The Duke's Men [1] What the Duke Desires Read Online Free PDF Page A

why I’m worried. Even Vidocq used to say that Tristan purposely
     courts danger.”
    “True, but he always manages to extricate himself from it, too. He doesn’t need you
     for that.” Dom’s gaze on her softened. “I, on the other hand, need you for lots of
     things.” Holding his gloved hand out to her, he pointed to a rip in the palm. “You
     see? I did that just this morning. Can you fix it?”
    He was trying to distract her from her worries, which was sweet of him, though completely
     transparent. Wordlessly, she drew off his glove, took out her mending box, and began
     sewing the rip closed.
    As she worked, her mind wandered to the man she’d seen outside. Should she mention
     him to Dom? No, that would be foolish. He might decide to stay in London, which they
     could ill afford. His business was growing by the day, but he still couldn’t pass
     up a case as lucrative as the one in Scotland.
    Besides, she wasn’t even sure it was anything to be concerned about. It had been years
     since she’d left the estate—the man might not be Hucker at all. No point in alarming
     Dom for no reason.
    She’d nearly finished repairing his glove when Dom’s lone manservant—butler, valet,
     and footman all in one—entered the room. “It is nearly nine, sir. You have only half
     an hour to make it to the docks.”
    “Thank you, Skrimshaw,” Dom drawled. “I know how to read a clock.”
    The florid-faced fellow stiffened. “Begging your pardon, sir, but ‘Like as the waves
     make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end.’ ”
    When Dom began to scowl, Lisette smothered a laugh and said hastily, “I’ll make sure
     he gets off in time, Shaw. He’ll be along soon.”
    Skrimshaw looked unconvinced but turned and left.
    “I swear, if that man quotes any more Shakespeare to me, I’ll turn him off,” Dom complained.
    “No, you won’t. You’ll never find another who’ll do what he does for so little salary.”
     She tied off the thread and handed the glove to Dom. “Besides, you provoked him by
     using his real name.”
    “Oh, for God’s sake,” he said as he jerked his gloveon, “I’m not going to call my servant by a stage name, no matter how he spends most
     of his evenings.”
    “You should be kinder to him, you know,” she chided. “Because of your insistence that
     he stay here to look after me at night while you’re gone, he gave up his minor role
     that begins rehearsals this week. And in any case, he’s right. It’s time for you to
     leave.” She fought a smile. “All those minutes are hastening away.”
    With a muttered oath, Dom turned for the door, then paused to glance back at her.
     “About Tristan. If you haven’t heard from him by the time I return from Scotland,
     I’ll see what I can find out.”
    “Thank you, Dom,” she said softly, knowing what a concession that was.
    “But don’t think I’ll be running off to France after the rascal,” he grumbled. “Not
     unless someone pays me for it.”
    “Perhaps while you’re in Edinburgh I’ll solve a case or two,” she said lightly. “Then I can pay you.”
    He scowled. “That’s not remotely amusing. Promise me you won’t try any such fool thing.”
    Casting him an enigmatic smile, she glanced at the clock. “You’ll miss your ship if
     you don’t leave.”
    “So help me, Lisette, if you—”
    “Go, go,” she cried as she pushed him toward the door. “You know perfectly well I’m
     teasing you. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
    At last he left, muttering about insolent servants and troublesome sisters. With a
     laugh, she returned to dealing with the mail, sorting each letter by the case itinvolved, then putting the inquiries for new cases into a pile to go through last.
    She spent the day responding to the correspondence, making notes on the cases she
     thought Dom might take, and dealing with household matters. It was nearly midnight
     before she got to bed. There was no