Read Online The Duke's Men [1] What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries - Free Book Online Page B

thing, Miss Bonnaud.”
    She turned from the window to find him standing with legs apart and hands clasped
     behind his back, looking every inch a duke as he fixed her with a steely glance.
    “And what is that?” she asked, feigning nonchalance.
    “I haven’t yet agreed to your plan.”
    She girded herself for battle, ignoring the tremor of alarm that swept down her spine.
     “But neither have you suggested any other workable plan that I will agree to. So unless
     you can read my mind for the information you seek, you will have to work with me.
     Or let the matter of your brother’s handkerchief remain an intriguing mystery.”
    He scowled at her. She stared right back at him.
    At last he let out a low oath. “Given that time is of the essence, you leave me no
     choice.”
    “None,” she agreed. She’d actually won!
    She headed for the door, now that the worst was over. “I’ll see what clothes Dom might
     have that would fit you—”
    “I’ll find my own clothes,” he interrupted. “I’m sure one of my servants can provide
     attire different enough from my ‘usual finery’ to suit you.”
    “Oh.” How could she have forgotten that he would have legions of servants to order
     about and borrow clothes from? “Of course.”
    They walked out into the hall and down the stairs in utter silence. When they reached
     the entrance, where Skrimshaw already had the duke’s greatcoat and hat waiting, Lyons
     faced her with eyes glittering.
    “Forgive me for being blunt, Miss Bonnaud,” he saidirritably, “but I think you should know that the reason you’ve remained unmarried
     until now isn’t your age or lack of connections or even your illegitimacy. It is the
     fact that you are a royal pain in the—” He caught himself as Skrimshaw cleared his
     throat. “In the derriere.”
    She burst into laughter. “Dom said exactly the same thing to me before he left yesterday,
     except that he used the more colorful version. It appears that you can play the role of my brother after all. Obviously it comes naturally to you.”
    The duke must have missed the humor in that, for he glowered at her. “Then it’s a
     good thing I never had a sister. Because I would have throttled her before she was
     even grown.”
    The statement was so similar to something her brothers might have said that she couldn’t
     resent it.
    “You wouldn’t have done any such thing,” she said softly. “You would have fought to
     protect her with every ounce of your strength, the same way I’m fighting to protect
     my brother.”
    He studied her with eyes the color of a summer forest. “Then for your sake, I hope
     that Bonnaud proves worthy of your faith in him.”
    “He will.” He’d better, in any case. Or she would throttle him .
    “Very well, then. It seems we have a plan.” Taking his coat and hat from Skrimshaw,
     he dipped his head. “I shall see you in a few hours at the Golden Cross.”
    “I’ll be there.”
    Once Lyons walked out the front door, Skrimshawcame to stand beside her as she watched the duke get into his coach. “Are you sure
     about that?” Skrimshaw murmured.
    “About what? That I’ll be there?”
    “That Mr. Bonnaud is worthy of your faith in him. ‘There is a method in man’s wickedness,
     / It grows up by degrees.’ And it sounds as if your brother is edging a trifle too
     close to criminal behavior this time.”
    “Tristan isn’t wicked or a criminal, and besides—” She scowled. “Wait, were you eavesdropping on my conversation
     with the duke? That’s very rude.”
    “Is it? Half of the plays in the world contain eavesdropping. I assumed it was a common
     practice.”
    She eyed him askance. “You assumed no such thing, you sly dog. You’re well aware of
     the bounds of propriety when you want to be.”
    Skrimshaw stared earnestly at her. “Yes, which is why I know you are tempting fate
     with this wild scheme. His Grace is right about that.”
    Swallowing her apprehension, she