Two Notorious Dukes by Lyndsey Norton Read Free Book Online

said no six times. If you call again, I
will talk to the lawyers and see about keeping you
away!’ She stepped away from him and walked
backwards to the fireplace. ‘Now, leave!’
Robert opened the door, stuck his head out and
shouted for Rogers. Then he stood and waited.
Elizabeth stood there, full of fury, like a Greek goddess.
Craanford walked to the desk and snatched his hat and
cane from the top. ‘This isn’t over. It’ll never be over
until you’re mine!’ he said fiercely.
‘Never!’ Elizabeth spat and turned blazing
emerald eyes on him. ‘I would kill myself first!’
Rogers arrived and said ‘Yes, Your Grace?’
Robert smiled kindly. ‘Would you escort Lord
Audley to the door, please Rogers?’
‘This way, my Lord.’ Rogers said none too
politely and closed the door as he ushered the dandified
Earl out of the room.
Robert stood and looked at the closed door for
just a second, but he span around very quickly as he
heard Lady Elizabeth hit the floor with a thump. He
yanked on the bell pull and was across the room in two
strides. He carefully stroked the rich auburn hair off her
sheet white face. The door opened and he said firmly.
‘Call Lady Elizabeth’s maid.’ He took her wrist and pulled
her upper body off the carpet so he could get his left
arm underneath her shoulders and then he scooped her
legs up into his other arm and lifted her effortlessly off
the carpet. She felt like a doll in his arms, so light and
dainty.
‘Yes, Your Grace?’ a maid said from the
doorway.
Robert turned. ‘I think she fainted. Do you wish
me to carry her upstairs to her room?’
‘I think that would be best, Your Grace. The last
time she had to see him she was ill for a week.’ She held
the door and led Robert to the main staircase.
‘How often does he ask for her hand?’ Robert
asked as he looked down into Elizabeth’s flawless face.
He felt stunned at what he’d witnessed. Not only this
little woman’s fire and strength, but the veiled threats
of the Earl. I need to ask Johnny about him. And Lady
Verity can do some explaining too! He thought as the ice
of his indifference cracked wide open.
‘Once a month.’ Mary said softly. ‘And there are
times I wish I was a man. I’d have taken him and his
deceased cousin to Tyburn and strung them up from the
gallows!’ she sobbed suddenly and reached in her
pocket for a handkerchief. ‘The first time he came he
didn’t ask, he just tried to take. Luckily, my Thomas was
outside the door and when she screamed he went in the
door.’ She shook her head sadly and then looked at
Robert in horror. ‘I didn’t say any of that, Your Grace!’
and shut her mouth like a man trap.
Elizabeth issued a gentle moan. ‘We’d better
hurry, Your Grace. She will scream loudly if she wakes
up in your arms.’ Mary started to trot ahead. Robert just
lengthened his stride, his very long legs carrying him
quite quickly. Mary opened the door onto Argyll’s suite
and Robert made straight for the bed, on the raised
dais. He gently lowered her bottom onto the mattress
and released her legs, taking her wrist again he held her
rigid, while he slipped his arm out from behind her
shoulders and gently allowed her to slumber back
against the pillows. ‘How anybody could hurt so
beautiful a woman.’ He whispered as he stroked her
hair again and it felt like silk under his fingers ‘is totally
beyond me.’
‘Your Grace?’ Mary touched his shoulder. ‘You
should leave now, she will be sick when she wakes.’ He
nodded distractedly, but he couldn’t resist touching her
face with his fingertips.
‘Yes,’ he murmured. ‘Yes. I’m sorry, I’ll leave you
to it.’ He said firmly and stood up from where he’d sat
on the edge of the bed. He walked to the door and
opened it as she moaned again, he turned and looked at
her as she started to writhe about the bed in the throes
of a nightmare and a scream of intense terror issued
from her throat. Mary was holding her shoulders to the
bed