The Way to a Duke's Heart: The Truth About the Duke by Caroline Linden Read Free Book Online

well. Informative and polite.”
    “I think he fancies you.” Eugenie turned to the tea tray beside her and touched the side of the pot. “Would you like some tea?”
    “Fancies me?” Tessa raised her eyebrows, trying not to laugh again. Eugenie was an incurable romantic. “You flatter me, Eugenie.”
    “Oh, no, I don’t think so. He’s not a gentleman, of course, but he’s a prosperous man, and he understands you.” The old lady gave her an almost sly smile. “And he’s not blind, dear.”
    “Nor is he a fool,” Tessa retorted. “I’ve given him no encouragement of that sort.”
    “Nor should you. Your brother would not approve, I’m sure, although it would lift dear Lady Woodall’s spirits if she thought you were finally taking an interest—”
    “I’m not.” Tessa got to her feet. Heaven save her from Louise’s raptures if she ever gave any sign of wanting to marry anyone. She had made that mistake once, and had her heart not just broken but crushed beyond repair. “I am decidedly not interested in Mr. Scott, and if you tell my sister so—”
    “Oh, never! I never would!” cried Eugenie, blushing again. “I merely remarked how happy she would be if you did relent on your vow against men.”
    Tessa pressed her lips together. She hadn’t made any vow against men, just a vow never to be misled by a man’s flattery and attention again. Once was bad enough. Trust Eugenie to cast her self-preserving instincts in such a melodramatic light. “I am only interested in the shares Mr. Scott has offered William,” she said evenly. “You’ll see soon enough.”
    “Oh.” Eugenie visibly deflated. “We’re going to Frome, then?”
    Tessa had said from the beginning she intended to visit the canal works between Frome and Mells. It defied her comprehension how everyone around her constantly doubted her words. “Yes, we leave the day after tomorrow. I have a few more commissions before we go. You might wish to procure some more novels, as I understand the countryside is a good deal less refined than Bath.”
    Her companion sighed. “Yes, dear.”
    Tessa spent the next day making arrangements and preparations to spend as long as a fortnight in Frome. Louise had asked her to purchase several things, and although she tried to get her companion to tend to her sister’s fashion needs, Eugenie would have needed a month to make the decisions required of her. Tessa, on the other hand, was able to place the orders in a single day and arrange for it all to be shipped to her sister. Her own purchases took a bit longer, but by tea time she returned to the hotel, a little footsore but pleased with her day’s work. Eugenie had flagged by midday, so she had returned to the York earlier. Tessa walked through the lounge and untied her bonnet as she peered into the tearoom in search of her companion.
    She had completely forgotten about the Earl of Gresham and her bad-tempered assessment of him. She hadn’t seen him or his servants about the hotel in three days or more, nor heard his name. It was a rude shock, therefore, to come around the corner and see him sitting at a table in the center of the room, his long legs crossed before him in a pose of elegant ease.
    It was an even greater shock to see Eugenie sitting on the other side of the table, smiling brightly at him.

Chapter 3
    C harlie was beginning to think he had used up his store of luck in life. He’d had a rather good streak of it over the last thirty-odd years, but now it all appeared to be coming to a crashing end.
    He arrived in Bath only to find his brother had left. More than a little put out, he had to cool his heels for the better part of two days, waiting. He had no idea what this meant for the trouble Gerard’s letter had mentioned, and even more curiously, there was no sign of the wife his youngest brother had mentioned. Gerard, married? He’d left London a contented bachelor, set on tracking a blackmailer. Now he had a wife? Following so soon