Read Online An Apple Pie for a Duke by Ruby Royce - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ruby Royce
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harlots,” the voice rumbled on.
Lackerby
began to stutter. “N-no, S-Sir, the, la-la-la-dy is just a
f-riend.”
“ Aren't
they always?”
It
was the man on the couch!
“ Sir,”
Dominic said crisply. “It is particularly discourteous to address a
gentleman without facing him. Whatever business you have with the
Viscount should at least be worth a proper greeting.”
The
man laughed throatily. Then he got up and turned.
It's
a giant!
The
man was almost seven feet tall. His shoulders were broader than those
of an ox and an enormous white beard covered his face.
It's
Jupiter!
All
the while Lackerby stood unmoving by Dominic's side.
“ Well,
boy, here I stand, looking at you.” The giant stepped out from
behind the couch. He carried an uncanny iron walking stick, which he
surely did not need to keep him on his feet.
Is
that a skull on the pommel?
“ Pardon
me, Sir, but I don't think we've been introduced and I dislike your
manner of speaking,” Dominic insisted coldly. No matter how
intimidating that man was, he did not fear him. He was Surrey.
“ Do
you, boy? --- Eh, Lackerby? Shouldn't you also be getting married
like your foppish friend here? Could do you a hell of a lot of good,
m'lad!”
“ I
must ask you, Sir, to stop insulting the Viscount and myself.”
“ Must
you, pretty boy?” Jupiter's bright eyes were flashing.
It's
not to be tolerated. I am Surrey!
“ Sir,
I'm the Duke of Surrey. If you would kindly give me your name. My
seconds will arrange a meeting.”
“ No,
S-Surrey, d-d-don't!”
“ Quiet,
Lackerby!” Jupiter had gotten so close that he could reach out and
pat Lackerby on the shoulder. “Let your little friend and myself
get the matter straight.”
The
giant's eyes turned into slits. “Well, well, dukey. You want
satisfaction? You of all people want satisfaction from ME? I'd shoot
you without even looking up from my newspaper, sweet dandy boy.”
The huge creature was towering over Dominic. It was a situation he
had never experienced before.
“ I've
never missed a shot!” Dominic spat. He was seriously annoyed by
now. How could this maniac ruin this most special day?
“ Hmm,
hmm, hmm.” The man smiled and now it was Dominic who was being
patted. It almost threw him to the ground. “You know, I'd really
love to duel myself with you, Surrey... But what would my poor wife
say?”
“ I
believe she might call herself a widow, Sir.”
“ Oh,
she's been there, done that. She wouldn't allow it to happen for a
second time. No... What I meant is this. My wife would never forgive
me if I shot you.”
Dominic
had a suspicion. He stiffened.
“ Sir,
perhaps this is a mere misunderstanding. I'm not acquainted with your
wife. I'm not in the habit of frequenting married women. I may not be
an ascetic but I'm not fishing in other men's ponds.”
“ On
the contrary, Sir. You know my wife, and I know it for a fact. She'd
throw me out of my own house if I shot you. Oh, and my poor child!
The poor little creature! The darling girl! What would she say if I
shot her, how shall I put it, fiancé ?
After you ambushed her in a hayloft, attacked her in a bookshop and
abducted her from a ball? How could she ever forgive her old papa?”
Roaring
laughter exploded from Jupiter's mouth. His entire body was shaken by
spasms of mirth. Finally, he took Dominic's hand and shook it.
“ Your
Grace, you've proven to be a courageous man. I give you my blessing.
I want loads of grandchildren and by tomorrow. I'm an old man, you
see, I may have little time remaining.”
He
winked merrily.
“ Ah
yes, one more thing before I go. If you make my little girl unhappy,
I'll break your neck. And if for whatever reason you won't show up at
our London residence this afternoon, I’ll find you and I’ll kill
you. Did I make myself clear?”
He
winked and smiled again.
Dominic
blushed like a schoolboy. He was still thinking of something suitable
to say when their attention was drawn
Lackerby
began to stutter. “N-no, S-Sir, the, la-la-la-dy is just a
f-riend.”
“ Aren't
they always?”
It
was the man on the couch!
“ Sir,”
Dominic said crisply. “It is particularly discourteous to address a
gentleman without facing him. Whatever business you have with the
Viscount should at least be worth a proper greeting.”
The
man laughed throatily. Then he got up and turned.
It's
a giant!
The
man was almost seven feet tall. His shoulders were broader than those
of an ox and an enormous white beard covered his face.
It's
Jupiter!
All
the while Lackerby stood unmoving by Dominic's side.
“ Well,
boy, here I stand, looking at you.” The giant stepped out from
behind the couch. He carried an uncanny iron walking stick, which he
surely did not need to keep him on his feet.
Is
that a skull on the pommel?
“ Pardon
me, Sir, but I don't think we've been introduced and I dislike your
manner of speaking,” Dominic insisted coldly. No matter how
intimidating that man was, he did not fear him. He was Surrey.
“ Do
you, boy? --- Eh, Lackerby? Shouldn't you also be getting married
like your foppish friend here? Could do you a hell of a lot of good,
m'lad!”
“ I
must ask you, Sir, to stop insulting the Viscount and myself.”
“ Must
you, pretty boy?” Jupiter's bright eyes were flashing.
It's
not to be tolerated. I am Surrey!
“ Sir,
I'm the Duke of Surrey. If you would kindly give me your name. My
seconds will arrange a meeting.”
“ No,
S-Surrey, d-d-don't!”
“ Quiet,
Lackerby!” Jupiter had gotten so close that he could reach out and
pat Lackerby on the shoulder. “Let your little friend and myself
get the matter straight.”
The
giant's eyes turned into slits. “Well, well, dukey. You want
satisfaction? You of all people want satisfaction from ME? I'd shoot
you without even looking up from my newspaper, sweet dandy boy.”
The huge creature was towering over Dominic. It was a situation he
had never experienced before.
“ I've
never missed a shot!” Dominic spat. He was seriously annoyed by
now. How could this maniac ruin this most special day?
“ Hmm,
hmm, hmm.” The man smiled and now it was Dominic who was being
patted. It almost threw him to the ground. “You know, I'd really
love to duel myself with you, Surrey... But what would my poor wife
say?”
“ I
believe she might call herself a widow, Sir.”
“ Oh,
she's been there, done that. She wouldn't allow it to happen for a
second time. No... What I meant is this. My wife would never forgive
me if I shot you.”
Dominic
had a suspicion. He stiffened.
“ Sir,
perhaps this is a mere misunderstanding. I'm not acquainted with your
wife. I'm not in the habit of frequenting married women. I may not be
an ascetic but I'm not fishing in other men's ponds.”
“ On
the contrary, Sir. You know my wife, and I know it for a fact. She'd
throw me out of my own house if I shot you. Oh, and my poor child!
The poor little creature! The darling girl! What would she say if I
shot her, how shall I put it, fiancé ?
After you ambushed her in a hayloft, attacked her in a bookshop and
abducted her from a ball? How could she ever forgive her old papa?”
Roaring
laughter exploded from Jupiter's mouth. His entire body was shaken by
spasms of mirth. Finally, he took Dominic's hand and shook it.
“ Your
Grace, you've proven to be a courageous man. I give you my blessing.
I want loads of grandchildren and by tomorrow. I'm an old man, you
see, I may have little time remaining.”
He
winked merrily.
“ Ah
yes, one more thing before I go. If you make my little girl unhappy,
I'll break your neck. And if for whatever reason you won't show up at
our London residence this afternoon, I’ll find you and I’ll kill
you. Did I make myself clear?”
He
winked and smiled again.
Dominic
blushed like a schoolboy. He was still thinking of something suitable
to say when their attention was drawn
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