Read Online The Guardian Duke: A Forgotten Castles Novel by Jamie Carie - Free Book Online
Authors: Jamie Carie
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sir."
"Lady Featherstone, as I can see you have no idea of the dangers of these roads at night, I insist that you allow me to accompany you into town. I'm sure your friend the prince regent would have my head should I let trouble befall you."
Oh, dear. He wasn't buying a word of it. Alex dipped her head and pasted on a fake smile. "Very well. That is most kind of you." She reached over and grasped the door handle, pulling it firmly closed in his face.
As soon as he rode out of sight, darkness flooded the interior of the carriage. She let out a big breath and leaned back against the seat with a groan.
True to his word, Lieutenant Haggerty led the small company of soldiers right into town. They passed through the town gate, saw a massive stone structure that was probably an abbey or ancient castle, and then rumbled down a cobblestone street to the main part of the town. The old carriage shuddered to a stop in front of a building. Light flooded the street in yellow squares from the windows and she could hear a bow gliding over the strings of a fiddle. The sign hanging above the door read Black Friars Inn. Alex wasn't sure she should trust the lieutenant's choice, but she was really too hungry and tired to care. As long as they would give her some supper and a bed, she would take it.
The carriage door swung open before she had a chance to open it herself and there stood the lieutenant, dressed in a bright red uniform. She gave him a weary smile and allowed him to take her gloved hand in his to help her down.
"The place seems quite busy, sir. Do you think they will have an available room?"
"I shall be sure of it, my lady. If you would be so good as to allow me to escort you inside and transact the business of it on your behalf?"
"Thank you, Lieutenant Haggerty, but I am perfectly able to arrange for my own room. I would not be indebted to you in such a manner."
"To assist a beautiful lady as yourself would only prove the highest honor. Please, I beg you." He leaned over her hand, still grasped in his, and brushed a kiss across the back of it.
Alex gasped and snatched her hand from his. "You do me great honor with the escort, sir. No further assistance is required." With her teeth gritted she turned away from him and marched into the inn without looking back, Mr. Howard on her heels.
Mr. Howard leaned forward toward her ear and muttered, "Sorry, my lady, but I know these types. You must give them what they want or else be the sorrier for it."
Alex cast a long-suffering look over her shoulder. Sure enough the soldiers were following them into the inn, Lieutenant Haggerty in the lead and looking none too happy. "He'll not be getting what he wants," she murmured to herself but loud enough to be heard by the coachman who only coughed and looked away.
There was a long counter with a man standing behind it at one end of the room. Alex rushed over to him and had arranged a meal for Mr. Howard and herself and paid for two beds before the lieutenant made it through the throng and by her side.
"You rushed off so quickly, my lady. Please, allow me to share your table for dinner."
"Why, Lieutenant, I thought you must have more pressing matters to attend to than keeping me company. Are the roads safe without your patrols?"
He had the audacity to narrow his eyes at her and touch her cheek. "Nothing would give me more pleasure than keeping you safe. I fear the inns of England are no place for a lone woman. I shall sup with you and then place a guard at your door. . . . I may even guard it myself."
Genuine fear spiraled up Alex's spine. He looked serious and sounded threatening in the promising way a rapier being pulled from its sheath was threatening.
Alex backed away from his reach and turned quickly aside. "You do me too much honor, sir." Her gaze darted about the room for help if she needed it, seeing a large man with meaty arms; a group of younger, well-dressed gentlemen; and then lighting on an older man with long, white
"Lady Featherstone, as I can see you have no idea of the dangers of these roads at night, I insist that you allow me to accompany you into town. I'm sure your friend the prince regent would have my head should I let trouble befall you."
Oh, dear. He wasn't buying a word of it. Alex dipped her head and pasted on a fake smile. "Very well. That is most kind of you." She reached over and grasped the door handle, pulling it firmly closed in his face.
As soon as he rode out of sight, darkness flooded the interior of the carriage. She let out a big breath and leaned back against the seat with a groan.
True to his word, Lieutenant Haggerty led the small company of soldiers right into town. They passed through the town gate, saw a massive stone structure that was probably an abbey or ancient castle, and then rumbled down a cobblestone street to the main part of the town. The old carriage shuddered to a stop in front of a building. Light flooded the street in yellow squares from the windows and she could hear a bow gliding over the strings of a fiddle. The sign hanging above the door read Black Friars Inn. Alex wasn't sure she should trust the lieutenant's choice, but she was really too hungry and tired to care. As long as they would give her some supper and a bed, she would take it.
The carriage door swung open before she had a chance to open it herself and there stood the lieutenant, dressed in a bright red uniform. She gave him a weary smile and allowed him to take her gloved hand in his to help her down.
"The place seems quite busy, sir. Do you think they will have an available room?"
"I shall be sure of it, my lady. If you would be so good as to allow me to escort you inside and transact the business of it on your behalf?"
"Thank you, Lieutenant Haggerty, but I am perfectly able to arrange for my own room. I would not be indebted to you in such a manner."
"To assist a beautiful lady as yourself would only prove the highest honor. Please, I beg you." He leaned over her hand, still grasped in his, and brushed a kiss across the back of it.
Alex gasped and snatched her hand from his. "You do me great honor with the escort, sir. No further assistance is required." With her teeth gritted she turned away from him and marched into the inn without looking back, Mr. Howard on her heels.
Mr. Howard leaned forward toward her ear and muttered, "Sorry, my lady, but I know these types. You must give them what they want or else be the sorrier for it."
Alex cast a long-suffering look over her shoulder. Sure enough the soldiers were following them into the inn, Lieutenant Haggerty in the lead and looking none too happy. "He'll not be getting what he wants," she murmured to herself but loud enough to be heard by the coachman who only coughed and looked away.
There was a long counter with a man standing behind it at one end of the room. Alex rushed over to him and had arranged a meal for Mr. Howard and herself and paid for two beds before the lieutenant made it through the throng and by her side.
"You rushed off so quickly, my lady. Please, allow me to share your table for dinner."
"Why, Lieutenant, I thought you must have more pressing matters to attend to than keeping me company. Are the roads safe without your patrols?"
He had the audacity to narrow his eyes at her and touch her cheek. "Nothing would give me more pleasure than keeping you safe. I fear the inns of England are no place for a lone woman. I shall sup with you and then place a guard at your door. . . . I may even guard it myself."
Genuine fear spiraled up Alex's spine. He looked serious and sounded threatening in the promising way a rapier being pulled from its sheath was threatening.
Alex backed away from his reach and turned quickly aside. "You do me too much honor, sir." Her gaze darted about the room for help if she needed it, seeing a large man with meaty arms; a group of younger, well-dressed gentlemen; and then lighting on an older man with long, white
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