The Irish Duke by Virginia Henley Read Free Book Online Page B

Grey, and James Hamilton. She flirted outrageously and hinted that she might be persuaded to play for certain favors.
     
    Georgy followed her sister into her bedchamber. “It is no wonder James Hamilton has an athletic build if he is a champion oarsman. Muscles maketh the man!”
    Louisa did not dare to even think of the Irish charmer, let alone discuss his muscles. She quickly changed the subject. “It was wicked of Bessy to bring up Mother’s sister Susan. She knows the divorce caused a terrible scandal.”
    “From all I’ve heard the Duke of Manchester was an Adonis like Abercorn. He kept a string of mistresses. Women simply threw themselves at him. Poor Susan had one affair and the vindictive devil divorced her and took away her children.”
    “Men can be so selfish and cruel . . . especially those who are good-looking. And, unlike women, they never have to pay for their sins.” With difficulty, she banished the image of Abercorn from her mind. “The wicked shall flourish as the green bay tree. The Crown appointed Manchester governor of Jamaica.”
    “I warrant he planted a fine crop of bastards in the islands.” Georgy yawned and opened the adjoining door to her own bedchamber. “Goodnight, Lu. I wish you sweet dreams filled with lusty bachelors.”
    As Louisa lay abed she pondered the wager she’d made with her sister about the kiss. Her birthday wasn’t that far away and she had few options open to her. I shall have to approach one of my brothers’ friends and explain about my bet with Georgy. Surely one of them will take pity on me. I’ve known Teddy the longest—I’m sure he will oblige me. She thought of Abercorn and stiffened. Under no circumstances could she ever ask the handsome, arrogant Irishman for anything. His mocking dark eyes strip me of my confidence and turn me into a seven-year-old.
    When Louisa fell asleep, she dreamed that she was in the Highlands on a recruiting mission with her mother and sister. They offered a guinea and a kiss to any male who would join the Gordon regiment. The line of braw Scots stretched out for a mile, but as she offered each one a kiss, he refused and passed her on to the next man in line. To add to her humiliation, they were clamoring to fuse their mouths with Georgy and the alluring Duchess of Bedford.
    After a restless night, Louisa arose early and soon forgot her mortifying dream. Before breakfast she intended to go to the stables and take a look at the mounts of her brothers’ friends prior to the race. She donned a riding dress, pulled on her boots, and made her way outside.
    As she passed by the west wing she glanced up at the bedchamber windows and saw a couple of young men gazing down at her. She lowered her eyes immediately, afraid that one of them might be Abercorn. She felt shy about what they might be saying about her and hurried on by. It was fortunate she could not hear their words.
    “Lady Lu and Georgy are a study in contrasts,” James Hamilton observed.
    Teddy laughed. “One is winsome, and one is willing. One is fair, and one is game.”
    George Grey chimed in, “One’s for wedding, and one’s for bedding. Which would you choose?”
    Abercorn wished he’d kept his mouth shut. He returned to his own chamber, put on a jacket, and went down for breakfast.
    Teddy continued the word game. “One is innocent, and one exceedingly guilty.”
    George Grey said wisely, “Plain girls try harder.”
    Teddy laughed. “A dilemma. One pretty, one plain—well actually one’s pretty plain!”
     
    In the stables, Louisa assessed her brothers’ mounts and then carefully looked over the three horses that belonged to their friends. One animal stood out from the rest and she ran her hand down its sleek neck. It was smaller than the two geldings and it was a mare. The shape of its head was elegant. “It’s an Arabian,” she murmured with awe.
    Louisa sought out Woburn’s head groom. “After breakfast, we are all going to race our mounts. Will