Read Online The Duke by Catherine Coulter - Free Book Online

of warm air from the great roaring fire at the opposite side of the room nearly smothered her. She wanted to cough, but she didn’t. She saw her grandmother dominating the family, holding court from her faded, high-backed chair, smoke-blackened from its years of proximity to the fireplace. Scores of candle branches illuminated the cozy scene.
    She heard a rich, deep laugh. In an instant her eyes sought out the owner, and she found herself staring, mouth agape, at the gentleman from the curricle. She felt color rush to her cheeks, and stood rooted to the spot. Oh, my God, was all she could think.
    Oh, my God. What had she done?
    He laughed again at something Grandmama said. Even though she was across the room from him, she saw his strong white teeth when he laughed. She realized that he was even larger than she remembered, his swarthy countenance heightened by the snowy white ruffled shirt that reminded her of a pure expanse of clean snow. In the glowing candlelight his eyes seemed as dark as his black satin evening coat. A very elegant gentleman he appeared, and certainly many pegs above any of Grandmama’s friends from Edinburgh.
    Oh, my God.
    â€œBrandy, there ye are, child. Come here at once and make yer curtsy. Ye’ll not believe what the bowels of England have coughed up.”
    Brandy’s eyes flew to her grandmama’s face, and with the lagging step of a person bound for the guillotine, she bowed her head and forced herself to walk forward. It was the longest walk of her life. At the very least, she’d get the whip.
    â€œYe’re quite late, miss, but no matter, all understandable. His grace has just been telling us of yer interesting meeting and how you trimmed his sails butgood. I told him ye were my granddaughter and I’d taught you everything ye knew.”
    Oh, my God. What was going on here?
    She fully expected to be taken apart by every verbal apparatus known to her grandmother, but she sounded amused and pleased. Something wasn’t right. She forced her eyes to her grandmama’s face and indeed saw amusement. His grace. The truth struck her with such force that she nearly collapsed with shock. He was the English duke—their new master.
    â€œMiss Brandella,” he said in a rich, lazy voice.
    Without thought, she said, “Brandy, my name is Brandy.”
    â€œVery well, Brandy.”
    â€œMake yer curtsy, child.”
    Awkwardly Brandy bent her knee. She didn’t want to look at him. She just wanted to turn around and leave the room. She’d be pleased with cold porridge for supper. Perhaps the floor would open up and she could fall through to Hades, where Grandpa Angus probably was. She bet he’d be glad to see her. He’d always loved to scream at her.
    Lady Adella yelled at her, “I’ve never seen ye tongue-tied before, miss. Now, what is the matter with ye? He too handsome for ye to even look at? He’s handsome, I’ll grant ye that, but I can look on him. And if I can look at him, then ye can because ye don’t know anything about men in any case. Now, stop yer bloody nonsense and bid hello to our kinsman, the Duke of Portmaine.”
    She’d gotten her scolding after all, but maybe she wouldn’t get the whip. “Good evening, sir, I mean, yer grace.”
    â€œIan, my name is Ian.” He strode to her and, with the grace of long practice, detached her hand from the folds of her skirt and kissed it lightly. “I am most delighted to see you again, cousin. Your older sister,Constance, has already regaled your family with our small misunderstanding of this afternoon. You appear none the worse for it, my child. I trust that now you will most sincerely accept my apology.”
    He grinned down at her. “I was driving like a madman, wasn’t I?”
    â€œNo, not really. It was just when I saw Fiona run toward you that you became quite mad quite quickly. I was terrified for her. I should have realized