The Duke's Lady (Historical Romance - The Ladies Series) Read Online Free

over the last year. “After I eat dinner, I’ll relieve you for the night,” he said.
    “Dinna be botherin’ yerself!” she protested. “I can take care o’ the lass myself. Besides, she’ll be needin’ her medicine.”
    “I assure you, I’m quite capable of administering a spoonful of syrup.”
    “But sir!”
    “No arguments! I’ll be back after dinner,” he said firmly as he shut the door.
     
     
    Precisely at eight o’clock, Adam returned as promised. Annie explained the exact dosage of laudanum that the patient was to receive, then lectured him about keeping cool compresses on her forehead. Turning to leave, she added, “Take good care o’ Jewel and call should ye be needin’ me.”
    “Jewel?” Adam turned to Annie. “Why did you call her by that name?”
    “Oh, beggin’ yer pardon, Your Grace. I be forgettin’ to tell ye.” Annie fumbled in her pocket. “I be havin’ it here somewhere,” she muttered.
    It had been a long day, and Annie’s vagueness wore Adam’s temper thin. “What are you talking about?”
    “ ’Twas just this very momin’ when I undressed the wee lass—I dinna ken what it is.” She finally pulled a piece of folded paper from her pocket. “What do ye make o’ it?”
    Carefully, so as not to cause further damage, Adam unfolded the faded brown parchment. He scanned the paper, taking in the very detailed drawings. The French words had faded in places, but Adam could make out the words for “Bay of”—unfortunately the other word was not legible. The paper had been to rn exactly in half, and one was no good without the other. Studying the map, he thought something looked vaguely familiar, but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “I don’t see any reference to a name, Annie.”
    “Look on the back, sir.”
    Adam turned the map over and saw the inscription. In French it read: “ TO MY BELOVED JEWEL, MAY THE TREASURES OF THE WORLD BE YOURS.” The name scrawled on the bottom was JEAN.
    “What do ye make o’ the parchment?” Annie asked.
    Adam read it again. So her name was Jewel. But Jewel what? And who was Jean and what right did he have to refer to her as his beloved? Adam scowled, not liking any of the possibilities that ran through his mind. Could she be nothing more than a common doxy? No. He refused to believe the worst just yet. Perhaps Jean was her brother or maybe her father, Adam reasoned. Somehow that thought sat better with him.
    Why in the world would she have a map? Evidently it was valuable, and possibly the reason she’d been beaten. He tucked the folded paper into his pocket for safekeeping. All but forgotten, Annie stood with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot and awaiting a reply.
    Adam turned his attention back to her. “I beg your pardon?”
    “I do say, mon, where has yer mind been? I’ve been talkin’ for the last few minutes. Come to think o’ it, ye’ve not acted like yerself since ye found the lass.”
    Adam, not wanting to comment on his thoughts, gruffly swore. “Annie, damn it, what did you say?”
    “I asked, what ye be thinkin’ about the drawin’?” Annie replied in a rather offended tone.
    “It’s possibly a treasure map; however, this half is no good without the other.” His gaze strayed to the bed, wondering if the girl was as innocent as she looked. “She could have stolen it. Remember, we don’t know anything about her. I guess we’ll have to wait for all our answers until she’s recovered.” He rubbed the back of his neck. He really didn’t need a discussion just now. “Good night,” he said, dismissing Annie.
    After she left, Adam once again turned his gaze upon Jewel’s small and delicate features. Short black hair framed her oval face, and soot-black eyelashes rested on her flushed cheeks. Reaching over, Adam felt her forehead. It still burned with fever.
    He moved to the washstand, where he poured fresh water into a porcelain bowl, then carried the bowl back to the bed. He sat down on the