GypsyDukeEpub Read Online Free Page A
Author: Unknown
Master John would never hurt you. Anyway," she got that dreamy look again, eyes soft and staring into space. "One evenin' after I'd broke with Tad...he was still after me for a bit o' coin. Thinks I'm bacon-brained, he does. Lays hisself up in the pub most nights. I can't believe Master John's steward took him on."
"Ray…you were saying."
"Right. My Ray. Well, Tad would have had my reticule if Ray hadn't come upon us. He may be quiet, but it don't mean he's a coward," she said with a fierce bob to her head. "He stepped right up to Tad all stiff and tall-oh, you should have seen him, miss." Kitty smiled to encourage the story along. "Then he says, 'I think the lady asked you to unhand her.' Well, Tad, he gets off all cocky and bluff, but Ray seen it for what it was and dinna back down. So Tad comes at him all out. Could 'ave really hurt him if he caught him, but Ray stepped to the side then knocked him on the ear. Tad dropped like a stone. What a lightweight!"
In a way, it was a touching story. All it had taken for Amy to lose her heart was one quiet hero. All it had taken for Ray was one woman who saw him that way. Could it be that simple? But John had no one from which to defend Kitty.
"What happened after? Ray didn't leave you standing there, did he?"
Amy waved her hand like an imperious duchess. "Course not. He walked me home with nary a word. Though I thanked him and begged him to come in and meet me Mum, he just wouldn't do it. Still, every time I saw him 'round the village, I could see his eyes a followin' me."
Now they were getting somewhere. Anticipation curled in Kitty's stomach like a cup of warm cocoa, and she leaned closer. "So, what did you do?"
"When I was afeared he'd no more 'n look 'til I was an old maid, I winked at him."
"You didn't!"
"I did." Amy giggled. "He was leaning against the rail, front of the smithy's place. You know the one."
"Of course."
"I walked past like no one was there, and then...right when I reached him, I looked over and winked bold as you please."
Kitty gasped. "You didn't."
"I really did."
"And that worked? He came and asked for you?"
"Not right away. He looked all in a brown study for a minute, like he was thinkin' on what to do. So I dug in my reticule like I was searchin' for somethin' then peeked at him again, and the man grinned and winked at me. And that was the start."
"The start of what?"
Amy considered with a finger to the side of her mouth. "Well, he sort o' made sure he was always leanin' there waitin' when I left ye, and I made sure I always had a wink for him. In less than a week, the man was holding my arm as he escorted me home."
Kitty sighed. "A wonderful story, Amy. I am so happy for you."
"Yes, that's all there was to it. Just had to let him know I was thinkin' of him." She stood and rubbed her hands on her skirt. "Now, I guess you best write your letters. Do you need anythin' else, sweet?"
Kitty jumped off her bed and gave Amy an impulsive hug. "Nothing, you are the best abigail a girl could have."
"Oh, go on, you." Amy blushed, slipping out of Kitty's arms. "Call if you need anything, m'lady."
Kitty's thoughts remained a jumble. All she needed was a wink for John to know she was flirting. Was she bold enough to do such a thing? She could scarcely wait to see his reaction.
John returned Renegade to the stable then climbed the stairs to his room to change. He entered with Grayson hard on his heels.
"Did you enjoy your ride, milord? Was Lady Katherine well?"
"Yes, fine, Grayson. Where is my mother?"
The valet knelt and yanked at John's boots. "I believe your mother retreated to the conservatory. The solicitor and your uncle are sequestered with your father." He set the boots aside then reached for John's riding jacket. "I mentioned to Cook you'd returned. She's making a tea tray. Should I send it along to the conservatory?"
John had more important things to think about than food, but if he didn't agree to eat, his servants would continue to
"Ray…you were saying."
"Right. My Ray. Well, Tad would have had my reticule if Ray hadn't come upon us. He may be quiet, but it don't mean he's a coward," she said with a fierce bob to her head. "He stepped right up to Tad all stiff and tall-oh, you should have seen him, miss." Kitty smiled to encourage the story along. "Then he says, 'I think the lady asked you to unhand her.' Well, Tad, he gets off all cocky and bluff, but Ray seen it for what it was and dinna back down. So Tad comes at him all out. Could 'ave really hurt him if he caught him, but Ray stepped to the side then knocked him on the ear. Tad dropped like a stone. What a lightweight!"
In a way, it was a touching story. All it had taken for Amy to lose her heart was one quiet hero. All it had taken for Ray was one woman who saw him that way. Could it be that simple? But John had no one from which to defend Kitty.
"What happened after? Ray didn't leave you standing there, did he?"
Amy waved her hand like an imperious duchess. "Course not. He walked me home with nary a word. Though I thanked him and begged him to come in and meet me Mum, he just wouldn't do it. Still, every time I saw him 'round the village, I could see his eyes a followin' me."
Now they were getting somewhere. Anticipation curled in Kitty's stomach like a cup of warm cocoa, and she leaned closer. "So, what did you do?"
"When I was afeared he'd no more 'n look 'til I was an old maid, I winked at him."
"You didn't!"
"I did." Amy giggled. "He was leaning against the rail, front of the smithy's place. You know the one."
"Of course."
"I walked past like no one was there, and then...right when I reached him, I looked over and winked bold as you please."
Kitty gasped. "You didn't."
"I really did."
"And that worked? He came and asked for you?"
"Not right away. He looked all in a brown study for a minute, like he was thinkin' on what to do. So I dug in my reticule like I was searchin' for somethin' then peeked at him again, and the man grinned and winked at me. And that was the start."
"The start of what?"
Amy considered with a finger to the side of her mouth. "Well, he sort o' made sure he was always leanin' there waitin' when I left ye, and I made sure I always had a wink for him. In less than a week, the man was holding my arm as he escorted me home."
Kitty sighed. "A wonderful story, Amy. I am so happy for you."
"Yes, that's all there was to it. Just had to let him know I was thinkin' of him." She stood and rubbed her hands on her skirt. "Now, I guess you best write your letters. Do you need anythin' else, sweet?"
Kitty jumped off her bed and gave Amy an impulsive hug. "Nothing, you are the best abigail a girl could have."
"Oh, go on, you." Amy blushed, slipping out of Kitty's arms. "Call if you need anything, m'lady."
Kitty's thoughts remained a jumble. All she needed was a wink for John to know she was flirting. Was she bold enough to do such a thing? She could scarcely wait to see his reaction.
John returned Renegade to the stable then climbed the stairs to his room to change. He entered with Grayson hard on his heels.
"Did you enjoy your ride, milord? Was Lady Katherine well?"
"Yes, fine, Grayson. Where is my mother?"
The valet knelt and yanked at John's boots. "I believe your mother retreated to the conservatory. The solicitor and your uncle are sequestered with your father." He set the boots aside then reached for John's riding jacket. "I mentioned to Cook you'd returned. She's making a tea tray. Should I send it along to the conservatory?"
John had more important things to think about than food, but if he didn't agree to eat, his servants would continue to
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