Duke of Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

“With no disrespect to my aunt, there is nothing about you that is an Alex, Lady Alexandra.”
    “You may be right, although I must confess my full name sounds rather old and stodgy. I didn’t mind the alternative.” She laughed again. A very pretty sound.
    “Interesting. I will think on the matter then.” He matched her eyes over the rim of his goblet. She really was a delightful creature.
Shan’t be any trouble to find her a match
. A disquieting sensation settled in his stomach and he took another swallow of claret.
    “We don’t stand on formality here and as Aunt Min often said, it is just too much of a mouthful.” She paused in wait of his reply, but he offered none. “Are you enjoying the soup, Your Grace?”
    Had he tasted it?
    “Delicious,” he murmured with effort.
    A sudden yipping pulled his attention to the corner of the room where a white dog waited, a small bowl of food before him.
    “Never mind my dog, Your Grace, he’s a jealous little fellow when excluded from the conversation.”
    “By your own rules, you must call me Devlin.” He sat back as a footman removed his soup bowl and set a steaming plate in front of him. “Should I be afraid to ask your dog’s name? I am gripped with curiosity.” He’d anticipated uncomfortable conversation, so the playful banter that ensconced them with comfortable ease left him more than a little surprised.
    “Oh, that’s just Henry.” She smiled with affection at the dog. “A spoiled little pup accustomed to demanding most of my attention.”
    “I take it your father didn’t name your dog.” The humour wasn’t lost on her and she let out a sweet little laugh before glancing in his direction with a flick of her eyes. The exchange offered yet another glimpse of that fetching dimple in her right cheek.
    Very nice. She proved clever as well.
    He forced himself to focus on the meal. While far from extravagant, dinner tasted delicious, properly seasoned and freshly prepared. Hashed venison with shredded turnips evoked reminders of his childhood, and the second course of raised fowl pie with artichoke bottoms, proved the perfect cure to satisfy his hunger. He savoured the last bite and noted the steady rhythm of annoyed barking that continued from the corner. Alexandra set her napkin aside as Grimley appeared with impeccable timing.
    “Dessert will be served in the grand salon.” He waited for neither acknowledgement nor direction, pausing only to gather the dog and remove him from the room much to Devlin’s pleasure.
    “Well, Just Henry seems angry I’ve monopolized the conversation, but there is a matter of importance that needs to be addressed. Would you prefer we wait until after dinner?”
    Alexandra stalled. Her eyes held his for a long stretch and something in her gaze caused his heartbeat to falter. He sat at the opposing end of the long dining room table, yet within the candlelight, without another soul to make conversation or interrupt the pleasant silence, their dinner seemed intimate as if a prelude to something more enticing or a promise offered. He banished the thoughts as they surfaced. Aunt Min must have been delirious to assign him this task. If he wasn’t mad already, and many days existed when he believed the gossipmongers’ opinion of his sanity, the thought of guardianship to this incredibly beautiful woman would be the one task that accomplished his journey into hell.

Chapter Six
    The remainder of dinner passed in much the same manner. Devlin found Alexandra to be pleasant and witty, her company enjoyable. Now seated in his aunt’s elegant salon, he felt obliged to inform her of the situation. Yet it seemed the more he learned of her, the less keenly he anticipated having to share the fact that he was there to uproot her, return her to Kenley Manor, and see her married. She struck him as an intelligent creature, one who would not be over pleased to find her future no longer remained in her control.
    He vowed to face the