Mad About the Duke by Elizabeth Boyle Read Free Book Online

least.
    Besides, she’d think him mad. As he was beginning to suspect was a legitimate conclusion.
    â€œYes, well, I have come up with a list of the only ducal candidates in London.”
    James nodded politely and took the paper, running through his own list of likely candidates, and other than himself, he couldn’t think of one of his peers who was worthy of her. Unless she meant to go after one of the royal dukes.
    Which would be madness in itself.
    Making her the perfect wife for you.
    James coughed. Where the devil had that thought come from? He wasn’t in the market for a wife. He wasn’t.
    As he opened the paper, he considered what he should do next.
    Oh, bother, just confess who you are, then declare your undying devotion, carry her off and be done with the matter.
    And for one impetuous moment James came within a midge’s wing of doing just that.
    Until he unfolded the piece of paper and read the neatly penned names.

Chapter 3
    I wasn’t on the bloody list,” James sputtered loudly as he entered the small dining room that was at the back of Parkerton House.
    Jack and his wife, Miranda, glanced up from the nuncheon they were enjoying.
    â€œPardon?” Jack asked, wiping his lips with his napkin.
    James slapped the paper down on the table and marched away in a state of high dudgeons. “Her list,” he declared, pointing at the offensive piece of paper. “Lady Standon’s list of ducal candidates. I am not on it.”
    Jack scooted his chair back in hasty retreat, as if wanting to distance himself from this budding storm. Miranda, however, had no qualms about picking up the paper and reading it.
    Short reading that it was.
    Two names. Two bloody names, neither of which was his.
    Where it should have read James Tremont, the 9 th Duke of Parkerton , there were two other names.
    Whatever was wrong with him that she hadn’t bothered to set his name to her wretched list?
    He glanced over at Miranda. Demmit, whatever was she smiling about? This was hardly funny.
    â€œWhat do you care, Parkerton?” Jack asked, having taken a peek over his wife’s shoulder. “You’ve no regard for this woman and she’s certainly not under your protection.”
    James set his jaw and paced a bit. There was the rub. She wasn’t under his protection. Because if she was…
    â€œBesides, what do you care? You’ve resigned.”
    James paced a few steps, not daring to glance over at his younger brother.
    â€œGood God, tell me you’ve resigned,” Jack insisted.
    â€œHow could I?” James said in his defense. “That foolish woman has Longford on her list. Longford, Jack!”
    And not me.
    Jack nodded in grudging agreement. As he should. For every man in Town knew what sort of doxies and warming pans Longford preferred.
    â€œStill, I don’t see what has you in this fettle of a mood. It isn’t as if you’re in the market for a bride,” his brother said. “Perhaps she didn’t know you were looking for a wife.”
    â€œI’m not!” James declared. “Looking, that is. But at the very least she could have included me as a likely prospect. I am a duke and I am unmarried.”
    â€œAnd breathing,” the lone female in the room muttered under her breath.
    Both men turned to stare at Miranda.
    â€œPerhaps she has no desire to marry you,” she told him, handing back the list and crossing her arms over her chest.
    Leave it to Jack’s cit -born wife, blunt and to the point as always, to cut to the bottom line.
    To the truth of the matter.
    James clutched the list in his hand and resisted the urge to consign it to the flames. “The lady doesn’t even know me.”
    â€œSmall favors there,” she muttered yet again.
    Not that James didn’t hear it. And whatever did she mean by that? However, given her forthright manner, he didn’t press for an explanation.
    He’d been insulted