The Duke in Disguise Read Free

each other?

"Hello, Father," Stephen said, wariness making his voice sound even higher than normal.

Meriel was glad to put all her concentration back on her pupil, where it belonged. He would need her comfort when his father dismissed him. Mrs. Theobald had warned her about the duke's disregard.

To her shock, the duke knelt on one knee to look in the boy's face.

"You are well, Stephen?"

"Of course, Father." The little boy was tense, his fidgeting gone.

"I see you've begun your studies. I hope you've been behaving for your governess."

"Yes, Father. I like her."

They discussed her as if she wasn't there. Even after all these months, it still took Meriel a moment to remember that she was almost a servant now.

"She likes numbers, just like I do," Stephen continued, his words rushing faster and faster as if he might be stopped. "We go on long walks and we even find things in the woods, like birds' nests and beetles and flowers. Miss Shelby knows everything ."

A blush swept from her chest up to her face as Stephen's praise caused the duke to look up at her. Under his regard, she tried to remind herself of his poor reputation, of his preference to look at pretty servants. But his black eyes, fringed with more lashes than a man had a right to, trapped her within his gaze. She couldn't look away, couldn't remember to feel affronted by his regard.

"Miss Shelby is an accomplished teacher," the duke said softly.

He got to his feet and moved away, and she breathed a sigh of relief. He looked out the window with a restlessness that made her feel more at ease.

Stephen followed him and began to talk about their studies, his reading and writing and the simple history she'd begun to interest him with. He had a good mind, and she knew she could teach him much, if only he could focus better. He'd spent so much of his young life in the outdoors that she tried to set at least one lesson outside each day.

But although his father looked out the window as if the grounds interested him more than his son, they spoke together for several minutes, both of them used to doing the speaking. They each gestured with their hands. Meriel found herself backing away to sit in a corner of the room, not wanting to disturb this small amount of time Stephen had with his father.

To her dismay, there was a part of her that knew when the duke was looking at her. Never before had she met a man who could captivate her attention, who could make her know deep inside that he was man.

She had thought she was learning to conquer her traitorous emotions. Her heart had betrayed her where her parents were concerned— she hadn't seen the truth until it was too late. She'd vowed that only sound logic would rule her life. But her reaction to the duke confirmed her worst fears. She was once again leading with her emotions, rather than her intellect. It was a weakness she could not afford. She would conquer it.

    Chapter 2
    I t was difficult to keep Stephen interested in addition and subtraction that afternoon when Thanet Court seemed to be coming alive with the duke's homecoming. The servants bustled everywhere, as if preparing for a party instead of just one man. Stephen sat at his desk, his head cocked toward the corridor, listening for the next interruption, until finally Meriel agreed to take him for a walk about the house, as long as he promised to behave himself.

He led her to his favorite place, the kitchens, where he was allowed to taste all the evening's confections. Servants bustled from the pantry to the washroom to the cellars, and all had a kind word for him.

Meriel stopped the housekeeper, Mrs. Theobald, when she was hurrying through. Though constantly busy with the immense household, the older woman always made one feel just as important as the master. It made her beloved by the servants, and had set Meriel at ease from the first. Mrs. Theobald kept her white hair tidy under a neat lace cap, and her ever-present apron over her black uniform was always