling up the stairs behind them like a large
cat. A predator. When they came to the top of the stairs, when he should have
turned right, toward the ducal chambers, he turned left. Followed.
    She caught Malcolm’s glare and was doubly thankful for their
escort. The last thing she wanted was to be alone with Malcolm again. She
couldn’t wait to be ensconced once more in her room—with the door locked.
    She had no idea when Edward intended to claim his prize, but
he wouldn’t do it with a witness in tow.
    They came to her door and she turned to the two men. “Well,
good night.”
    Malcolm glared at Edward again. Then he glared at Kaitlin.
He put his fists on his hips and stomped a foot. “But I wanted to—”
    “Good