The Deception by Catherine Coulter Read Free Book Online Page B

in her cousin’s room.”
    Mrs. Raleigh said to her, “We keep the bedchamber spanking clean, but no one has stayed in it since her grace left us over two years ago. Oh, dear, such a sad time. I hope it will please and comfort you, Madame.” “It is bound to do something,” she said, nodded to the duke, and followed the very youthful Mrs. Raleigh from the library.
    The duke heard Mrs. Raleigh say in her high musical voice, “How terrible for you, Madame, to lose not only your luggage but your maid as well. Just look at all the buttons on that gown. It’s a miracle you managed to get them all fastened yourself. I will send Dorrie to assist you. If you find her helpful, she can assist you for your stay here at Chesleigh Castle.”
    Just an hour ago he’d been alone. Now he had a cousin staying with him. A young cousin who, if he wasn’t mistaken, and he wasn’t ever mistaken when it came to anything doing with a female, had beautiful breasts.
    Life was unaccountable. He leaned down to pick up the crumbled letter from Drew Halsey. He locked it in the top drawer of his desk.
    He walked to the fireplace and gazed down thoughtfully into the glowing embers. He remembered now the thirteen-year-old girl, tall for her age, taller than her older cousin Marissa, who’d reached her full growth. He vaguely recalled thinking her oddly mature for her years, her thin shoulders proudly set, and her dark brown eyes wide and serious when they restedupon his face. Seven years later, her eyes held an appeal that as her kinsman he couldn’t dismiss.
    “What,” he said to the huge silent room, “have I gotten myself into now?”

Chapter 6
    “Y our grace.”
    The duke came to a halt at the foot of the massive, wide staircase. “Oh, Bassick, don’t concern yourself. It isn’t your fault that I refused to listen to you. Thank you for seeing to the comfort of my cousin.”
    Bassick stepped closer and lowered his voice to a whisper. “It was no bother, your grace. She seems a very nice young lady. She will be remaining with us for a while?”
    “Therein lies a question. I will tell you when the matter is decided.”
    “Oh, yes, your grace. I finally pried out of Juniper that a note from Lord Pettigrew had arrived for you. Was it bad news, your grace?”
    “Yes, the worst. The traitor remains unmasked. Drew doesn’t want me to involve myself, but I am now. Robbie won’t go unavenged. I vowed it to his wife. Damnation, he left two twin boys, not much older than Lord Edmund.” He stood there, nearly shaking with impotent rage. Finally, he got hold of himself. “Sorry, Bassick. Now, I understand that Madame de la Valette arrived in the blacksmith’s gig.”
    Bassick nodded. “She didn’t see me do it, but I paid the smithy. He expected it, the good Lord knew that, but she didn’t. A young lady traveling alone, it fairly curled my toes. And she’s obviously a lady. One can look at her for the barest instant and know that.”
    “Yes,” the duke said. “My toes curled as well at how she got here. But she’s safe now, here with us.” He nodded to Bassick and began to climb the stairs. He turned abruptly, laughing. “As you rightly surmised, she arrived with no funds. Actually, there’s no reason not to tell you, since she tells me that she would like to become Lord Edmund’s nanny. Nothing’s decided yet. What do you think?” “It makes my hair white to think of it, your grace.” “Your hair is already white, Bassick.” “I will contrive to think of another utterance that is more appropriate to the situation, your grace. I can only say now that I hope she is firm of spirit. Actually, I hope that she has a will of iron.”
    “We will find out.” The duke grunted and headed upstairs, his destination his son’s nursery.
    When the duke reached the landing, he turned into the east-wing corridor. He knew servants were about, but he couldn’t hear anything. He walked slowly past the scores of portraits that covered the