Lady Vivian Defies a Duke Read Online Free PDF

thought had kept her awake late into the night.
    Her maid retreated to a tea cart and poured steaming chocolate from a pot. “Then why didn’t he say something at dinner?”
    She shrugged and climbed from the bed before accepting the cup of chocolate. “Maybe he wants to be certain before he carries back a report to the duke.” She sipped the drink and welcomed the warmth on her scratchy throat. “I have been thinking, perhaps life in the nunnery won’t be as horrid as I have imagined. Not exciting, mind you, what with no one but the sisters to talk to and such a drab wardrobe. But I am coming to accept my fate.”
    “Since when?” Winnie said with a scoff.
    “Since the clock struck two this morning, Miss Impertinent.”
    “Then please forgive me for speaking out of turn, my lady.” Her maid didn’t appear the least bit contrite with a small smile upon her lips. “Would you be so kind as to lift your arms?”
    Vivi placed her cup on her dressing table and did as her maid requested so her nightrail could be removed. “Perhaps I can convince Lord Ellis to keep our meeting at the creek a secret. I would hate for Patrice to know the true reason behind the duke’s rejection.”
    “I’ve never known you to surrender without a fight,” Winnie said while Vivi was still buried under her nightclothes. “Maybe Lord Ellis only wishes to scold you for sending him out of the way in the middle of a storm.”
    Vivi’s heart lifted a fraction. If her maid was correct, Lord Ellis might say his piece and forget all about their encounter at the creek. She could still free Patrice to marry the man she loved without dooming herself to live in the convent. This was incentive enough to don the serviceable dress and pretend she knew the first thing about milking cows.
    She smoothed her hands over the rough fustian gown, readjusted the white cap covering her loosely bound hair, and then turned away from her reflection. “Wish me luck at fooling the earl.”
    “Oh, my lady. Can’t I wish for something more likely to come true?”
    She tossed a wry smile over her shoulder. “Again, you are no comfort, dear Winnie.”
    “My apologies, my lady.”
    Vivi eased the door open, determined the corridor was clear, and sped toward the servants’ stairwell. A lamp at the foot of the stairs cast elongated shadows on the walls as she made her way to the ground floor. She retrieved a spare lantern hanging from a peg and lit it before opening the back door.
    Outside, the cool morning air held the promise of autumn with the smell of freshly cut hay hanging on the breeze. She both loved and dreaded the season, knowing cold weather chased on its heels. Yet, on the other side of winter, there was always a new beginning. Vivi tried to keep this foremost in her mind. There was still a chance she could get out of this mess.
    Worst case, Vivi wasn’t above groveling for mercy.
    ***
    The chamber was dark when Luke woke. An unfamiliar creak as someone passed outside the door reminded him of where he was. Brighthurst. The home of his would-be betrothed. A surge of alertness swept through him, and he tossed the counterpane aside to sit on the side of the bed.
    Lady Vivian wasn’t making his task easy, and not because she lived up to her brother’s definition of the perfect lady. She was a scandal waiting to happen. Most gentlemen would find it within their rights to sever the betrothal after discovering her half-nude in the creek. Luke wasn’t like most gentlemen, however.
    Lady Vivian’s unorthodox pursuits provided no reason to destroy her future, and he wouldn’t consider using his discovery against her. She must make an appeal to her brother. If her brother released them from the agreement before anyone learned of it, she wouldn’t suffer. But first Luke must garner her cooperation, which required the audience he had yet to be granted.
    He grumbled under his breath as he climbed from bed and made his way to the mantel to retrieve the