The Duke's Dilemma Read Online Free PDF

However, it didn’t give him the slightest inkling why he’d been
summoned to this place when his relative was absent.
    He heard the welcome sound of crackling in the
grate. ‘Good man. Now drag the daybed over. Shall I lay Miss Frobisher down and
help you?’
    ‘I can manage, sir.’
    Five minutes later Ralph was able to deposit
his burden, mummified in the warm comforter, on to the makeshift bed in front
of the meagre fire. He looked round for something
else to burn and on discovering two wicker laundry baskets in the dressing room
he smashed them and piled them in the grate. Soon the room was warm and Ralph
felt it safe to leave the injured girl in the charge of her manservant.
    ‘You didn’t give me your name, how am I to
address you?’
    The man nodded briefly. ‘I’m Tom Clark, your
grace. I’m Miss Frobisher’s man of business, so to speak.’
    ‘Very well, Clark, I’ll leave you to attend
your mistress. Where’s her maid servant, her companion?’ His wits were
wandering, his needle sharp intellect not functioning. ‘Presumably Miss
Frobisher’s companion, the one she was travelling with, is back at the
hostelry? Is there someone I can send to fetch her here?’
    ‘You can, your grace, but she’ll not be able to
come, she doesn’t ride, and the carriage can’t come through closed gates.’
    ‘They’re no longer barred, we scaled the gates
and undid them.’
    For the first time Ralph saw the man’s mouth
bend; he was obviously impressed by the fact the massive cast-iron gates had
been opened by just the two of them.
    ‘That’s great news, your grace. James is
downstairs, you can send him. Miss Bird will be here with all the trappings in
no time at all. There’s a quack in the town as well - should James fetch him?’
    ‘Yes. Miss Frobisher obviously has a
concussion, but the fact she regained consciousness, even briefly, is a good
sign.’
    For some reason he was reluctant to leave the
bedchamber; he wanted to stay and watch the girl, see the gentle rise and fall
of her chest, be certain she was breathing. He strode back downstairs to find
Robin on his way up with an armful of logs and a broad smile.
    ‘The range is going, sir. The kettle’s on the
hob and young James has found the makings for tea and a decent bottle of
brandy.’
    ‘Make sure Clark has sufficient fuel to keep
the room warm and light a fire in her parlour as well
then come back to the kitchen.’
    He found a young man of medium build, a shock
of russet coloured hair and no boots. The stranger
was busy warming bricks to take up. Ralph was relieved he hadn’t had to go
outside to find James. He had a bad feeling about this; every instinct told him
there was danger – from what he wasn’t certain but he was damn sure he was
going to find out.
    ‘You must be James. I want you to get back to
town and fetch Miss Bird; also get someone from the inn to find the doctor and
have him attend here.’
    The young man nodded. ‘Yes sir, I mean, your
grace.’
    So used to commanding men Ralph hardly noticed
the speed with which the servant moved to replace his boots. It was what he
expected. It was a brave man indeed who dared to ignore his orders.

 

 
 
 
 
    Chapter Four

 
    ‘My dear girl, your sickness will pass and the headache lessen. Dr Radcliff assured me that although you have a concussion,
it’s not a serious one. You’ll be up and about in a day or so.’
    Hester flopped back on the pillows, closing her
eyes to allow the waves of nausea to subside; no sooner had she swallowed
something than she cast up her accounts. And it was all the fault of that
monster, that arrogant aristocrat, because for some reason he had taken it upon
himself to treat her as a common criminal.
    ‘Now, have a little sip of boiled water, my
dear, it will take the nasty taste away.’
    She turned her head, childishly refusing the
drink. Birdie sighed - she was a sore trial to her. At this moment she felt too
wretched to apologize. She