Already His (The Caversham Chronicles - Book Two) by Sandy Raven Read Free Book Online Page A

horse better than he, and was almost as good a shot with a pistol as he. Why, she was probably even a decent card and billiard player as well. He already knew she played a fair game of chess and backgammon.
    She was a sporting lady. Not one of those simpering women one was compelled to feel sorry for. The chit was, and always had been, a nuisance—fancying herself in love with him since she could string a sentence together. So numerous were the times she had placed herself in his path either to annoy him or, as she grew older hoping to catch his eye, that he could not count. Though in all honesty she hadn’t done so in several years. At least not since her grandmother had moved in with them and Ren married. Her grandmother, her brother’s wife, and her house guest, Lady Beverly Hepplewhite, all seemed to be very good influences on Elise. And Michael had to admit he hadn’t seen much of her since she started on this horse project of hers.
    Yes, she would make some horse-mad fop a decent enough wife. And with a dowry as ample as hers, she’d be betrothed before the season ended.
    “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were talking about yourself,” Ren stated, matter-of-factly as he met Michael’s gaze over the rim of his coffee cup. “But we do know better, don’t we?”
    Michael turned his attention to the egg and sausage on his plate, determined to explore this peculiar feeling later. “Most certainly, Your Grace. I don’t need any added troubles under my roof. Have enough as it is, what with my mother and now my sisters pushing all these women at me—everything from barely-out-of-the-schoolroom misses to widows older than I.” He shook his head for emphasis. “I certainly don’t need your hellion sister sharpening her claws on my fair heart.” He sipped his coffee, and looked up into the sympathetic face of the duke. “No, my friend, the safe route’s the one for me.”
    “Ha! That’ll be the day, you rapscallion.” Everyone turned to the doorway when a silver-turbaned Lady Sewell entered the room leaning on her cane. Michael and Ren stood as the duke’s elderly grandmother came to take her usual seat to Michael’s left.
    “Good morning, my lady,” Michael said as he placed a kiss on the older woman’s wrinkled cheek, and assisted her to her chair. A footman brought her a plate with her usual breakfast, then cut her ladyship’s ham steak for her, and stepped back from the table.
    “Camden, when your three months mourning are over you had best have a future wife in mind.”
    “I thought I’d marry you, darling,” Michael said. “After all, we get along smashingly and I’ve never had a whist partner as sharp as you.”
    “If I could give you the heir you need, I’d take you up on it.” The woman’s blue-gray eyes sparkled with mischief as she forked a fluffy piece of egg.
    “If it wasn’t considered bad form, you would have every one of my dances tonight, my lady.” Michael said, as he realized their conversation was causing his friend to squirm in his seat.
    “I told Elise last night that if I were a young miss again I’d not settle for anything less than a man who’s kiss made my lady parts quiver and my brain turn to mush.” His Grace choked on his coffee, as his duchess serenely scooped the yolk from her egg cup as though the ribald dialogue was a normal occurrence. “Ah Camden.... If I were a few years younger, I’d make you my third husband.”
     
    T he servants would later say amongst themselves that they all heard His Grace choke on the mouthful of food he’d been about to swallow. A footman stood poised to run for the family physician in case his presence became necessary—which, thankfully, was not.

 
    C HAPTER T WO
     
     
    “O h, Elise,” Beverly whispered, her voiced tinged with a hushed reverence, “you’re beautiful! You’re the living image of a nymph, or siren. The image is inspiring of....”
    “Scandal,” her maid said flatly. “It’s