Dusky Duke and the Gypsy Pirate Princess by Kya Lind Read Free Book Online Page B

corridor and up a flight of stairs.
    Greyson followed her. “I’m trying to explain. If you will just stop for a minute.”
    “No, I am not interested in anything you have to say to me. You got my family here on false pretenses.” She turned around to face him. “You took advantage of my family. My little brothers and sisters. You. . . You. . .” she sputtered in anger.
    Honesty spun around and started down another corridor. She stopped abruptly, when she realized that she had no idea where she was. They stood in the middle of a dimly lit corridor. Honesty realized that she had not seen another person since leaving the nursery. She looked up and down the hall in a panic. She stood in indecision as Grey advanced. Honesty backed up until her back was against the solid wood of the door facing.
    Greyson placed his hands against the paneling on either side of her head. “Breathe,” he instructed, “I only want you to stand still long enough for us to talk.”
    “I have no intention of talking to you.” Honesty almost spat in her fury.
    Greyson tilted his head and waited.
    “You took advantage of me and my brothers and sisters.”
    “How so?” Greyson leaned closer, his breath soft on her ear.
    Honesty planted her palm firmly in the center of his chest and pushed. He moved back several inches.
    “If you were interested in courting my sister all you had to do was say so.” Honesty cut her eyes away from him.
    Greyson’s chest rumbled against her hand. “If that were true, it would be easier, but as it is . . . it is a bit more difficult to tell you . . .  that I want to court her older sister.”
    “What?” Honesty’s eyes jumped to his.
    “And I have it on the best of authority that given a bit more time a certain red-haired lord will get up enough nerve to offer for a pretty blonde sister.”
    Honesty’s expression wavered between shock, outrage and her stubbornly held anger. “You are not interested in Pretty?”
    “No,” Greyson leaned closer again.
    “But mama. . ..the duchess hinted that you would. . . that we came here because. . .” Honesty stumbled to a stop.
    “I am only interested in one Gypsy Pirate Princess in particular.”
    “But the duchess invited Prudence. . . .”
    “And all the Williams siblings.” Greyson leaned closer, their breath mingled. Their faces were only inches apart.
    “When mama figures out you are not interested in Pretty she will take us home,”
    “Then I suggest we delay her for a minute, just until Lord Byron proposes. . . if you think, that is what your Pretty sister would want?” Honesty’s fingers curled in the material of his shirt.
    “Yes,” the soft answer was breathless. Honesty bowed her head, “I’m still mad at you.”
    Greyson leaned back, “I will think of some way to apologize.”
    “Saying you are sorry is a good way to start.”
    Greyson leaned forward again, “I am sorry you were hurt, but I am not sorry you came.” Their eyes met and held. Honesty heard a gong sound somewhere in the house.
    Greyson shoved himself away from the wall. He smiled at her and offered her his arm. “Dinner is about to be served. We should go.”
    “You did that deliberately. You herded me down these halls as if I were a cow. I should be mad at you for that.”
    “Sorry, darling.” Greyson chuckled as he led the way down the stairs and hallways.
    “Don’t call me that,” Honesty glared at him in warning.
    “Add it to the things you are mad at me about.” He shrugged his shoulder as they suddenly emerged from the corridor into the main hall of the downstairs.
    Within minutes, Honesty was seated at the long beautiful table in the formal dining room. The table could easily seat the sixty people present. Honesty found herself sitting next to the Duchess on one far end and Grey sat on the other.
    Honesty ate her dinner in silence trying to assimilate all that had happened in the last several days. Mostly she focused on Grey’s behavior and his assurance