Say Yes to the Duke Read Online Free PDF

would be a week at most.
     And it was a good thing. His Grace, his friends … they didn’t want her here. She could
     tell.
    She tried not to think of the way Mr. Callahan had kissed her, as if he wanted her
     very much.
    From somewhere far away on the next floor, several women could be heard chatting and
     laughing. The duke looked sharply up at the top of the wide staircase and then directed
     his butler to send the housekeeper to the drawing room straightaway. “Tell her that
     until Lady Janice’s maid has had an opportunity to put away her things or Mrs. Friday
     arrives, she’ll serve as Lady Janice’s chaperone.” The duke looked to her. “I’m going
     to tell my grandmother myself you’re here. I’ll see you in a few minutes. Meanwhile,
     don’t wait. The tea tray should be ready.”
    “Very well, Your Grace.”
    Daddy would be so glad that His Grace was a stickler for the proprieties.
    Luke Callahan, Janice was sure, had completely misjudged the duke, but she’d forgive
     the groom for maligning his employer so. She knew too well how difficult it was to
     be looked down upon. Servants met with glaring lapses in kindness toward them every
     day, and resentments, naturally, could grow very heated.
    “My other houseguests should appear any moment,” His Grace added. “I’m sure they’re
     anxious to meet you.”
    Before she could reply, he bowed and left her with his cohorts. She really preferred
     to go straight to her room to unpack first and clean off her travel dirt, but how
     could she say no to her host? He had a way of speaking that was different from everyone
     else of her acquaintance—as if he never second-guessed himself but always assumed
     everyone would do his bidding. And he was deucedly unapologetic about that fact.
    It was entirely mortifying, really, to be left alone with Halsey’s two friends, neither
     of whom looked at her with any real warmth in their eyes. She understood why the highly
     eligible duke was on the defensive. But these two?
    They had no excuse.
    But Janice refused to surrender to the awkward situation. A footman led them to a
     vast space filled with oil paintings of horses. There were bold red accents everywhere:
     in the fabrics, on the vases, and even on the china on the tea tray. The dogs had
     collapsed before the fire.
    It was a man’s drawing room.
    It needs a woman’s touch, she couldn’t help thinking as she took a seat by a low table, where the teapot sat
     at the ready. She hoped Isobel and Oscar would get their own tea very soon, but they
     probably hadn’t yet. Isobel would soon be upstairs with Janice’s trunks. And Oscar
     would no doubt go to the stables to the horses.
    She must admit, she even hoped Mr. Callahan would get his tea, although she shouldn’t
     care whether he did or not. She wouldn’t think of his shapely legs or broad shoulders,
     nor would she think of the way he’d kissed her, as if he couldn’t get enough of her.
     She must remind herself that she had many misgivings about him, however glorious a
     masculine specimen he was.
    The housekeeper, an older woman with a large bosom and a kindly face, glided in. “Don’t
     mind me, my lords and my lady,” she said quietly.
    “Thank you.” Janice felt as if she’d put out the entire household with her arrival.
    Isobel liked to take her time putting away Janice’s things, so unless Mrs. Friday
     arrived soon, the poor housekeeper would have to ignore her regular duties. She took
     a seat near the window and opened a small book that she pulled from her apron.
    Lord Yarrow, whose face was long and his nose markedly hooked beneath his jet-black
     hair, sat opposite Janice. “So you’re Brady’s stepdaughter by his second marriage?”
     His voice carried that tonnish ennui that she so despised.
    “Yes.” She poured him a cup of tea. “Although my parents make no distinction between
     siblings. We’re all one happy family.”
    “Happy? Is that so?” Predictably, the