Read Online Lord Love a Duke by Renee Reynolds - Free Book Online
Authors: Renee Reynolds
Tags: Historical fiction, Regency, England, Historical Romance, London, Romantic Comedy, Comedy, english romance, peerage
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watched as she smiled at his
butler and footmen, unaware of the effect she had on them as they
stood taller and worked harder for her pleasure.
"Lady Juliet," he called from the door to
his study. She stopped and turned to him and he flattered himself
to think her eyes grew brighter and her smile wider as she saw
him.
"Your Grace," she grinned. "Are we still
racing?"
He gave a nod and smiled in return. "Indeed
we are." He gestured toward the door and Hastings immediately
opened it to allow their exit. They descended the stairs and began
to walk side by side to the stables. "I realized, while waiting for
you, that we named no stakes for our race."
She looked up at him in surprise. "Stakes?
We do not race for the sport, or for the bragging rights? I did not
take you for a risk taker."
"I am no gambler, or at least not a very
practiced one. And the winner shall indeed brag, but I feel a small
wager would not be untoward."
She cast him a glance and he saw the
beginnings of a wicked smile twitching about the corners of her
mouth. "I must confess, I like the sound of a wager. Tell me, what
are the stakes?"
He rubbed his chin in contemplation as they
drew near the stables. Juliet saw that her horse was saddled and standing next to Paladin, the Duke's jet
black Thoroughbred stallion.
"I am unsure what would be of value to you
in a bet. Do you have a suggestion?"
He saw her smile fade to a frown as she
looked on her horse. She looked up at him. "I suggest the winner
receives a boon from the loser," she answered almost absentmindedly
as she looked over her mount. Falling into deep thought for a few
moments she finally broke her stare then turned to address the
Duke. "I fear my horse needs a new saddle. I shall ride astride,
Your Grace."
His brows rose in surprise but he quickly
began to laugh. "Of course you do. I should have known. You
continue to amaze and surprise me, my lady."
She flushed and felt the need to explain. "I
should justify that I ride astride only when in the country, and
especially when racing. I assure you it is quite proper, although I
would never be so bold as to ride thus through Hyde Park or in
unfamiliar company. And Papa put an end to my riding in breeches
last year after coming upon me by accident when he arrived home at
Bowood. After threats of a sound thrashing, I conceded it was
somewhat ill-advised a practice at my age, even though I was
secluded on our family estate in Wiltshire. As such, despite my
modest attire now, I fear I would leave a trail of ladies and
gentlemen in full apoplexy should I sneak a ride in Town. I did,
however, work with my modiste to fashion a much more workable habit
to facilitate my seat." Juliet realized with horror she was not
only babbling but should not be talking of garments with a
gentleman and blushed furiously. She was beginning to feel far too
comfortable with the Duke and was forgetting herself.
Jonas showed no affront at her topic and
simply called for a groom to re-saddle Hera before covertly
glancing over her riding habit again. He now noticed that she
carried no skirts over her arm, as was typical for ladies who
dressed for riding. Instead, on more thorough inspecting, it seemed
her skirt gathered between her legs and fastened to buttons on
either side of her small waist. The skirt was still full, the split
nearly unnoticeable, but his mind involuntarily began to picture
the length of leg hidden by the more functional garment. "Yes, you
would no doubt make an impression on the ton ." He averted
his gaze, flustered that his thoughts strayed so easily. He did
feel strangely pleased that she was comfortable enough with him to
ride so unconventionally.
When the horses were ready they grabbed the
reins and walked their mounts to the edge of the seaside hill to
traverse the narrow path to the beach. They descended the slope in
companionable silence, neither feeling the need nor discomfort to
keep up unnecessary conversation. As soon as they reached
butler and footmen, unaware of the effect she had on them as they
stood taller and worked harder for her pleasure.
"Lady Juliet," he called from the door to
his study. She stopped and turned to him and he flattered himself
to think her eyes grew brighter and her smile wider as she saw
him.
"Your Grace," she grinned. "Are we still
racing?"
He gave a nod and smiled in return. "Indeed
we are." He gestured toward the door and Hastings immediately
opened it to allow their exit. They descended the stairs and began
to walk side by side to the stables. "I realized, while waiting for
you, that we named no stakes for our race."
She looked up at him in surprise. "Stakes?
We do not race for the sport, or for the bragging rights? I did not
take you for a risk taker."
"I am no gambler, or at least not a very
practiced one. And the winner shall indeed brag, but I feel a small
wager would not be untoward."
She cast him a glance and he saw the
beginnings of a wicked smile twitching about the corners of her
mouth. "I must confess, I like the sound of a wager. Tell me, what
are the stakes?"
He rubbed his chin in contemplation as they
drew near the stables. Juliet saw that her horse was saddled and standing next to Paladin, the Duke's jet
black Thoroughbred stallion.
"I am unsure what would be of value to you
in a bet. Do you have a suggestion?"
He saw her smile fade to a frown as she
looked on her horse. She looked up at him. "I suggest the winner
receives a boon from the loser," she answered almost absentmindedly
as she looked over her mount. Falling into deep thought for a few
moments she finally broke her stare then turned to address the
Duke. "I fear my horse needs a new saddle. I shall ride astride,
Your Grace."
His brows rose in surprise but he quickly
began to laugh. "Of course you do. I should have known. You
continue to amaze and surprise me, my lady."
She flushed and felt the need to explain. "I
should justify that I ride astride only when in the country, and
especially when racing. I assure you it is quite proper, although I
would never be so bold as to ride thus through Hyde Park or in
unfamiliar company. And Papa put an end to my riding in breeches
last year after coming upon me by accident when he arrived home at
Bowood. After threats of a sound thrashing, I conceded it was
somewhat ill-advised a practice at my age, even though I was
secluded on our family estate in Wiltshire. As such, despite my
modest attire now, I fear I would leave a trail of ladies and
gentlemen in full apoplexy should I sneak a ride in Town. I did,
however, work with my modiste to fashion a much more workable habit
to facilitate my seat." Juliet realized with horror she was not
only babbling but should not be talking of garments with a
gentleman and blushed furiously. She was beginning to feel far too
comfortable with the Duke and was forgetting herself.
Jonas showed no affront at her topic and
simply called for a groom to re-saddle Hera before covertly
glancing over her riding habit again. He now noticed that she
carried no skirts over her arm, as was typical for ladies who
dressed for riding. Instead, on more thorough inspecting, it seemed
her skirt gathered between her legs and fastened to buttons on
either side of her small waist. The skirt was still full, the split
nearly unnoticeable, but his mind involuntarily began to picture
the length of leg hidden by the more functional garment. "Yes, you
would no doubt make an impression on the ton ." He averted
his gaze, flustered that his thoughts strayed so easily. He did
feel strangely pleased that she was comfortable enough with him to
ride so unconventionally.
When the horses were ready they grabbed the
reins and walked their mounts to the edge of the seaside hill to
traverse the narrow path to the beach. They descended the slope in
companionable silence, neither feeling the need nor discomfort to
keep up unnecessary conversation. As soon as they reached
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