The Duke's Deceit Read Online Free PDF Page B

you about? That poor soul looked as innocent as a babe when he heard of your engagement. I fair fainted on the spot! Why would you tell Sir Robert such an outrageous story?”
    Lottie’s frantic questions beset Mary at every turn as she paced outside the bedroom door. Caught in a web of her own making! But she needn’t fear Lottie. Lottie would understand, and so would the stranger when she explained all to him.
    “Sir Robert was being…” Just remembering his touch begat a shudder deep inside her. “…obnoxious. And … and it just came out.” She shook her head in wonder at her foolishness. “I thought if Richard did not regain consciousness I would use his stallion to stud and his ring as collateral while we searched for his family. And if he did awaken, I would confess all and throw myself on his mercy.”
    Lottie gazed at her in open-mouthed awe. It brought home her determination to tell the stranger all, and she rushed on, “I tried to tell him the truth earlier, but I was interrupted.”
    “Thank the good God you were interrupted if you intend to tell my patient anything that will upset him!” The doctor’s stern voice brought Mary to an utter standstill. The look on his face as he shut her bedroom door sent hot dread swelling in her chest.
    “What is it? He isn’t worse!”
    “No, no, Mary my girl,” Ian soothed, placing a bracing hand on her shoulder. “Listen to what Dr. McAlister be tellin’ us.”
    The doctor favored them all with a hard stare. “We have a serious problem here. Very serious indeed!” He emphasized his words with a vigorous shake of his head. “Because of his injury, Mr. Byron is suffering from memory loss. All he recalls is the name Richard; a friend, Jeffries, who greatly resembled Ian; and his engagement to Mary.”
    “What!” Mary’s heart nearly stopped from the shock. Suddenly the air thinned around her and she gasped, “But we are not—”
    Holding up his palm, the doctor stopped her rush of words. “I don’t ken what’s going on here, young lady. I only know what is best for my patient. He must have no shocks. None whatsoever!” he stressed, holding Mary’s stunned gaze. “Whatever the truth of his past, he must be allowed to remember it naturally. If not, I fear it might bring on a brain fever. Indeed, then we
would
lose him forever.”
    He softened his words with the slightest of smiles. “Now give him whatever he wishes. I heard him muttering something about brandy. A wee bit wouldn’t hurt.”
    “I’ll fetch it at once!” Lottie picked up the hem of her skirt to rush down the narrow steps.
    “I’ll show myself out,” Dr. McAlister chuckled, following her down. “You won’t need me again, unless you go against my orders.”
    Ian wasted no time, staring at Mary from beneath bushy sandy brows. “Mary girl, best be tellin’ me the truth of things.”
    She told him as quickly as she could, with the guilt burning in her stomach spreading upward to fill her chest, and then her throat, until she ended, sobbing softly.
    “Mary girl, you will leave Sir Robert to me!” Ian’s wiry body grew rigid as he spread his legs in a wide stance of defiance. “Your father’s debts are as much my responsibility as yours. He was tryin’ to fulfill the dream we’d had since we were lads.”
    “And his dream for me.” She clasped her uncle’s outstretched hands. “He wished to leave me something of substance to make up for what he believed I was missing. I only wish to make sure we don’t lose everything he worked so hard to achieve.”
    “You’ll see, Mary my girl. We’ll find a way to pay off Sir Robert. Even with the setback of the stable fire.”
    Warmed by the strength of his grip and his words, she nodded. “First we must pay our debt to Richard. I swear I shall help him regain his memory so I can confess my falsehood. He will understand, won’t he, Uncle Ian? A man that good, who would stop to help strangers with a fire…” The words died away