His Saving Grace (Regency Refuge 1) by Heather Gray Read Free Book Online

me, told me what was going on, and asked me to punch him hard enough to make it look like he put up a good fight so he wouldn't lose his job. You want to know his parting words to me?"
    "Naturally," Grace said with the hint of a smile.
    "He said, 'I wouldn't wish being a part of that family on anyone.'"
    "What did you do afterward?"
    Thomas relaxed and grinned at her. "I hired myself some protection."
    Grace tilted her head and regarded him inquisitively. "I've never seen you with a guard."
    "Of course you have. He fetched you something to eat last night."
    "Rupert is your protector?"
    Grace giggled, and Thomas said, "When you say it like that, it sounds rather ludicrous." Shaking his head at her continued laughter, he tried to explain. "Technically he's my valet, but we have a gentleman's understanding. He keeps women away from me at all costs, and he keeps his ear to the ground to look out for my best interests. In return, he is paid well and has my undying loyalty."
    "The two of you are friends," she said, tilting her head to the side and studying him like one might a new butterfly species just discovered.
    Thomas shrugged. "I am not altogether certain it would be proper for a duke and his valet to be friends."
    Grace laughed then. This was no small, ladylike chortle. It was fully developed laughter that rose up from deep down inside her soul. The sound was musical, and Thomas knew in that moment that he would spend the rest of his life trying to give his wife reasons to laugh.
    Once her laughter died down, she said, "Of course not, Your Grace. It is, though, perfectly acceptable for a duke and his guard to be friends." After a moment of silence, Grace said, "I understand now why you reacted the way you did."
    She took a bite of the ham as Thomas said, "What comes next is considerably more abhorrent." His words weren't alarming enough to cause such a reaction, but before he could continue, Grace was flailing about. He stared at her in stunned silence until she inadvertently slapped her hand against the table. The sound shocked him out of his stupor. He rushed to her aid, pulling her out of her seat and vigorously patting her on the back. Eventually he hit her back with enough force that a piece of ham was dislodged. The meat went flying across the room, landing in a half-chewed lump on the floor.
    As Grace struggled to catch her breath, Thomas said, "The dramatics might delay the news, Gracie, but they won't change what it is I have to say."
    "That was not for your benefit," she said between gasping breaths. "And did you have to hit me so hard?"
    Thomas helped her back to her seat and kneeled down in front of her. "Are you quite recovered?" he asked. When she nodded, he stood and returned to his own seat. "You're not going to like what I have to say."
    "Get on with it then," she said. "No good comes from dancing around the topic, whatever it is."
    "After I left your father's estate, I traveled to London and made some arrangements. I'm expected on the continent within the week."
    "Surely you can change your plans? Or… do you still believe I…?"
    Thomas shook his head. "Remember? We're leaving that in the past. I gave my word, and I need to honor it. My duty as a peer of this realm is to protect King and Country. Working with Wellington to battle Napoleon will be entirely worth it if it means we recapture that overstepping madman."
    "Oh." Grace's words were hesitant as she asked, "For how long?"
    Thomas cast his eyes around the room, not wanting to see the hurt in her eyes when he answered. "I'm legally bound for a year."
    "And I'm to stay in Northumberland the entire time?" There was no accusation in her voice, which only served to make Thomas feel worse about what he'd done during those three weeks of anger.
    "I made arrangements for you there, and, hard as it may be to believe, I do think you'll like the area."
    "It's quite far from my family."
    "I know. If things with Napoleon don't go as we expect, you'll be safer in