The Theft of a Dukedom Read Online Free PDF Page B

perfectly good bed.
Chapter 3
    Richard Dunsmore climbed out of the coach and
looked at the facade of the ducal residence. He stepped
out smartly, as he was eager to see Charles again. He
almost ran up the steps and a footman had the door
open before he got there. Havers looked at Richard
enquiringly.
    ‘Lord Richard Dunsmore.’ He announced himself
properly for a change. ‘I was invited by Charles
Stafford.’
    ‘Of course, My Lord. The Marquis is in the
garden with Lady Amelia. If you’ll follow me, Sir.’
Richard was surprised. Who is Lady Amelia? He
thought. Pound to a penny it’s a future wife! He
followed the butler, curbing his impatience. Eventually
they reached a wide flagged terrace and there in the
centre of the lawn was Charles in sword play with the
most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. The lucky bastard! He
thought profoundly as the butler showed him to a seat
at the table.
He watched the girl, more than Charles. She was
wearing a pale yellow gown with lime green ribbons.
Her hair had been severely braided to her scalp and was
a sort of mousy brown. Her skin was like alabaster and
her face was alive with mirth, green eyes glinting and a
smile curved her lips. She handled the wooden sword
like an expert. He admired the strength of her wrist as
she lunged at her opponent’s torso. Charles barely
managed to parry the thrust.
‘You see, I was right!’ Lady Amelia shouted in
glee. ‘You would never be able to make Swiss cheese of
Ponsonby at the moment!’ and she lunged again,
forcing Charles onto his back foot. It was a thrust
designed to make him shuffle backwards and if she’d
followed it to a successful conclusion, her wooden
sword would have hit him squarely in the solar plexus.
‘For heaven’s sake! I can’t run around yet!’
Charles replied, as he parried again. ‘I can barely make a
riposte!’ and there was a sudden clash of wood and
Charles’s sword went flying across the exquisitely
tailored lawn. Lady Amelia let out a triumphant yelp as
the point of her wooden sword pricked Charles’s shirt
over his heart. ‘Very nice!’ Charles said as he looked
down at the offending timber. ‘It’s a good job these are
made of wood!’ and Lady Amelia laughed gaily as he
turned to retrieve his sword and saw Richard sat at the
table. ‘Richard! You’re early!’ Charles carefully retrieved
his walking stick from the grass and limped towards the
terrace. ‘When did you get here?’
‘About five minutes ago. Are you going to
introduce me?’ he asked impertinently, getting to his
feet as Kitty arrived at the table with the swords.
‘Of course, Lady Amelia, this is my friend Lord
Richard Dunsmore.’ Charles smiled as Richard bowed.
‘Richard, this is my sister Kitty!’
Kitty did a perfect bob curtsy and said hello
demurely. ‘I must go in now. Aunt Agatha is taking me
to the dressmakers this morning. So, I shall see you at
lunch?’
‘I would think so, Kitty. Have fun and don’t skimp
on the lace. Make it expensive for the clumsy oaf!’
‘I will!’ she called as she ran into the house.
‘I thought you told me you had a little sister.’
Richard said thoughtfully as he watched her vanish
through the french windows.
‘She is my little sister.’ Charles said and laughed
coarsely. ‘I wasn’t going to tell you she’s only four years
younger than me!’
Kitty flew up the stairs into her bedroom. She
carefully donned a bonnet, to match the green ribbons
adorning her lemon muslin morning dress and a Spencer
in dark brown velvet. She looked critically at her
reflection in the mirror as she carefully buttoned up the
short jacket hugging her bosom, making sure the
upright collar wasn’t flopping down as she did up the
last button against the hollow of her throat. As she
carefully pulled on some kid gloves, she looked out of
the window at her brother and his friend on the terrace. He looked handsome. She thought as she picked up the
brown velvet reticule, the damaged gown and dashed
out of