My Unfair Lady Read Free Page B

shrugged. "One of these days, madam, I will shock you."
       Just as he turned to leave, Chi-chi came running into the room, Maria hard on her heels. "Give it to me, ya' little varmint!" she cried. The dog dived beneath Summer's skirts. "Don't think that'll save ya'." Maria sank to her knees and began lifting layers of petticoats.
       Summer didn't move, afraid she'd step on the little dog. "What's the matter?"
       "This is the stealingest dog I ever did know," muttered Maria beneath the lace. "She's got something and won't give it up."
       The duke hadn't moved, his eyes widening with each passing moment. Summer thanked God that she'd paid him to be on her side, 'cause it seemed that a day didn't pass in this house without some kind of shenanigans going on, and if he was going to be a frequent visitor, it was best to get him initiated anyway.
       "Chi-chi," she admonished. "Give it to Maria."
       The dog responded with a muffled growl. Maria leaned back on her bustle and shook her head, black hair flying.
       "Chi-chi…" warned Summer.
       The teacup-sized dog shot out from beneath her petticoats, circled the room a few times, then hopped into Maria's lap and spat out the thing in her mouth. Maria screamed and stood, tumbling dog and a very dead rat onto the carpeted floor.
       "Tarnation, it's only a rat, Maria." Summer picked the thing up by its tail while Chi-chi jumped up and down in excitement. "Here, take it."
       "I'll do no such thing," stammered Maria as she backed out the door. "Don't even know how ya' could touch such a nasty thing." Her pale green eyes flicked from her to the duke, and her face reddened in sudden embarrassment. "I forgot he was—oh, tarna tion! Ya'll never be accepted—I plumb—"
       Summer took the dead animal and wrapped it in a doily from the back of the settee and handed it to Maria. "Here, take this and the dog back downstairs." Maria made a hasty retreat with a whining Chi-chi in her arms. When Summer turned back to the duke and saw the exas peration written on his face, she couldn't help giggling.
       "I have shocked you, sir."
       "Any other woman would have been screaming right along with Maria."
       "Oh, she's just squeamish. There's no reason to be excited about a dead rat."
       He stood frozen, as if his feet were rooted to the floor. "It makes me wonder what you've seen—that a dead rat pales in comparison."
       Summer gave him back a perfect imitation of his own shrug.
       "And," he continued, "it seems that you have more activity beneath your skirts than all the whores in the East End."
       Summer suppressed a grin. Wouldn't he be surprised if he knew the hours that she and Maria had spent in the company of "light skirts" back in Tombstone, Arizona. That Maria's own mother had worked in Hafford's Saloon, and after she'd died, the other women had all pitched in to care for Maria. Summer knew that most of the ladies had been forced into the business in order to eat, and had found them to have kinder hearts and more honor than many of the society people she'd met since.
       Besides, if Maria's tales were true, once a woman became married and provided an heir and a spare, she was free to pursue any number of dalliances. What was the difference between them and the ladies at the saloon? She couldn't take offense at his remark; rather, she thought it a very witty joke.
       His face fell when he observed her reaction, obviously downcast that he hadn't shocked her with his witticism. For some reason he was keeping score on who shocked whom, and he kept losing. Summer found the duke quite easy to read and wondered why he had a reputation that frightened so many people. Perhaps the prince took his comments seriously and that's what worried others.
       The Duke of Monchester sighed and took her hand, making a slight bow and murmuring that it was time he took his leave. But when he turned to walk out the door, he didn't let go