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

life.
    Jewel turned over and faced him, snuggling her head on his shoulder. A strange protective sensation washed over Adam. He wondered just what he was getting himself into.
    If he wasn’t careful he could have deep emotions for this slip of a girl. But that was impossible; he knew nothing about her. He rubbed his calloused hand over her soft arm. The skin felt cool and damp. The fever had broken. And Annie had thought him incapable of caring for Jewel. “I guess I’ve shown her,” he murmured before drifting off into a long- awaited sleep. Tomorrow, he had a long ride into London.
     
     
    The early morning sunlight filtered in through the white batiste curtains, bathing the room in soft yellow. Adam opened his eyes to find Jewel snuggled next to him, her arm draped across the black hair of his chest. Careful not to disturb her, he slipped out of bed and retrieved his shirt from the chair.
    He heard her soft mumbling, and walked over to the bed. “What did you say?” he asked.
    “Hold me,” she said sleepily.
    Adam chuckled. “I’d like to, luv, but I’ve other pressing matters this morning.” He realized she didn’t know what she was saying, but he hoped she would awaken today so they could really talk. Perhaps then he could extract her from his mind.
    She slept like an angel. But what if she wasn’t one? His brow wrinkled with the unpleasant thought as he buttoned his shirt.
    God, he needed some answers!

Chapter Three
     
     
    Images filled her dark world.
    First, a flash of blue—beautiful, tranquil—then flashes of white as two ships bobbed like tiny corks in the middle of a stormy sapphire sea. Billowing canvas sails flapped in the wind, catching her attention just before someone yelled, “Come about!”
    Suddenly, a loud explosion jarred her, followed by shouts of panic from all directions. The sails came tumbling down, and she saw blood . . . lots of blood.
    Jewel tossed and turned in her fever-induced sleep, trying to cry for help, but the sound wouldn’t come.
    Somewhere a man screamed in agony. Blood oozed between his fingers as he turned and glared at her. She gasped at the sight. His cheek had been ripped open from his mouth to his ear.
    The grotesque face was too close for comfort as he reached out and grabbed her wrist, sending the small, bloody knife she held skittering across the deck. Jewel tried to swing out, but someone held her arms. She couldn’t move.
    She couldn’t breathe.
    She was going to die.
    When she looked again, her attacker had disappeared, and Jewel slipped back into the timeless void she’d been in before.
    Peaceful sleep ... no pain. Such a blissful state. She wanted to stay here forever.
    She felt something cool on her forehead, and her eyelids fluttered open and she found herself staring into the Devil’s black eyes. Her bottom lip quivered as she pleaded, “Please, don’t hurt me.”
    The words had barely been uttered before she drifted back into a foggy state of sleep. She felt the comfort and warmth of the Devil, and vaguely heard his softly spoken words, which left her with a feeling of contentment.
    Strong arms cradled her close, yet she sensed those same arms were capable of crushing the very life from her body. But for now they offered her comfort.
     
     
    Jewel rose from the depths of her sleep and blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the light.
    She lay upon her stomach encompassed in fluffy, white comforters strewn across her. She wasn’t quite sure she wanted to crawl out of her warm cocoon, but she sensed that she must. Raising her head, she recoiled at the soreness that seemed to cover every inch of her body. “Oh!” The moan escaped her.
    Pushing herself up onto her knees, despite protesting muscles, she managed to stay in a crouched position until the blackness that threatened to once again engulf her faded away. She must have been very sick to feel so awful, she thought as she slowly turned and sat up so she could take in her