Thawing A Duke's Heart (Faces of Love Series #1) Read Online Free PDF

tsk,” Dunlop encouraged.
    “It is all Mary,” Elisabeth gave me up. “She has always found ways to get into mischief and rope me into it.”
    “Well,” I said, ignoring Elisabeth’s omission. “It was a very long walk to the secluded park where the duel was to be held,” I continued. I tried my hardest to ignore the fact that I now had the Duke’s full attention. He had gone from a questioning raise of his eyebrow to an inquisitive smirk. “We got there just as the duel began. The men had chosen pistols. When they were fired, Clarisse went wild. Mind you, she is not a dog that moves very fast. She has very short legs, like her pug mother. Neither man had been injured in the firing of the weapons, but Clarisse took it upon herself to attack the gentleman nearest us. I don't think I have ever seen her move so fast,” I said.
    “Poor William ran for the hills as fast as he could,” Elisabeth interrupted, doing her best to hide her amusement. “We never saw him return, but when Clarisse did,” Elisabeth couldn’t go on because she was so full of laughter. She finally took a deep breath. “In her mouth was a portion of William’s pantaloons.”
    All three of us had a good laugh at the thought, and I even saw a gruff laugh escape Gaffton’s lips.
    “Mary’s mother was quite certain that William was the match for her,” Elisabeth continued. “But Clarisse apparently didn’t agree. I don't think Lady Withington has forgiven that poor mutt since.”
    “I am sure you were disappointed also at the loss of a beau,” Gaffton said in my direction. He was watching me, gauging my answer. It was strange that he would be interested in me having a beau.
    “No, it wasn’t like that between us,” I shook my head. One of my brown curls fell out from my loosely done hair and I brushed it back. “He was a good friend, that’s all. Mother wished for more, but he wasn’t…” I trailed off for a moment. I didn’t want to say what I had thought. He wasn’t the one. That one true love I knew had to be out there for me if I just waited long enough. I was positive that Gaffton would only make fun of more romantic notions after his reaction to my favorite reading last night.
    “Wasn’t what?” He prodded me. Butterflies flopped in my stomach at the intensity of his gaze.
    “The one,” Elisabeth finished for me.
    I shot her a heated look. She shook her head as if she had no idea what I meant by it.
    “Please don’t tell me that along with all those ridiculous books you claim to read, you actually believe all that horrid smut that is written in them?” the Duke said in a scoffing tone.
    I didn’t like being challenged that way. I held my head a little higher. “I wholeheartedly do, Your Grace. How could there possibly be so much written of love if it was not in fact a real thing?”
    “There are also stories of fairies and trolls, do you believe in them?” He spoke down to me, as if I were a child. I wanted to slap that smug grin off of his face.
    “Of course not, I am not irrational.” He sat back in satisfaction, which was even more irritating. I wasn’t going to let him win. “You are telling me, Your Grace, that in all of your years, you have never once felt it, or seen others experience love?”
    “Not like those silly books of yours. It is my experience that no matter the situation, love is never felt the same in one coupling. Either one loves and the other seeks some sort of monetary or carnal satisfaction or it is all a fabrication of lust. Love is as real as fairies and trolls.” He said this with a noted bitterness.
    “Well, I agree with you, Mary, one hundred percent,” Dunlop chimed in innocently.
    “Oh, what do you know of it?” Gaffton retorted dryly.
    “I may not have had experience in love yet,” he said this last part looking at Elisabeth. “But I have hope that it will be found for me one day. I wish it also for you, Lady Mary.”
    I thanked him kindly. Gaffton may have been