Read Online The Reluctant Duke (A Seabrook Family Saga) by Christine Donovan - Free Book Online Page A

to
be on the arm of a handsome duke would be…
    “Ahhh,” she
sighed. Of course, he would only escort her. Once there, he would excuse
himself and leave her to dance the night away with strangers. Or perhaps Lord
Norwich would be kind enough to dance a waltz or two with her. Emma had never
waltzed with a gentleman before except for the waltzing master, Mr. Danbury.
And the thrill of dancing such a scandalous dance with the duke had her body
warming with excitement. If only he . . .
    During the long
evenings in her cabin she wrote in her journal. Years from now she wanted to
remember everything about this trip. Everything from what she ate daily to what
she did to pass the time. Like now, only her eyes refused to stay open, and the
rocking ship lulled her into a deep sleep.
    ***
    Thomas settled
into his cabin nicely, thanks to Giles. He was relaxing on the bunk when Myles
knocked and poked his head inside the door.
    “Are you busy,
Thomas?” he asked, his tone solemn.
    What brought on
the sudden seriousness in his friend? Myles only used his Christian name when
he either needed a boon or was bothered by something serious. Thomas took a
closer look and found his friend’s brows drawn and his mouth turned down into a
frown. It appeared something weighed heavily on his mind.
    “No, come in
and have a drink. I stashed several bottles of brandy in my trunk.” Thomas rose
from the bed and gestured to one of two available wooden chairs in the small
cabin. “Have a seat.” He handed Myles a glass and sat down on the other
available seat.
    “So, tell me
what’s troubling you,” Thomas urged. “I’ve not seen you look this forlorn since
we were boys and your father sent away the young maid you were infatuated with.
Of course, you had politely announced to your father at the mature age of
ten-and-five that you were going to marry her, so it was understandable.”
    Those words
brought a smile to Myles’s lips. “Yes, well, first love and all that. Wish it
were that easy now.”
    Puzzled, Thomas
asked, “Wish what were that easy?”
    Myles jumped up
and paced the small cabin. Six strides one way and four the other. Not much
room for pacing off one’s frustrations.
    “I met someone
in New Orleans, or rather on the ship going to Orleans.” Myles flopped back
down on the hard surface of the chair.
    “Do tell,”
Thomas encouraged.
    ***
    Normally Myles
would not discuss intimate details involving liaisons with young women. This
time, the excruciating pain of keeping his feelings to himself overwhelmed him,
and he needed to talk it out. Needed his good friend’s advice since Myles knew
he was too far gone, too much in love, to think clearly.
    “While on my
travels I had the great privilege of meeting and attending a ball given by the Conte and Contessa Com Du La Fleur who
reside in the French Quarter of New Orleans.” Just thinking about Sophie had
his pulse raging. “I had the misfortune of falling for their daughter, Sophie.”
    “Yes, well, the
look on your face makes perfect sense now,” Wentworth said.
    “Humph.” Myles
took pride in hiding his feelings like any other properly bred Englishman, and
this was not easy. “I left abruptly as Sophie is betrothed to another, a Mr.
Bernier. I didn’t want to cause more of a scandal.” At the raised brow from Thomas
he added, “Dueling with her intended with rapiers caused enough embarrassment
to Sophie’s family.”
    Wentworth
appeared incredulous. “To have you duel with her intended caused more than
embarrassment; you caused a scandal for the poor girl.” He paused, rubbing his
chin. “What shocks me is that you dueled at all. Not to be insulting, but your
skill with swords is less than desirable. And if you dueled, how is it you are
here today, alive and unharmed?”
    Myles raked his
hands through his long hair. “I sought the help of a Mr. Basile Croquere, a
talented fencing master. I believe it will not be long before he belongs to the
famous Maitre