The Danger of Dukes Read Online Free

Darling?” he asked.
                  “About midnight now I suppose.”
                  “Time for bed then, you need some sleep,” he ordered.
                  “I will not leave this room until the doctor comes to look at you!” she said sitting up and crossing her arms over her breasts.
                  “But-” he started.
                  “No buts,” she cut in. “I will stay here! If I have to sleep on the floor I will.”
                  Suddenly he tugged her onto the bed where she tumbled over him. He gave her a grin and then winced.
                  “Sleep on the bed then.”  Her worried look he added, “I won’t do anything to you.”
                  Too tired to argue she said, “Wake me up if something is wrong, got that?” then she drifted off before she could hear what he said.
     
     
    …
     
     
    Warm and toasty was what it felt like to wake up in the arms of a man she found she liked quite a bit indeed, but the next event of there being a knock on the door and then a short little man with only a few tuffs of white hair on his head walked in calling, “Yer Grace?”
                  She scrambled off the bed, over to the little man and pointed at Lord Brendan. “He had a bad fall and hit his head, I did the best I could but I fear that it may need stitches, and please,” she added more quietly, “Do not stare at his scars it bothers him.”
                  The old man smiled and patted her hand. “Don’t worry dear, we’ll get him fixed right up.”
                  The doctor was quick and it was almost painless, but she had to turn away for she loathed needles so. When he was done the doctor told him loudly he needed his rest, some good food and good person to take care of him. The old man winked her way and said to Lord Brendan, “You have a most becoming wife, my lord, but not only that, she may have saved your life. You are very lucky.”
                  Without either of them getting a word in he left with a wink and a smile.
                  She turned to Lord Brendan and blushed clear to her roots. “I am sorry he mistook-”
                  “Well I am not, now come here,” he demanded from where he was propped up with pillows. She did as she was bid and sat when he told her to. Lord Brendan took her hands in his and gently stroked them with his thumbs. The accident has had me thinking and I believe it is best for both of us-”
                  Please don’t send me away now!
                  “-that we stay together as a team of sorts. I clearly need you. What do you think?”
                  Puzzled she frowned a bit, thinking. “I guess so.”
                  He laugh softly at her confused look. “I am asking you to stay. With me. Forever.”
                  Her eyes widened. “What?!”
                  He frown slightly. “Is it not to your liking?”
                  She shook her head vigorously. “Not at all! I was merely surprised. I would love too. As long as you are okay with one thing?”
                  “What is that?” he asked seriously.
                  “You have to let me love you. I won’t stay without love,” she said with a smiled softly.
    He pulled her close and squeezed her in his arms. “Thank you for bothering to put up with an old man.”
    “You are not an old man, you are my brother’s age, and I think, you did grow up together which makes you no older than thirty and I am eighteen, my Mama was younger than Papa by twenty years. It is alright.” She tapped her chin with a finger, “The only problem is telling my brother that I am going to be your mistress.”
    Brendan spluttered, “Mistress? That’s what you got out of what I asked you?”
    “Well yes, in