The Duke's Dilemma by Fenella J Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

you
know.’
    She tensed, waiting for his reply. She didn’t
expect it to be a polite one. Instead he laughed and resumed his seat. ‘I’ve no
wish to bandy the insults with you, miss. I do not deliberately mistreat
members of the fair sex.’ He smiled, his teeth flashed white and for a second
time her heart behaved most erratically. Hester found her anger melting beneath
his charm.
    ‘It’s a little late to remember that, your
grace.’ She returned his smile reluctantly. ‘I think then that I shall consider
myself David to your Goliath.’
    This comment flummoxed him. His eyes narrowed
as he tried to decide exactly what she meant. She hoped he came to the
conclusion she intended; that he might be three times her weight but she would
defeat him by her intelligence.
    He leant forward his eyes glittering strangely.
‘I do believe, my dear, that you’re throwing down a challenge. Do you think
we’re to be adversaries?’
      ‘I
believe I’m correct when I say that you attacked me viciously. I’m lucky to
have escaped with something as slight as a concussion.’
    ‘I came here, Miss Frobisher, to offer my most
humble and sincere apologies for injuring you. I have no excuse—
    ‘Then pray don’t offer one, your apology is now
accepted.’ For a moment she thought she’d gone too far, that her flippancy had
angered him. His jaw harden and she braced herself for a set down. To her
astonishment his chuckles filled the room.
      ‘My God,
you’re an original! It’s refreshing to meet someone who has the temerity to
stand up to me.’
    ‘In which case, as I have accepted your apology, are you ready to answer my questions?’
    He sobered. ‘Of course, I’m sure there are many
things you would like to know, not least why plain Mr Sinclair, is now dancing around like a popinjay calling himself the Duke of
Waverley, Colebrook to his friends, of course.’ He said this with a decided
sneer.
    Hester viewed him uncertainly. Was he jesting?
He sounded as disgusted as she that he
    had
inherited a title. Surely he didn’t share her radical views? ‘Yes, that is one
of the things I’d like to know. You don’t seem overly pleased to be so honoured .’
      ‘I’m a
plain man, I told you, I’ve been a professional soldier all my life with neither
the desire nor the appropriate training to take a place in high society. But it
seems there was a connection that led the legal crows to me. So here I am, no
longer Major Sinclair, but Lord Colebrook, the Duke of Waverley.’
    Hester was beginning to enjoy this conversation
and was feeling more alive and stimulated than she had for months. There were
footsteps approaching across the sitting room. She frowned knowing they were
both in disgrace.
    ‘Your grace, you are de trop . Miss Frobisher is not receiving. Kindly remove yourself at
once.’
    She watched her cousin
leap to his feet and bow deeply to her outraged companion. He didn’t glance her
way, and without uttering a further word, vanished from the room leaving her
feeling sadly flat.
    ‘My dear, whatever were you thinking of?
Waverley should not be in here; you’re scarcely decent. You should have sent
him packing and he should have had more sense than to stay.’
    ‘Please don’t be cross, Birdie. He’s my cousin
after all, and although we’re only distantly connected did you see how alike we
are? He could be my brother, couldn’t he?’
    Birdie snorted inelegantly. ‘That’s as maybe,
miss, but he isn’t your brother and has no right to take liberties as though he
was. Now, I have excellent news for you. A girl has been found who Tom thinks
will make an ideal abigail for you, a Polly Makepeace. He says she’s quietly
spoken and intelligent. When she arrives, if I agree with his assessment, I
shall appoint her. Tom said he passed her on the lane some time ago so I can’t think
what’s keeping her.’
    Hester was delighted, if she had a maid to
attend her she could sit in the parlour and entertain her