The Duke's Deception Read Free

experience to live in a large and happy
household. I thought Grandmamma was being horribly unkind to send me away but
now I’m glad she did.’ She shuddered as she recalled her last meeting with the repellent
baronet, Sir James Russell, who had almost succeeded in carrying her off in his
carriage. ‘Tell me, what manner of man is Sir Theodore?’
    ‘There’s no
doubting your relationship. He has the self-same colour hair and eyes. He could
be your brother.’
    ‘Well, we are
related very distantly, so it’s not so out of the ordinary to look alike. But
what manner of man is he? Is he a man of sense or a mere tulip of fashion?’
    ‘I’m not the
best judge of that, miss. But I can tell you he is well over six feet and has
broad shoulders and a well turned calf. As to the rest, you had best judge for
yourself.’
    ‘I see, as bad
as that!’ She grinned. ‘Never mind, as long as he’s pleasant and leaves me to
get on with my life, I’ll be well satisfied with the bargain.’
    ‘In my opinion
Sir Theodore’s more interested in the cut of his jacket than anything else. And
that came from Weston’s and no mistake! But he looks harmless enough. And me and the lads will be close by to protect you if that
bounder shows his face, never doubt that.’
    ‘I know you
will, John and I am grateful for it. Will you be able to accompany me to
Frating Hall?’
    ‘We’re coming,
never you fear, miss. Lord Grierson will be happy to have three men and a maid
servant employed that he doesn’t have to pay out of his own pocket. He’ll not
complain
    about us.’
    Marianne didn’t
enquire who was in fact paying their
wages. She supposed these arrangements had been made by the lawyers but
thinking about such things made her tired. When the summons came for her to go
down and meet her guardian it was past five o’clock. Being kept waiting for
over two hours had not improved her temper and she was not disposed to like a
young man who treated her with such incivility.

 

 
 
 
 
    Chapter
Two

 
 
    The footman led
Marianne across the chequered hall and along the light, carpeted passageway.
She had time to admire the recently placed gold and green striped wallpaper and
the matching fabrics of the window dressings before he stopped outside the
library.
    The young man
knocked and pressed his ear to the wood. He nodded and opened the door,
standing back to allow her to enter. She heard the quiet click as it closed
behind her.
    She sank into a
deep curtsy keeping her eyes fixed to the floor, unexpectedly nervous now she
was face to face with the man who had control of her life and fortune. She
struggled to find the anger that had sustained her on her journey to this room
but it had been replaced by anxiety.
    A deep,
well-modulated voice bid her stand-up and she raised her head. ‘Welcome, Miss
Devenish. We could be brother and sister could we not?’
    The man leaning
nonchalantly against the wall, smiled and flapped a hand in the direction of
the chintz covered chaise-longue .
Marianne sat, as quickly as her shock allowed on the indicated day-bed. She
shook her head making her hated ringlets dance.
    ‘I beg your
pardon, sir, I am forgetting my manners. I am pleased to make your acquaintance
and thank you for so kindly taking me in.’
    Her guardian
made her a magnificent leg and strolled to a matching seat placed opposite. He
folded himself elegantly and stretching out, crossed his booted legs at the
ankle.
    ‘Well, my dear,
this is an awkward situation is it not? You expecting old
Uncle Richard and I expecting no one.’
    Marianne drew
breath to answer then decided his comments were rhetorical and folded her hands
in her lap and waited for him to continue.
    ‘It will not do
- you realize that? I cannot have a young miss living here. I am a bachelor.’
    She nodded,
John’s information was apparently correct. ‘Then where am I to go, sir?’
    He smiled
happily. ‘It’s all arranged. You are to reside with Lord and