Read Online The Pirate's Duchess: A Regent's Revenge Novella by Katherine Bone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katherine Bone
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steward to watch over her and aid in the running of their estate. He’d become a pirate to undermine Lord Underwood and limit his power. And he’d come back to keep Lord Underwood from using her to get the map. Good God, she thought, panicking. A few days ago, in her naïveté, she’d set the survey in front of Lord Underwood’s face hoping that she and Basil could obtain a partnership that would benefit both estates. Thank God she’d refused to leave it and had taken it back with her to Blackmoor.
“Come,” he said, taking her hand. “It’s time.”
She turned slowly to Mrs. Denny and sucked in a supportive breath, hating herself for leaving the woman alone with her baby. She was the Duchess of Blackmoor. For too long the mantle of protection had been on her shoulders. But the Dennys depended on Tobias’s estate for their livelihood. Who was she to fail them?
“God’s speed, madam,” Mrs. Denny said, dipping a curtsy.
Prudence nodded solemnly. “Thank you.” She reached out and caressed the baby’s face, her heart purged of any ill feelings about the lies the Dennys had told her. Their oath to Tobias proved they were trustworthy people. “Take good care of him,” she said, offering a silent prayer this madness would end.
Would she ever hold her own baby in her arms?
Tobias gently took her hand and led her toward the exit. Each cloaked in borrowed dark wool, they eased out the back door and slipped outside, meandering through the Dennys’ walled garden. They didn’t stop there but moved through an opening in the stones, then quickly followed a rocky trail. Tobias expertly led the way, making her wonder how he knew this terrain. He put up his hand, giving a silent order for her to stop. Then he disappeared, but not for long. Within moments, he returned to lead her down several treacherous inclines covered in fern, gorse, blackthorn, and primrose before a small boat appeared, tied to a sunken post.
The titillating danger heightened her senses, making her feel more alive than she’d ever felt. She attributed the sensation to Tobias’sso-called labor of lov e— her freedom. Her heart clenched. Was it possible he was finally telling her the truth? The Dennys believed him, had helped him. Mrs. Denny even trusted Tobias with Mr. Denny’s life. What benefit was there in it for him to lie to her now?
Their breaths misted before them, fanning about their shoulders as she hurried to follow Tobias. Tension thickened the spring air as he carefully signaled for her to board the tiny vessel. She moved to do as he’d bade her, inhaling a stabilizing breath when her foot dipped into the cold water, soaking her slipper. She settled into the boat, refusing to complain as Tobias momentarily disappeared again. Sitting alone, cold, afraid the tiny vessel would break free of its mooring and she’d be swept out to her death, Prudence bit her lower lip to keep from crying out as she watched her husband—apparently an infamous pirate—barrel out of the bushes, untie the ropes holding the cutter steady, then lift the oars and navigate the boat by pushing them off the riverbank into the swift-flowing current. By the time they were safely in the middle of the river, her nerves were worn thin.
They traveled in silence. Water lapped against the hull as Tobias worked the oars rhythmically into the river. Prudence sat stiffly before him, struggling to catch her breath. She’d never felt so at odds with her emotions before. Even while her heart had been breaking, Tobias had been fighting to protect her. And he’d kept her safe until she’d found the map. What would happen to them now?
All at once, Mr. Leyes’s salutation echoed in her ears: Your prayers have been answered, child. Go in peace.
Yes. She’d been given a miracle. Tobias was alive. Would it be possible for them to live in peace? Tobias’s vendetta against Lord Underwood could lead him to his grave—permanently. She’d be a fool not to forgive his
“Come,” he said, taking her hand. “It’s time.”
She turned slowly to Mrs. Denny and sucked in a supportive breath, hating herself for leaving the woman alone with her baby. She was the Duchess of Blackmoor. For too long the mantle of protection had been on her shoulders. But the Dennys depended on Tobias’s estate for their livelihood. Who was she to fail them?
“God’s speed, madam,” Mrs. Denny said, dipping a curtsy.
Prudence nodded solemnly. “Thank you.” She reached out and caressed the baby’s face, her heart purged of any ill feelings about the lies the Dennys had told her. Their oath to Tobias proved they were trustworthy people. “Take good care of him,” she said, offering a silent prayer this madness would end.
Would she ever hold her own baby in her arms?
Tobias gently took her hand and led her toward the exit. Each cloaked in borrowed dark wool, they eased out the back door and slipped outside, meandering through the Dennys’ walled garden. They didn’t stop there but moved through an opening in the stones, then quickly followed a rocky trail. Tobias expertly led the way, making her wonder how he knew this terrain. He put up his hand, giving a silent order for her to stop. Then he disappeared, but not for long. Within moments, he returned to lead her down several treacherous inclines covered in fern, gorse, blackthorn, and primrose before a small boat appeared, tied to a sunken post.
The titillating danger heightened her senses, making her feel more alive than she’d ever felt. She attributed the sensation to Tobias’sso-called labor of lov e— her freedom. Her heart clenched. Was it possible he was finally telling her the truth? The Dennys believed him, had helped him. Mrs. Denny even trusted Tobias with Mr. Denny’s life. What benefit was there in it for him to lie to her now?
Their breaths misted before them, fanning about their shoulders as she hurried to follow Tobias. Tension thickened the spring air as he carefully signaled for her to board the tiny vessel. She moved to do as he’d bade her, inhaling a stabilizing breath when her foot dipped into the cold water, soaking her slipper. She settled into the boat, refusing to complain as Tobias momentarily disappeared again. Sitting alone, cold, afraid the tiny vessel would break free of its mooring and she’d be swept out to her death, Prudence bit her lower lip to keep from crying out as she watched her husband—apparently an infamous pirate—barrel out of the bushes, untie the ropes holding the cutter steady, then lift the oars and navigate the boat by pushing them off the riverbank into the swift-flowing current. By the time they were safely in the middle of the river, her nerves were worn thin.
They traveled in silence. Water lapped against the hull as Tobias worked the oars rhythmically into the river. Prudence sat stiffly before him, struggling to catch her breath. She’d never felt so at odds with her emotions before. Even while her heart had been breaking, Tobias had been fighting to protect her. And he’d kept her safe until she’d found the map. What would happen to them now?
All at once, Mr. Leyes’s salutation echoed in her ears: Your prayers have been answered, child. Go in peace.
Yes. She’d been given a miracle. Tobias was alive. Would it be possible for them to live in peace? Tobias’s vendetta against Lord Underwood could lead him to his grave—permanently. She’d be a fool not to forgive his
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