The Duke in Disguise by Gayle Callen Read Free Book Online Page B

of the gifts he brought me."

"Are you well traveled, Miss Shelby?"

"London is such a big city, Your Grace. Though I explored, there is still so much left to see."

"So you are not well traveled," he said, driving the point home in a way that made him want to wince.

A faint blush colored her cheeks. "No, Your Grace."

"But my guess is that you had always planned to."

She looked directly at him with her clear gaze.

"Before your unfortunate financial difficulties," he continued, hating himself for hurting her.

"Of course, Your Grace," she said. "Every woman has plans for how she'll live her life."

He smiled. "With her husband, of course."

Stephen looked between them uncertainly. "Are you married, Miss Shelby? Then why are you a miss?"

She gave her pupil a fond smile. "No, my lord, I am not married. The duke was simply teasing me as a way to pass the time. Witty dinner conversation can make a simple dinner so much more interesting."

To Richard, her tone subtly conveyed the fact that his conversational skills were wanting. He was amused and impressed by her daring. Bantering with the lovely Miss Shelby could be far too distracting.

Hargraves the butler opened the double doors from the corridor and stepped inside. "Your Grace, you have unexpected guests."

The resigned tone of his voice let Richard know this was not an unusual event.

"The visitors are Lord Yardley and his sister, Lady Parthenope Dean, and Lady Lawton. Shall I have them wait in the blue drawing room until you have finished dinner?"

Richard wanted to tell them all to go home. He vaguely remembered Yardley, and that he had a sister, but Lady Lawton was a stranger. He'd hoped that the need for Cecil to recuperate would have kept people away for a while yet. But then Cecil's friends were hardly the type to respect rules— unwritten or otherwise.

Richard waved a languid hand. "Tell them I'll be there when I'm finished with dinner, Hargraves. They won't mind waiting. Provide them with whatever refreshments they'd like."

But as they were finishing the main course, loud voices erupted in the corridor, and the doors were thrown open by a red-faced, laughing man. It had been at least five years since Richard had seen Yardley, and it was obvious that a life of dissipation had not been good for him, as evidenced by his too-tight waistcoat and his bloodshot eyes.

"Thanet!" Yardley called, then stumbled and grabbed the door handle for support.

Hargraves pushed past him. "Your Grace, forgive this interruption. Lord Yardley would not wait any longer to see you."

"Been waiting too long," Yardley said, slurring his words together. "The brandy's fine, but me poor sister needs someone to entertain her."

The two women giggled from where they gathered behind him, and Richard forced himself to smile as if he were pleased by the interruption.

Yardley swung an arm around the neck of a plump woman. "This is Lady Lawton, Thanet."

"Your Grace." She managed a passable curtsy.

"We been spending time together," Yardley said. "Poor thing's husband up and died on her last year."

Richard watched with disgust as Yardley waggled his eyebrows in an exaggerated manner, as if Miss Shelby wouldn't understand his vague sexual references. The governess was speaking in a soft voice to Stephen, who looked bewildered, but resigned.

As if his father routinely abandoned him.

Richard would have to do the same thing.

Yardley grabbed his sister's elbow and tugged her forward. She was obviously embarrassed and tipsy and hopeful, all at once.

"Thanet, you remember me sister, Parthenope? Finally out of the schoolroom, she is."

Richard felt strangely old looking at the young girl. But of course he was five years older than Cecil. Inwardly he sighed even as he grinned.

The footmen waited with dessert. Richard motioned them forward, and as they began to serve, he said, "Miss Shelby, you and Stephen enjoy your custard." He looked at the boy. "I promise we'll have a longer dinner tomorrow