The Duke's Legacy by Wendy Soliman Read Free Book Online

“I wonder why.”
    Lady Abigail glared haughtily and inverted her chin. “I’ll prepare the list but it might take a day or two. When can we meet again?”
    “You’re the one under constant guard. That being the case, how did you manage to come here today?”
    She abandoned her affronted expression and offered up an impish smile that he found enchanting. “My aunt and cousin were obliged to call upon the modiste responsible for my cousin’s trousseau. She’s to be married immediately after Christmas and so there’s much to be done. While in the modiste’s establishment, which most conveniently is situated just around the corner from here, I remembered my new bonnet would be ready for collection from the milliner’s today. Now,” she continued, a glint taking possession of her dancing eyes, “normally my aunt and cousin would be keen to give me their opinion on my purchase. Unfortunately there was the taxing question of precisely the right sort of lace for Bea’s pink evening gown to be considered. And so you will readily appreciate, they couldn’t tear themselves away. They wanted me to delay collecting my bonnet but I was most insistent I wished to wear it when we take tea with Lady Makin tomorrow. I assured my aunt that I would be quite safe in broad daylight with just Sally for company. I then skipped out before they could think of alternative arguments.”
    “I see.” Sebastian’s lips twitched and he made no attempt to hide his amusement.
    “I’m to meet them at twelve at Gunter’s Parlour for a restorative glass of ice-cream.”
    “Then you’d better make haste, for it’s almost that hour now.” Sebastian picked up her cloak, fastened it securely about her neck and pulled the hood over her curls.
    “Presumably you walk in the park?”
    “Yes, indeed.”
    “Then see if you can lose your protectors on Wednesday morning. Come with your maid to the walk behind the Row. It’s usually deserted and so I’ll see you there, with your list, at eleven o’clock.” He smiled at her, already wondering quite what he had got himself into. And why. “Come now, I’ll see you safely out.”
    They collected Sally and he led them both through a series of passages that definitely didn’t lead anywhere near the front door or main parts of the house. Having checked the coast was clear, he made to usher them through the side door but Lady Abigail stayed him by placing her hand on his sleeve.
    “Lord Denver.”
    “What is it now?”
    “Thank you for listening to me and for offering your assistance. I already feel less anxious just by knowing you’ll be helping me.”
    “You’re entirely welcome.”
    He briefly touched her face, telling himself he would have resisted the temptation to offer her a more personal form of solace even if her maid hadn’t been avidly watching their interaction. When she looked at him like that, with her fathomless eyes brimming with confidence in him, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to quell her concerns. Good God, what a farrago! He wasn’t even touching her and yet she could still arouse him. A mere chit of a girl had no business making him react quite so enthusiastically. He wasn’t sure what to make of it, mainly because nothing quite like it had ever happened to him before, and certainly not with a lady of her age and situation. He turned away to open the door, feigning impatience.
    Lady Abigail, it seemed, wasn’t to be hurried. She looked up into his eyes, her expression deadly serious.
    “Be that as it may, I’m indebted to you, sir.”
    Without a further word she pulled her hood more closely about her head and walked through the door which he was holding open for her, her maid bustling along at her side.

Chapter Four
    Sebastian contemplated the extraordinary morning’s events as he wended his way through the seemingly endless maze of service corridors in his house. He found himself in accord with Lady Abigail’s preference for short cuts when it took him