Simply Voracious by Kate Pearce Read Free Book Online Page A

selling out because of him.” Paul rested his chin on his hand and stared at the scarred pine table. “There is little hope of advancement unless I choose to go overseas. I’m not exactly a favorite among the top brass. And my uncle wants me to sell out.”
    “As you are the heir to a dukedom, I suppose that’s fair enough.”
    Paul fixed Ambrose with his most quelling stare. “It isn’t fair. It isn’t fair at all. I’ll make a bloody awful duke and you know it.” A bloody awful husband as well, but that seemed almost inevitable too....
    Ambrose opened his mouth, and Paul held up his hand. “And don’t tell me how lucky I am.”
    “I wasn’t going to.” Ambrose patted his hand. “I wouldn’t want that responsibility either.”
    “Thank you,” Paul said. “I’m sorry. I’m not in the best of humors.”
    Ambrose laughed, his teeth white against his dark skin. “ I’m surprised you haven’t slit your throat.”
    Despite his worries, Paul found himself grinning back at his old friend and sometime lover. “Perhaps you’d like that honor?”
    “No thanks, my friend. I detest the sight of blood. Ask Delinsky. He’s a true military hero.”
    Gloom crashed over Paul again. “He’s supposed to be coming here to see me this evening.”
    “Isn’t that a good thing?” Ambrose asked gently. “I know you’ve always liked him.”
    “And as usual the Fates are working against me. I’m going to have to tell him good-bye tonight.”
    “Why? Does he object to your work here? You can always stop doing that. You aren’t actually employed here. In truth, Delinsky looks happier than I’ve ever seen him.”
    “Don’t say that,” Paul groused. “I’m happy, too, and I’m going to have to spoil everything.”
    Ambrose sat back. “You are dying, aren’t you? Tell me the truth.”
    “I might as well be.” Paul rose to his feet. “Is Madame Helene here by any chance?”
    “I believe she is. She had a meeting with Christian earlier and stayed to finish up some paperwork.”
    “Excellent.” Paul blew Ambrose a kiss. “Thank you, my friend.”
    “Will you be coming back to the kitchen before you see Delinsky? I’ll ask Madame Durand to save you some dinner.”
    “That would be most welcome.” Paul wasn’t sure if he’d ever feel like eating again, but he had to be polite. “Now let me go and find Madame.”
    He found her in her old office, sitting behind her desk, a pair of spectacles perched on the end of her pert nose as she studied a crumpled letter. She wore a faded muslin gown that did nothing to diminish her considerable beauty. He knocked softly on the open door, and she glanced up at him and smiled.
    “Paul, I was just thinking about you today. How is your family?”
    He came in and shut the door behind him, noticing the piles of boxes strewn around the floor and an unusual sense of emptiness.
    Helene made a wide gesture encompassing all the disorder. “I’m cleaning out my office so that my daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, can use it. I can’t believe how much I have accumulated over the past twenty or so years. Can you find a seat?”
    Paul removed a box of ledgers from a chair and sat. Madame put down her work and studied him.
    “Now what can I do for you?”
    “I would appreciate your advice.”
    “Of course. How can I help you?”
    “I asked Lady Lucinda to marry me, and she refused.”
    Helene went still. “What on earth made you do that?”
    He sighed. “She needs to marry, and it will make her family happy if she marries me. That’s all I am going to say about the matter.”
    “I’m sure that isn’t all there is to it.”
    He met her gaze. “You are correct, but I don’t wish to betray a confidence.”
    “And what if I told you that I already know why Lady Lucinda might need to marry?”
    Paul blinked at her. “You know? ”
    “Emily brought her to me after the event.”
    “That was very astute of her.” Paul let out his breath. “Did Lucky tell you who the