The Duke's Christmas Greetings (Regency Christmas Summons Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

She’d mostly escaped his attention so far, as the duke had taken immediate notice of Grace and her cheekiness. But the man was intimidating. He was tall with a full head of grey hair and he had the most commanding presence of anyone she’d ever met. He could cut someone in two with just the narrowing of his eyes. And his tongue was most acerbic. But the worst was watching Mama nearly quake with fear. Never in her life had Patience ever seen her mother in such a state. And Mama’s fear of the Duke of Danby had certainly caused anxiety to bloom in Patience’s heart.
    “Your mother said you mustn’t keep him waiting.” The maid went straight to Patience’s wardrobe and retrieved one of her favorite dresses, the blue one with the little pink flowers. “Off with your nightrail.”
    In no time, Patience stood at the threshold of the duke’s study and her hand trembled as she reached up to knock. But the trembling had nothing to do with her wound. She wished Grace was with her. Grace was the bravest of any of them. Grace would hold her head high and she wouldn’t let the duke cow or intimidate her. In fact, the duke would probably be smarting by the time Grace was through with him. What if she sent Grace in to deal with the duke instead? No one could ever tell them apart. That was the perfect solution! If only—
    “I don’t have all day,” grumbled an old voice from the other side of the door. “Do stop wasting my time.” The irritation she heard in His Grace’s voice sent trepidation spiraling through her.
    Heavens! How did he even know she was there?
    With a wince, Patience turned the handle and opened the large mahogany door. “You, um, you wanted to see me?” she asked, fairly quietly.
    From the large chair behind the desk, the duke looked her up and down. “Do you always stand at doorways and debate whether or not to enter?”
    “It’s my hand,” she lied. “It’s still bothering me. I am sorry.” The truth was, her hand felt much better than it had the night before. Who knew lime juice could work such wonders?
    “When Doctor Campion arrives, he can take another look at it.”
    At least seeing the doctor was something to look forward to. Patience nodded quickly, silently vowing to take whatever reprimand the duke had for her and then escape to somewhere else until the handsome doctor arrived.
    “Do sit.” The duke gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk.
    On shaky legs, Patience crossed the floor and then delicately sat on the very edge of the leather chair, praying this interview would be over just as soon as it began.
    He sat back in his seat, folded his hands together and looked her over once more as though she was some sort of specimen he hadn’t encountered before. “You’re the one I haven’t heard much about, though you have made quite the scene since arriving, haven’t you?”
    “I’m sorry,” she said for lack of anything else to say.
    “Mmm.” He narrowed his eyes on her. “Your mother assures me that hellcat you brought with you has been removed from my property.”
    Ashes was not a hellcat, but she wasn’t about to disagree with the duke, even though Grace surely would have in her place. “Doctor Campion offered to let my kitten stay with him while we’re here.”
    “So I understand.” He paused for a moment to study her once more. “Your sister Hope cannot tell an honorable man from a scoundrel. Do you share her lack of good judgment?”
    Patience had no idea where that had come from. “I beg your pardon?”
    “You have a flighty sister without any sense and a tart-tongued sister with more wit than is fitting in a lady. I’m just not certain where you land on the scale in comparison to them.”
    “I love my sisters very much,” she said and wasn’t at all pleased with the way the duke had chosen to speak about either Hope or Grace.
    “That wasn’t what I asked,” he said a little sharply. “Are you more like Lady Hope who wouldn’t know an