Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare Read Free Book Online Page B

thing. “No bigger than a titmouse. Far more frightened of you than you are of it.”
    She sighed. “Why do people always say that? It’s never helpful.”
    “I’d tell you to distract yourself by focusing on my face, but that wouldn’t help. You swooned the last time.”
    “I didn’t swoon because of your—”
    He made a shushing noise and worked his fingers downward, separating and shaking free the tangled hair. He didn’t want to hear her explanations or apologies.
    With his free hand, he held her shoulder. He stroked his thumb up and down, soothing.
    Just to keep her still, he told himself.
    Not because he cared.
    He wanted her fearful. He wanted her to run away from this place, and from him. The way any young woman with sense would do.
    He most definitely didn’t want her to stay in his arms, warm and trusting, with her heart beating faster than a bat’s wings.
    He felt the moment the bat untangled itself and flapped free. The weight was gone from her hair, and now the unburdened locks filled his hand, soft and wild and sensual.
    “There,” he said. “It’s flown away.”
    “You knew that would happen,” she accused. “The sunset. The bats.”
    He didn’t try to deny it. “Consider it repayment for the weasel.”
    “Oh, you . . . You . . .”
    “Cruel bastard?” he suggested. “Heartless rogue? Blackguard? Villain? I’ve been called all of the above and more. My favorite is ‘knave.’ Fine word, ‘knave.’ ”
    “You ill-mannered wretch I importuned one rainy afternoon and then never pestered again.” She pushed away from him and rose to her feet. “You can keep all the bats to yourself. I’m leaving.”
    Really? She was leaving already?
    This was almost too easy.
    Ransom followed her out of the room and back down the corridor, to the stairs that led down to the great hall.
    “You needn’t leave this very moment,” he said. “At least wait until my manservant returns. I can give you a bit of money, and he can find you a coach in the village.”
    “I don’t need a coach or money. I’ll walk.”
    “Walk?”
    “I know some people in Newcastle. Newcastle can’t be that far.”
    “Oh, not far at all. Just . . . some twenty-five miles or so.”
    She paused midstep. “Then I’ll be walking for some time. I had better get started.”
    He followed her toward the entryway. Walking to Newcastle, his eye. What the hell was she thinking? Perhaps those fairy tales she’d grown up with had rotted her brain. Was she planning to skip through the woodlands and meadows, plucking mushroom caps for parasols and letting friendly woodland animals guide her way?
    “Don’t think this is over,” she informed him as she gathered up her caged weasel and valise. “You were right, I do have many friends. Influential friends. There are thousands of people scattered all over England who’d love nothing more than to have little Izzy Goodnight as a houseguest. Some of them are surely solicitors.” He heard the rustle of papers. “So I will be in contact with Mr. . . . Blaylock and Mr. Riggett, and I’ll see you at Chancery in three years. Farewell, Your Grace.”
    As she breezed past him, his arm shot out. He snagged her by the elbow.
    “Not so fast. What do you know of Blaylock and Riggett?”
    “Their names are on the deed. I told you, I served as my father’s secretary. I do know how to read a legal document. Now, if you’ll kindly release me, I will bid you a not-very-fond farewell.”
    His hand tightened on her arm. “No.”
    “No?” she echoed.
    “No.”
    Ransom kept a firm grip on Miss Goodnight’s arm. After what she’d just said, he wasn’t letting her go anywhere. Not tonight.
    “I’m confused, Your Grace. You just put a great deal of effort into scaring me off.”
    Yes, he had. But that was before he heard the names of his own most trusted solicitors fall from his lips. Blaylock and Riggett had been his men of business for years. They had power to manage everything in