Read Online NOT JUST A WALLFLOWER by Carole Mortimer - Free Book Online

soundly shaking her. After which he would probably be tempted into pulling her into his arms and kissing her once again. And heaven—or more likely hell—only knew where that might lead! ‘For now,’ he bit out between clenched teeth.
    She turned and made good her escape, closing the library door softly behind her.
    Leaving Justin with the unpleasant knowledge that he might have given his grandmother’s companion little thought until this evening—apart from noticing those kissable lips and the tempting swell of her breasts like any other red-blooded male would!—but he was now far too aware of the physical attributes, and the amusement to be derived from the sharp tongue, of one Miss Eleanor Rosewood.
    * * *
    ‘Would you care to explain to me exactly why it is I am out riding with you in the park this afternoon, your Grace, chaperoned by her Grace’s own maid...’ Ellie glanced back to where poor Mary was currently being bounced and jostled about in the dowager duchess’s least best carriage ‘...when I am sure my time might be better occupied in helping her Grace with the last-minute preparations for the Royston Ball later this evening?’ She shot the duke a questioning glance as she rode beside him perched atop the docile chestnut mare he had requested be saddled for her use.
    His chiselled lips were curved into a humourless smile, blue eyes narrowed beneath his beaver hat, his muscled thighs, in buff-coloured pantaloons, easily keeping his own feisty mount in check, so that he might keep apace with her much slower progress as the horses walked the bridal-path side by side. ‘I believe you are riding with me in the park because it is my grandmother’s wish to incite the ton ’s curiosity by allowing you to see and be seen with me before this evening.’
    Ellie shot him a curious glance. ‘And what of your own wishes? I am sure that you can have no real interest in escorting me for a ride in the park?’
    Justin bit back his irritated reply, aware as he was that Eleanor was not the cause of his present bad temper. He had spent much of his time these past three days hunting down Dr Franklyn, determined as he was to learn the full nature of his grandmother’s ill health and what might be done about it.
    To his deep irritation, the physician, once found, had been adamant about maintaining his doctor/patient confidentiality. A determination that neither the threats of a duke, nor the appeal of an affectionate grandson, had succeeded in moving. Nor had he been in the least comforted by Dr Franklyn’s answer, ‘We all die a little each day, your Grace’, when Justin had questioned him as to whether or not the dowager duchess was indeed knocking at death’s door.
    The physician’s professionalism was commendable, of course—with the exception of when, as now, it was in direct opposition to Justin’s own wishes. As a consequence, he had left the physician’s rooms highly frustrated and none the wiser for having visited, and spoken with, the good Dr Franklyn.
    His evenings had been no more enjoyable, spent at one gaming hell or another, usually with the result that he had arrived back at his rooms in the late hours or early morning, nursing a full purse, but also a raging headache from inhaling too much of other gentlemen’s cigar smoke and drinking far too much of the club’s brandy. Last night had been no exception, resulting in Justin having risen only hours ago from his bed. He had then had to rush through his toilet in order that he might be ready to go riding in the park with Eleanor at the fashionable time of five o’clock.
    An occurrence which had made him regret ever having agreed to his grandmother’s request today. ‘My own wishes are unimportant at this time,’ he dismissed flatly.
    Eleanor eyed him with a slight frown. ‘I had thought her Grace seems slightly improved these past few days?’
    Justin gave her a rueful glance, having no intention of discussing his grandmother’s health