Taming A Duke's Reckless Heart: Victorian Historical Romance Read Free

hadn’t resisted when he touched her. She never let men take such liberties.
    Mr. Maddox began walking her mother up a gangplank, and the driver dropped the trunks at the bottom of the plank. He mumbled about the neighborhood and then made a beeline for the carriage.
    Piper stood there as Mr. Maddox helped her mother onto the boat. She heard her mother’s voice trill with laughter. Her teeth ground together. She could not possibly get these trunks up the plank. She looked to the man, who had saved her, for assistance, but he was walking her mother away from the rail.
    “Excuse me,” she called. Piper shook her head. She sounded ridiculous. Small and ridiculous. Had she imagined he was going to kiss her? Now he didn’t even seem to know she was alive. Men didn’t leave her at the bottom of a plank!
    “Piper, where is the driver? Why are you down there with the trunks?”
    Piper sighed at her mother’s words.
    “He left, Mother.” Piper looked up at the boat and its occupants. She couldn’t help but notice it was an impressive vessel. The Destiny was painted on the side. What an unusual name for a boat. Well, he was a duke.
    He called to someone on deck and two men came rumbling down the plank and grabbed up the trunks. Each man hefted one on his shoulder and started back up to the deck.
    Piper glanced up. It looked like she would have to make her way up herself. She started on wobbly legs, but Mr. Maddox came down to meet her.
    He reached his hand down and she put her gloved one in his. Even with the cloth between them, another jolt went through Piper’s body. She looked at him with absolute confusion.
    Mr. Maddox only gave her another one of his stilted smiles and gently began pulling her up the plank. She wobbled again and he pulled her closer, tucking her into his side. The feel of his body sent shock waves coursing through her. She was at a complete loss as to how to deal with them.
    “I’m normally quite sure footed, only tonight has made me unsteady. I’m not usually so…” She was rambling again.
    “It’s all right.”
    Her cheeks filled with color. She was making a fool of herself.
    “Are you hungry?” He had turned to her mother.
    “No, thank you. We ate before we left. Piper, I was girlhood friends with Mr. Maddox’s mother, Lady Priscilla Fairfield Maddox. Now the Duchess, of course. What a small world.” Her mother smiled like a schoolgirl.
    Piper straightened her shoulders. She had to stop acting so foolish. “Wonderful Mother.” She gave her mother a forced smile.
    “Do you have family in England still?” Mr. Maddox asked Piper.
    “Yes, of course,” she replied. “Actually my cousin, Lady Sybil Fairfield, Viscountess of Abberforth, is waiting for us in New York.” She donned the smile she usually gave men. She needed to get some measure of control over this situation and this was the best way she knew how.
    His eyes narrowed slightly and he frowned at her but he nodded. He seemed to disapprove of what most men loved. It was disconcerting, and her flirty look fell from her face. He turned to another man as he approached. “Captain Jack, this is Lady Vesser—”
    Her mother interrupted, “Mrs. Baker. Please just call me Mrs. Baker.”
    “Of course, and her daughter Miss Baker. If you could escort the lady to my quarters, I will give them over for the night.”
    The captain nodded. Mr. Maddox turned to her mother. “Would you mind if I spoke with your daughter for a few minutes. I will make sure we are well chaperoned, and I will deliver her shortly.”
    Her mother nodded but Piper gasped. “Mother, it just isn’t—”
    “Hush dear. This man saved your life. No one from society will see you here.” Her mother turned with the captain and left.
    Piper assessed the man in front of her and her nerves danced again. She had no idea what he wanted to speak with her about. Which was so unusual. She always knew what men wanted from her.
    Instead of asking her anything, he signaled for