Dusky Duke and the Gypsy Pirate Princess Read Free Page A

mystery lady shrugged, “The season is at an end.”
    “Tell me you do not plan to leave tomorrow, surely.”
    “No, but by the end of the week most likely,” her voice was trying to discourage further contact.
    “Then there is still time.”
    “We need to go back, now.” Her voice was soft, but firm.
    “Of course,” They walked in silence for a minute. Greyson racked his brain trying to think of a way to detain her, to find out her name, to secure an invitation to tea, anything. Dance, he would ask her to dance again, another perfect waltz.
    As they reached the foot of the balcony stairs, Greyson turned to ask when the expression on her face stopped him. She was staring with rapt attention at two figures on the balcony. Greyson looked up to see the young girl in pink wrestling in the arms of a man.
    His mysterious, young lady was gone in a second, racing up the stairs in a flash. After a startled second, he followed, but as he came to the top of the stairs, all he found was the young man lying on the porch floor. Both girls had vanished.
    Greyson strolled up to the moaning gentleman. Rolling him over, Greyson recognized him as Lord Towell, Earl of Suxess. Greyson frowned down at him, and then looked around. No one had seen the incident, but him, and, of course, the two girls. The Earl was quite clearly drunk off his feet. Greyson moved to the ballroom and found a butler to help the dandy to his carriage.
    Greyson spent the next three hours searching the house to no avail. She was gone. And Greyson still did not know her name.

Chapter 2
    Grayson waited impatiently for his grandmother to appear downstairs late the next morning. He appeared at her side as she settled herself in her favorite chair in the formal parlor.
    “Grandmother, I find myself in need of your guidance.”
    SarahBeth Buckingham looked at him with speculation. She could not remember the last time he had asked for her help. “What have your sisters done now?”
    She watched him pace back and forth. “No, no, this has nothing to do with them.”
    His grandmother tilted her head and waited.
    “I . . .I met someone at the ball last night.”
    His grandmother’s face reflected her surprise at this announcement and a smile of delight rapidly followed, “Well, we shall invite her and her family to tea.”
    Her grandson paused to lean against the hearth, “Yes that would be the plan if I knew the young woman’s name.”
    “What?” SarahBeth’s mouth formed a perfect ‘o’.
    “She didn’t tell me her name, and I don’t know who she is.” Some of his disappointment leaked out into his tone.
    “Well, surely you know something about her?”
    The duke considered for a moment. “She is this tall,” he held a hand to his chin. “She has dark hair, and bright green eyes. She laughs like Christmas, and she smells like vanilla, and she has a wicked sense of humor.”
    The duchess laughed.
    “That doesn’t help us much, does it? We have to find her before the end of the week. . .that is when she said they were leaving.”
    “To go where?”
    Grey raked his hand through his hair in frustration, “I don’t know.”
    ♣♣♣
     
    Grey stood against the back wall, willing no one to notice him. This was the fourth ball he had attended in as many days. He had such high hopes when his grandmother had said that he should just attend the remaining functions of the season until he ran into her again. Night after night he had searched, but she had not appeared. He had actually stood still to be formally introduced to each and every young eligible. But none of them was her. He raked his hand through his hair again. He wanted to leave, but there was a chance she could still make an appearance. He felt the sands of time slipping through his fingers. The week was almost over.
    He lifted a glass from a passing tray. He had attended the closing events of the season, had asked the young bucks at the clubs. He had not seen a hint of Lord Byron, or Miss