A Duke For All Seasons Read Online Free PDF Page A

bedding. Sometimes, a lover says 'no.' For now.”
         He knew he ought to cut her loose and seek a less infuriating female for his next mistress. But for the life of him, even though he was frustrated with her, he couldn’t remember a time when he’d felt more challenged, more intrigued by a woman. For now. His body latched onto those words of hope.
         “I’m leaving for a sennight at my country estate tomorrow afternoon,” he said. “Say you’ll come with me.”
         “I have two more performances to give before the end of the season.”
         “You have an understudy. Beg off.”
         She turned to let him drape her cloak over her shoulders. “Would it be just the two of us at your estate?”
         He wished. “For the first day, yes, but my family, Lord Granger and his fiancé and both their mothers will be arriving the next. We’d have one day in the country to ourselves.”
         “Will you take me riding?”
         He nodded. “I have a sweet-tempered mount that might suit you.”
         She grinned wickedly. “What makes you think I need a sweet-tempered mount?”
         Sebastian's driver rapped on the door to signal that he was ready to collect her.
         “Oh, a thought just occurred to me,” she said, turning back to him. “Do you have that libretto I gave you?”
         He glanced around the room. “I’m sure it’s somewhere around here.”
         “Well, I want to sign it for you. Now that I know you better, I want it to be a personal gift .” She leaned into him and he kissed her once more.
         Perhaps she was right. Delay might mean more delight once he planted his flag on Mt. Arabella. He was willing to explore the possibility. He told her when to expect him to come by on the morrow.
         “Be sure you find the libretto and bring it with you when we leave for the country then,” she said and disappeared into the soft night.
         Sebastian poured himself another brandy and settled before the dying fire. This was merely a temporary setback. Arabella was an intelligent woman, perhaps too intelligent. Once he had more time to present his case, she'd see the wisdom of a contract for both their sakes.
         A rap on the door brought him to his feet in an instant. He rushed toward it with the school boyish hope that she’d changed her mind and come back. Instead, he opened the door to find Neville pacing before it.
         “Has she signed your damned contract?” he demanded.
         “No, but don’t count on that case of port just yet, old son,” Sebastian said as his friend barged into the room without an invitation. “The vixen is merely giving the hound a merry chase.”
         “She’s gone?”
         “Yes, but—”
         “Good.”
         “Look, if you want the port that badly, I'll—”
         “No, it’s not that. I came to warn you to steer clear of Miss St. George.”
         Sebastian snorted. “In case it's escaped your notice, you all but introduced me to her.”
         “That was before I read this.” Neville handed him the Don Giovanni libretto. Sebastian noticed this time that there was an envelope sticking out from its pages. “I thought you'd sent me a note and opened the seal before I realized it wasn't yours.”
         “What's in it?” Sebastian pulled the envelope from the libretto.
         “Treason.”
     

 
    “A perfect mistress has no interests beyond her protector. If she does, a gentleman would do well to consider carefully whether she is worth protecting.”
    ~ A Gentleman’s Guide to Keeping a Mistress
                           

Chapter 5
     
     
         “Treason? The devil you say.” Sebastian snatched the envelope and read the curlicue script. The directive was in French on fine grained foolscap. “Good Lord. Names, likely places where the individual may be found, an offer of payment . . . this is an