Read Online In the Bed of a Duke by Cathy Maxwell - Free Book Online Page B

better if you had an escort,” he said.
    “And I need a moment of privacy,” she informed with a note of finality.
    For a brief second, he thought of challenging her, but then realized exactly how tired she was. The braid she’d put in earlier was completely undone and, with her hair loose around hershoulders, she looked younger…but as determined as ever.
    “You’ve done more today than an army of women,” he conceded. “If you need me, call.”
    “I shall shout my lungs out.”
    He smiled at her terminology.
    “Careful, Your Grace, or you shall make a habit of smiling,” she chided.
    “I’m always on my guard with you, Miss Cameron.”
    His words seemed to catch her a moment. He expected her to offer another protest. But then, without so much as a murmur, she left the hayrick.
    He listened to ensure she was going in the right direction.
    She was.
    Phillip sat and was almost overwhelmed at how good it felt to finally relax. He couldn’t wait to get these wet boots off. They felt molded to his feet.
    Finally, he was able to have a moment of privacy for himself to review Nanny Frye’s letter. He removed his jacket. There were rips in the seams at the sleeve. He pulled the letter out and tossed the jacket aside.
    There wasn’t enough moonlight this far into the hayrick to see the words, but Phillip knew them by heart. What he wanted to do was touchthe letter, to feel it, hoping for some divine guidance as to its authenticity.
    What if all this was a hoax? What if his brother had died?
    The idea didn’t ring true.
    Whether it was false optimism or foolishness, deep inside, Phillip did believe the letter was true. Justin was alive.
    But for what purpose would someone put into play such a treacherous scheme?
    “Your turn.” Miss Cameron’s voice was the first he realized she’d returned. He’d not even heard a footfall. With a start, he quickly folded the letter and, because he’d thrown his coat aside and didn’t want to make an issue of the letter, he slid it under his greatcoat beneath him on the hay.
    She noticed his hasty movements. “I didn’t mean to startle.” Her gaze went to where his hand rested on the coat over the hidden letter.
    “You didn’t.”
    Miss Cameron moved over to the greatcoat and sat down. Immediately, Phillip rose, wanting to act as normal as possible. He placed his foot over the spot where the letter was hidden. “Felt good to take my jacket off.”
    She pulled her heavy honey blond hair over one shoulder and combed it with her fingers. “The stream is icy cold. It revived my spirits a bit.”
    “Good.” He hesitated. She looked at him with askance. He realized she was waiting for him to settle down. He picked up his jacket. “Here, you can use this as a blanket.”
    Miss Cameron smiled her appreciation, her teeth white in the shadowy darkness, and he was struck by what a good smile she had. It was an honest smile, and the tension her sudden appearance had caused eased.
    He was overreacting. He was being a complete fool. Since he’d first met Miss Cameron in the coach, she’d acted with courage and candor, and the least he could do was give her a little trust. “I’ll be back,” he told her. “See if you can get to sleep.”
    “Thank you,” she said. He’d taken a few steps before her voice stopped him. “Your Grace?” He turned. Her gaze met his. “I’ve been thinking. You are right. I should return to London.”
    There. Proof that she wasn’t in league with MacKenna. A surprising relief flooded through him. “I’ll see to it in the morning. Now, sleep.”
    He left, his step lighter.
    It didn’t take him long to do what he had to do and during that time, he regained a bit of perspective. He was going to miss Miss Cameron. Most people never told him their true opinions. Charlotte Cameron couldn’t seem to hold hers to herself.
    He’d like to bed her.
    The idea seemed to have materialized out of the thin air but once in his mind, it would not be