A Dangerous Disguise Read Online Free PDF

something.
    "I've always felt like that," he said. "Right from the moment I realised that I was going to be buried under all those titles, none of which seemed to have anything to do with me. I'm sure you understand that."
    He meant that she understood from experience, but the fact was that she had looked into his heart and seen everything by instinct.
    "When you hear them spoken it is like listening to a story about somebody else," she said. "Not you at all. You think, who is this person, and why do people look at me when they speak about her?"
    "Yes, yes," he said urgently. In his eagerness he seized her hands. "That's exactly how I feel, but I never found anyone else who could follow my thoughts. It's like coming out of a dark wood into the light, and finding a sweet presence waiting for me."
    A cough from over their heads brought them out of the spell that had enclosed them, making them look up hastily to see the waiter standing there with the first course.
    They recollected themselves and concentrated on the food, both a little dazed by what had happened without warning.
    Later Ola had to admit to herself that she could hardly remember what she had eaten.
    But she could recall almost every word he had spoken.
    She urged him to talk about his life, and he did so, almost as if there was safety in such personal topics.
    "You don't live in London all the time, of course," she asked him.
    "No, just part of the year, for the season. That's the social season which starts in May. Debutantes are presented at court, there are balls, parties, regattas on the Thames. It goes on until early August, and then everyone goes north to shoot grouse, starting on the twelfth."
    "To Scotland, yes," she murmured, thinking of the many grouse shooting parties she had seen arriving.
    "You know Scotland?" he asked in some surprise.
    "Only by repute," she said hurriedly. "I know about the 'glorious twelfth' and the hunting, shooting and fishing. Do you enjoy 'the season'?"
    He sighed ruefully.
    "Not a great deal, I must admit. I like to be out in the country, riding my favourite horses, walking with my dogs."
    She had often heard her father talk like that. It was enchanting to hear the same sentiments from the man who was weaving spells about her heart.
    "So you don't like the formality of London?" she said. "People bowing and scraping because you're so important?"
    "They only think I'm important because I have a great title," the Duke replied. "But as a man I am happier in the country because I'm alone with my animals, and they are not concerned whether I am a Duke or the pantry boy."
    Ola laughed.
    "That's what you say, but I'll wager they are taught to bow from the moment they come into this world," she said.
    "You wouldn't say that if you could see my dogs," the Duke said, grinning. "They think they own me, rather than the other way around. I have five, four pedigree and one mongrel, and the mongrel is the loftiest of them all."
    "I like that," Ola said, delighted. "I once had a dog who was just the same. I loved him so much, he was my best friend. We used to go walking together, and as he had rather a long coat all the thistles would stick to it, and it would take me an hour to get them out."
    "You did that? Not a footman?"
    "I couldn't have let a servant do it," she said with an air of horror. "Joey wouldn't have liked that at all. It had to be me."
    "Joey? You gave your dog an English name?"
    "He was a gift from an English friend," she said quickly. To get off dangerous ground she said, "You must miss your country home."
    "Yes, I love the place. It's very old and has been in my family for many years. It is exactly like the houses you read about in story books and I have, although I say it, an outstanding collection of horses."
    Ola gave a cry.
    "I love riding," she said. "My favourite horse can jump higher than any other horse in the royal stable. I take him out every morning before breakfast."
    "I will certainly show you my horses," the Duke