The Theft of a Dukedom by Lyndsey Norton Read Free Book Online Page A

The Duke of Wentworth is only eleven.’
‘So, his majority is still ten years away, but I’ll bet
you a pound to a penny that he becomes a problem for
Daddy before then!’
‘Let’s hope your father has more success than he
did with Robin.’ Agatha muttered under her breath.
The modiste finished her work and Kitty jumped
off the stool and rushed into the changing room to
replace her outer clothing.
When they got home Havers was in the hall, as
usual. ‘Good afternoon, Lady Agatha, Lady Amelia.’ He
said formally. ‘His grace has been waiting for you to
come home. He would like to see you both in his study.’
Kitty was surprised. She had only ever been
called to the study with her brothers for punishment. And the day he told us mother had died! She recalled it
so well, the way he’d looked at them as he tried to
explain that she was too weak to recover from the
strain and her heart had stopped. She remembered the
tears falling down her father’s face and Robin, stoic and
without a tear, but Charles turned to her and engulfed
her as she sobbed for the loss.
‘Kitty, I don’t want you to panic.’ Agatha said
softly. ‘It’s probably Ponsonby making an offer.’
Kitty realised she was almost running and
deliberately slowed her pace. ‘Yes, Aunt, I’m sure you’re
right.’ She murmured, but that didn’t help the pounding
of her heart. As she reached the study door, she
practically pounded on the door and waited for the
‘Come In,’ from her father.
‘What’s happened?’ Kitty blurted before her
father could even stand up to greet them.
‘Kitty, my love, sit down.’ He said and guided her
to a chair.
‘What’s happened to Charles?’ she almost
demanded.
‘Nothing. Charles is snoozing on the terrace with
Richard.’ Thomas sighed as he leant against his desk and
folded his arms across his chest. He watched his sister
take the other chair and arrange her skirts, before she
looked up at him expectantly.
‘I’ve had a letter from Jamaica.’ He said softly.
‘From Colonel Bostwick?’ Agatha asked and Kitty
couldn’t miss the flush in her cheeks.
‘Yes, from Sidney Bostwick. He wrote to inform
me of Robin’s death.’ He said quietly.
‘What?’ Burst from Agatha. ‘Robin’s dead?’
Thomas reached behind him for the missive and handed
it to Agatha to read. ‘He was killed in a duel with
somebody who was a better shot than him.’ He turned
his attention to Kitty and was surprised to see a cold
expression on her face. ‘Are you all right, Kitty?’
‘Yes. I’m fine.’
‘Don’t be afraid to let your feelings out. We’re all
family here.’ Thomas said with compassion.
‘I’ll tell you my feelings,’ she said vitriolically.
‘Good riddance to bad rubbish!’ and she jumped out of
her chair and ran out of the study.
‘What’s that all about?’ Thomas asked. ‘I know
she was distant from Robin, but I didn’t know she felt
like that.’
‘Perhaps you should ask Charles about it. I know
there was no love lost between them, but I didn’t
realise it was that serious.’
Thomas sighed. ‘It hardly matters any more.’
Chapter 4
    Dinner was formal and the sumptuous repast set
before him, made Richard wonder why he’d ever gone
to war. It had been a very long time since he’d attended
a formal dinner and to do so at a ducal residence was to
live in the lap of luxury. From the army of silent
footmen, a solid gold dinner service, finest bone china,
diamond cut crystal glasses to the best wine he’d ever
tasted. He sat and surreptitiously watched Lady Amelia
eat like a bird, only taking small nibbles from any of the
seven courses and delicately sipping the small amount
of wine, never finishing what was either on her plate or
in her glass.
    ‘Kitty, you’re going to fade away if you don’t
eat!’ Charles said with amusement as he watched her
daintily place another piece of duck in her mouth and
chew slowly. She looked at Charles and frowned as she
finished chewing the contents of her