The Danger of Dukes Read Online Free Page B

asked quietly.
                  “This girl is now your problem,” he said in a deep gruff voice handing over the girl to the young man. “Her father left her to be your ward until she comes of age and in so can collect his estate and funds. I wish you well, my lord. And,” he paused then shook his head, “Just take care of her; let no harm befall that child.”
                  Lightening split the sky.
                  “I shall try,” vowed the young lord.

Shadowed Memories
     
     
     
     
     
    The fire was coming from every direction its burning eyes searching for me under the bed. It had spread, already taking Mama and Papa into its glowing arms. I curled up, quivering in fear, waiting for it to consume me as well, but it never came. A stronger pair of arms stole me away instead bringing me in to the cool night air. Sobs racked my small body making it hard to breath and finally I had the air to let out a long keening wail.
                  I woke up with a start in my bed gasping for air. I rolled over and lit a candle on the bedside table to send the shadows fleeing back. I was safe; the fire couldn’t get me here.
                  “Mistress?” a soft voice called quietly from my bedchamber’s door.
                  “Yes, Millie, please come in,” I answered back softly.
                  She slowly entered closing the door quietly behind her. She sat gently on the edge of the great bed.
                  “I’m sorry, but I thought to wake you before Cook hears you downstairs, you were screaming.”
                  “Hateful old hag, she is, I tell you what,” I huffed. “I will be eight and ten tomorrow and no longer a child, I will no longer shrink from her beatings anymore. Plus, what would our lord say if someday he magically reappears and sees me covered head to toe in theses bruises?” I peeled back the arm of my nightgown showing purple bruised hand and cane marks upon my left arm.
                  “Oh my,” she gasped. “Why do you not write our lord? Surely the Master could do something?”
                  I set my chin. “Now that I shall be old enough I shall stand up to her, I will. She has taken care of me these past ten years while your Master went prancing about the mainland. I need to stand up for myself once in a while. I hate being meek,” I pouted.
                  Millie giggled at my pout. “That you do, Mistress. That you do.” She sobered, “But what if it goes on after?”
                  “She has beaten me for years when I truly did nothing wrong, really I didn’t. But that shall stop. I am the ward of the Master and as such she has to listen to me, if she doesn’t change I shall toss her out on her ear!”
                  Millie looked unsure, but nodded. “If you say so.” She rose and went to the door. “Are you sure you shall be fine alone tonight?”
                  I nodded and smiled a little. “Of course, thank you and good night, Millie.”
                  She nodded and left.
                  Of course I would be fine; I had a plan in mind.
     
     
    …
     
     
     
    Millie hadn’t taken her Mistress’s words to heart. The girl meant well, but Cook was twice her size and a hand taller, the older woman would have no trouble fending the poor girl’s attack off. So Millie took out a piece of parchment and wrote a quick note to the Duke of Ravenbrood. She knew the moment he got it he would have no choice, but to come save Miss Isadore from Cook. Too many times had she seen the younger woman’s bruises.
                  It was time the duke came home after ten years away, time for him to face his unwanted orphan.
                  She slipped the note to the waiting rider and bid him to make haste if she was lucky he would be back within a