The Duke's Challenge Read Online Free Page B

was full of….’
    ‘Oh pray,
don’t tell me! I’ve no desire to know what awful things reside in there.’
    Beth grinned.
‘Can we go down to the maze? You can see it from your window if you look out
and then we can wave to you.’
    ‘As I’m in bed that’s of little help. But go – I’m sure it
is safe. Please tell Annie to come and speak to me on your way out to the
garden.’
    She swung her
legs to the floor for the second time that day. Her head remained on her
shoulders and her legs didn’t tremble. She stood, holding on to an oak corner
post to steady herself . Should she risk a small walk
around the room? She would dearly like to see the maze; she recalled her mother
had mentioned it once.
    The journey
to the window was slow but completed without mishap. She collapsed gratefully
on the wooden window seat and rested her face against the leaded panes. Yes,
there it was, but where were the smooth lawns and trimmed and cultivated
flowerbeds? Before her was a veritable meadow - long golden grass flecked with
late poppies and cornflowers stretched in all directions. The yew maze was
discernible but so dense she wondered how the children managed to negotiate it.
    The stone
mullion was cool beneath her fingertips and she was glad she had on her thick
wrapper. She heard heavy footsteps approaching and smiled. At last; Annie was coming
up to answer her questions. It didn’t occur to her to question why her maid
servant was not using the servant’s passage.
    The knock on
the door was loud, startling her. ‘Come in.’
    The bed
chamber door swung open and a man, in his shirt sleeves and stockings, burst
in. Her mouth rounded in shock. His eyes narrowed in appreciation.
    ‘I beg your
pardon for intruding, Miss Carstairs, but I need to talk to you.’
    She shrunk
back into the embrasure, her hands clenched in her lap. He looked so big, so
tough and so very angry. Only then did she notice the vicious scars that ran
from right side of his temple, down across the corner of his eye to his mouth.
He was a soldier, no wonder he appeared formidable.
    ‘Excuse me…
your grace, but I must ask you to leave my room, this instant.’
    His mouth
curled with contempt. These words had an all too familiar ring. ‘I shall do as
you bid. But speak to you I shall and sooner, rather than later.’
    She watched
him straighten his shoulders and turn. He swayed and for a moment she thought
he would fall, but he regained control of his limbs and left the chamber as
abruptly as he had entered. She felt strangely stimulated by the unexpected
encounter. She scrambled to her feet and walked across to the bell rope by the
mantelshelf.
    She tugged it
hard. There was a rattle, a cloud of plaster and dust, and it came free from
the ceiling leaving a gaping hole in its place. Coughing and spluttering, she
stepped away from the debris.
    ‘Good lord,
miss, whatever next?’ Annie bustled in, her round features creased with
concern.
    ‘I am unhurt
but I now have a large hole in my ceiling.’ She grinned. ‘I have just received
a visit from the duke. I know, don’t poker up, Annie, I sent him out
immediately.’
    ‘I should
hope so too. Whatever was Lord Thurston thinking of to visit you here?’
    ‘I don’t
believe he was thinking at all, I believe he was a trifle bosky. Imagine coming
to see me in his shirt sleeves and stockings!’
    ‘And you
should not be out of bed, remember what Dr Andrews
said?’
    Charlotte
shrugged. ‘I have no recollection of any doctor saying anything. However, I
intend to get up, with or without your assistance.’
    ‘If you insist, Miss Carstairs. You sit down on the bed
whilst I fetch your garments. Is there anything particular you wish to wear?’
    There was not
a great deal of choice in her limited wardrobe. ‘I should like to wear my green
afternoon dress. The one with the long sleeves and high neck
line.’ She had no intention of exposing her bosom to the duke twice in
one day.
    It took longer
than usual