A Duke in Shining Armor Read Free

so!” Emily realized what she meant.  “But Aunt Evelyn, I will be ruined!” Emily exclaimed, as a deep feeling of dread crept upon her. “And I have never lain with a man before!”
    She on more than one occasion recently had to fight an enamored gentleman from her.  They tried to kiss her and fondle her, and she had managed to escape such a fate thus far. 
    Evelyn delivered a viscous slap across Emily’s face that left her reeling.  “Child you were ruined the day you were conceived now be gone from my sight!”  Emily stood up and ran blindly back to her own room.  Despair filled her as she realized what the all mighty Duke and his party would take from her on the morrow.

 
    Chapter 2
    Clinton Wells, the grand Duke of Norchess rubbed his chin in concentration as he read a letter from his mother for the third time.
    “I don’t rightly know old chap; maybe you should cancel our plans for your year of freedom and run back to mommy dearest.” His best friend from childhood Jonathan Radcliffe, the future Viscount Cornwell said from his chair in the carriage house they had stopped in for the night. His friend he met while at school, Thomas Faircloth , the future Marquis of Ridgewood raised his eyebrows but made no comment.
    All three had recently completed their studies and were out for their year among the ton sponsored by the Duchess herself.  It is a way for the young men to sow their wild oats before settling down with a wife and children.  His mother’s correspondence most surely was important if she sent a footman on a wild chase to find him.  His mother though, could act quite dramatically when it came to her eldest child and heir.
    He sighed and crumbled the letter up in his hand, it was obvious from the letter it was not a life or death situation.  “I do recognize the sarcasm in that statement friend, and I choose to ignore it.”  He turned to the weathered footman. “Please sir, go to the kitchen and refresh yourself while I prepare a letter for you to take back to the Duchess of Norchess.”  The footman gave him a quick nod and hurried down the stairs.  He got a parchment and ink from a corner desk in the room and wrote his mother a quick reply.
      Jonathan watched him carefully as he sealed the letter. “What Jon? Just say it.” Clint said getting a little perturbed by his friends knowing stare.
    “We are going back aren’t we?” Jon said as if he knew for certain that would be Clint’s reply.
    “Actually we are not Jon, have a little faith in my ability to see us have a grand year at the ton of society.” 
    “By God, that is grand news, I daresay I was sure you would run back to fix whatever ails your mother.” Jon slapped his leg and stretched his arms behind his head.
                  Clint cocked his head at his friend with a smile, “Grand news indeed, Jon seems that my mother sent a poor servant all this way just to inform me that the widow Mary Ellenburg and her lovely unattached daughter Elisabeth have arrived and were sorely disappointed by my absence.”  He poured a glass of whiskey and took a long swallow.
    “Mother and her matchmaking will be the death of me.” Clint muttered. Jon broke out into infectious laughter that soon caught on to Clint.
      “Do you remember the last time the lovely widow and her daughter visited, Elisabeth boxed both of our ears for putting a frog in her bed all the while swearing she would hate you to the day she died?”  Jon said once their chuckles had subsided.
                    “Yes, terrifying her was always a great game, Elisabeth and I have a brother and sister affection nothing more.”  Clint paused to take another drink.  Clint was sure his mother would have several suitable mates for him by the time the beginning of the season came about.
    “So what have we planned for tonight?  I am sure you have something up your sleeve to guarantee us the reputation as rakes before our year is over.”