The Orphan and the Duke Read Online Free PDF

on that.”
    “Don’t you see? That is irrelevant now. You need to help me start on some new linens with my new initials. Your work is so much neater than mine, so you’ll have to do them all, you know.”
    “I am not going to stop my own work to start on something like that. You don’t even know the reason for the duke’s visit. He could have some other purpose entirely in wanting to speak to Uncle.” Amelia was too frightened to tell them she knew the real reason for the summons. Because they were secure in the knowledge they were right, she feared for her safety once they learned the truth. She was not going to let that happen when she was alone with the two of them.
    “How dare you defy me? You will do as I say. I am going to be the Duchess of Darnley, and I am not going to give you a place in my home unless you do exactly as I tell you. Do you want to spend the rest of your life here with my parents? Do you think they even want you around? You serve no purpose other than to do our bidding. My mother has said many times that you are useful only for your sewing skills and you eat more than your value.”
    Amelia gaped at her cousin. She had never seen her behave more viciously. And she wasn’t even finished being unkind.
    “My mother and father have spent a lot of money feeding and clothing you over the years. Without them, you would be in the workhouse or maybe even dead somewhere in a gutter. Do you think we like having you around? You owe us a debt, and you have to pay it with your work. I need you to embroider the linen for me, and by God, you will do it.”
    Not able to withstand any more of Susan’s vitriol, Amelia leapt to her feet and darted out of the room, almost bumping into her uncle.
    Wiping the tears from her eyes, she ran up the stairs to her room and flung herself onto her bed. Despite her sobbing, she tried to devise a plan. If I had anywhere to go, I would pack a bag—a bag that doesn’t belong to me with clothes that don’t belong to me—and disappear this very night. Tomorrow will be even worse. I just know it.
    Once it became clear the duke was not calling to offer Susan the title of duchess, Amelia was sure her life would be even more difficult.
    Taking no comfort from any of the thoughts racing through her mind about how much worse things could get, Amelia stood and retrieved her reticule from the top of her dresser.
    Making her way back to the bed and sitting down, she pulled out the only piece of property that was well and truly hers. Tied to a ribbon and hidden inside the lining, the treasure was held tightly until Amelia dozed off.
    The Duke of Darnley arrived promptly for his appointment with Mr. Mandeville. In his pre-duke life, he would’ve been extremely late—if he’d kept the appointment at all. And of course, had the man whom he’d always think of as the true duke still been alive, there would be no need of the task at all.
    Basil knew if his father had found himself in the position he was in, he’d never have deigned to call on the man himself. He would’ve sent a summons and required Mandeville to present himself at the ducal townhouse.
    The current duke had no desire to maintain such formality. He felt it was already awkward enough with all the bowing and scraping; he didn’t want to give himself airs.
    Thus he found himself at the door of Mr. Mandeville, uncle of the young lady he hoped to employ. He straightened his cravat, took a deep breath, and lifted the knocker. Before it made contact with the metal plate, the portal opened.
    The butler invited him in and led him to a room to the left of the entryway. The parlor was nicely decorated in several shades of blue, though there were too many different fabrics for the place to be pleasing to the eye. As he looked around, he shuddered slightly at the mixture of a navy and gold striped settee beside a pale blue and white checked chair. The pillows on each were covered in butterflies. He presumed Amelia’s aunt deemed