At the Spanish Duke's Command Read Free

her cheeks.
    â€œThey are not proper attire for a young woman attending university.”
    â€œWell, of all the—Look—” Georgiana stepped forward, eyes flashing “—everything’s been just fine up until now. Why are you determined to interfere?” She faced him head-on.
    â€œI am not interfering,” Juan replied calmly. “But while you reside under my roof you will do as I say. We are in Spain, señorita , not London. We have certain unwritten rules that we adhere to in our society.”
    â€œI’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous or archaic,” Georgiana burst out, despite her efforts to remain polite. “I shall go on the bus if I wish to. Goodbye.”
    She spun round, picked up the books that were lying on a chair next to the door, and headed towards the hall.
    In two quick strides Juan was out of the chair. Before she could take another step into the hall he had manoeuvred so that she was pinned to the wall by his hands on either side of her.
    â€œI would advise you not to do that, señorita ,” he said in a quiet, dangerous voice that left her in no doubt as to his meaning. “I’m a tolerant man, but I don’t like spoiled behaviour.”
    Their eyes met in a duel of wills, hers translucent green, his a dark, piercing chestnut that sent strange shivers coursing through her. His face was only inches away, and for a moment the thought of his lips on hers flashed through her mind. Then reality hit and her chest heaved with righteous anger.
    â€œHow dare you?” she muttered, aware that the Condessa and Fernando were interested spectators of the scene.“How dare you treat me as though I were a child?” Her chin jutted rebelliously.
    â€œIf I treated you as a child, my dear, you would already be cooling off in your room,” he remarked, eyes gleaming. “I repeat, while you are under my roof you will follow my rules.” He moved back and removed his hands, leaving her free to go.
    â€œOh, how dare you?” Georgiana spluttered, swallowing and trying to compose herself, and not show how shaken she was by his proximity. But his forceful presence, the masterful manner in which he’d ordered her to obey, left her seething.
    Without another word she flounced out of the hall and onto the vast landing. Then, not waiting for the lift, she ran down the stairs.
    In the main hall she hesitated. She could see a Rolls Royce drawing up, and Pepe preparing to open the door. What should she do? Flout him? Take the bus and risk his anger? Or concede with as much dignity as possible.
    For a moment she hesitated, then raising her small determined chin, she plastered on a smile and resolved to make the best of it. She would deal with Juan and his ridiculous autocratic notions when she got home. For now it was better to beat a safe retreat and not make a public spectacle of herself.
    Juan watched from the window as she stepped, stiff-backed into the vehicle. A smile hovered about his lips. She was going to be a handful, this one. Oh, well, it was only for a few months, and he probably wouldn’t see that much of her. But he’d meant what he said. His rules were his rules. And he would not allow them to be altered.
    By her or anyone.

CHAPTER TWO
    â€œS O, YOU and Leticia are finally setting a date, are you?” said Don Alvaro de Sandoval, the Marquis de Cabral, his deep, patrician voice laced with satisfaction. A man of medium height and build, he wore a thick curling moustache and sported a head of very white hair.
    â€œYes, Don Alvaro,” Juan replied, accepting a glass of dry sherry from Doña Elvira, Leticia’s mother.
    â€œOf course, we don’t know exactly when we’ll be married,” Letti chipped in hastily. “We both have such very busy schedules. It will be hard to find the time to fit in a wedding,” she said absently. Tweaking her bobbed brown hair behind her ears, she