Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
To her surprise, it was the very tall, intimidating-looking Duke who strode out of the trees. He was dressed in long black trousers, tucked into his black Hessians. He held a riding crop; it swung back and forth, appearing and disappearing from view as his hands were clasped behind his back. His face was grim and made even darker by his unkempt beard and long hair. His piercing gray eyes were narrowed, as he eyed the pup with what looked to Janice like suspicion.
* * *
She jerked, wanting to run forward and throw her body between him and the tiny animal. Before she could move, however, he was bending over, peering down at it as if he’d never seen such a thing in his life. A second man appeared behind him, dressed like a groom. The duke pointed down at the puppy and said something.
* * *
The groom bent down and picked it up from the mud, making a face at the dirty animal. He held it far from his body as the duke said something else to him. Janice could see the animal trembling from where she was and was not inclined to stand around and wait to see if they decided to let it live or not. She strode forward, her heart racing.
* * *
“Your Grace?” she called as confidently as she could.
* * *
He turned, his eyes widening with surprise. “Do I know you?”
* * *
“I doubt it. My name is Lady Janice Raven of-”
* * *
His eyes lit up with recognition. “Yes, I do know the Ravens.” His mouth twisted sardonically, “Who doesn’t?”
* * *
His gaze raked her figure from head to toe and then he seemed to dismiss her. “I see everything they say is true.”
* * *
She narrowed her eyes at him, stung at his words and his quick dismissal of her. “Everything they say? Who may I ask, is they, and what authority do they have to speak of us?”
* * *
He lifted his hands in conciliation. “My apologies. That was an uncalled-for thing to say. I was merely…surprised by your presence and spoke out of turn. May I help you with something?” He bent forward towards her as if eager to hear her every word.
* * *
“Actually, I thought to help you by relieving you of that puppy. He seems in need of care and our grooms are quite schooled in the treatment of domestic animals.”
* * *
He quirked an eyebrow. “Actually, I have already asked my groomsman to fetch the farrier so-”
* * *
“Oh, that won’t do. The farrier is off to Cardiff, don’t you know? With the Hemsworth horses competing in the race there.”
* * *
“Oh.” The duke’s face fell. “I was not aware.”
* * *
“Well, I suppose you do not race horses and so would have no need to know.”
* * *
“Mmm,” he said noncommittally.
* * *
“Well?” Janice held out her hands. “Why don’t you hand me the puppy and I’ll be on my way?”
* * *
The duke looked behind her. “You are all alone?”
* * *
“Er…yes.”
* * *
He frowned, looking up at the rapidly darkening skies. The clouds were gathering again. Janice suspected it would be a wet night. “Surely your father did not let you out by yourself when it’s getting dark?”
* * *
Janice laughed, amused at the idea of her father keeping her locked up. “We are not prisoners you know?”
* * *
His frown deepened. “I did not mean-”
* * *
She waved a hand dismissively. “Think nothing of it. Hand me the pup and I shall be gone.”
* * *
The duke took the pup from the groom but did not hand it to her. Instead, he tucked it under his arm. “Come then, I shall escort you back home,” he said as he began to walk towards the road.
* * *
She stared at him, stupefied. “Your Grace, I’m sure that’s not necessary at all.”
* * *
“I beg to differ,” he declared, not bothering to turn and see if she was following. She scampered after him, feeling quite wrong-footed.
* * *
“Why? Do you think me so incompetent that I cannot find my own front gate in the dark?”
* * *
“No. I think that a lone woman dressed so provocatively is courting trouble walking in the dark.”
* * *
She stopped walking, putting her hands on her hips in indignation. “Provocatively?” she squeaked in disbelief, “Me?”
* * *
He stopped walking, turned, and raked her with his eyes again, from head to toe, and lingering on her hips. He quirked an eyebrow at her but said nothing. She looked down at herself, trying to see herself through his eyes.
* * *
“I can see the shape of your buttocks,” he said bluntly.
* * *
She gasped, taking a step back. “Well…I…” Her mouth was dry, and she was at a loss for words. No one had ever spoken as so to her before.