The Duke's Men [1] What the Duke Desires Read Free Page A

wouldn’t attempt civility, why should she?
    “You know who. Your sly arse of a brother.”
    Only with difficulty did she contain her temper. “He’s your brother, too.”
    “Or so your mother claims,” Hucker drawled.
    The cruel remark made her gasp, even as it set the other men laughing. How dare he?
     And how dare George not only allow it but laugh at the remark?
    She fought to hold her tongue, for Tristan’s life might depend upon it. Unfortunately,
     her silence only fired up the men. They edged nearer on their horses to make crude
     comments about her bosom, and to propose things she only dimly understood but which
     sounded vile.
    Within seconds, Dom appeared in the doorway. “Call off your dogs,” he snapped at his
     brother. “She’s in mourning every bit as much as us. How can you let them insult her?
     She’s your sister, for God’s sake!”
    George raised an eyebrow but wisely said nothing to that. “What are you doing here,
     Dom?”
    “I’m here to commiserate with my family— our family.”
    A sneer crossed George’s face. “Are you sure you’re not just hoping to take up with
     Mrs. Bonnaud where Father left off?”
    Lisette blinked, then lunged forward. “Why, you beastly, awful man!” Only Dom’s iron
     grip restrained her from jerking George off his gelding so she could slap his face.
    “Enough, monsieur !” Maman cried from behind her. She came out to stare coolly at George. “Your quarrel
     is with me. Leave them out of it.”
    George’s expression chilled to ice. “My quarrel is with Tristan.”
    Not for nothing had Maman been the toast of Toulon society when she was an actress.
     Though she couldn’t hide her red eyes or her pale cheeks, she could play nonchalance
     very well. “Oh? What has my son done now to annoy you?”
    “Stolen my property. And we’re here to make sure he pays for it.”
    She waved her hand. “I know nothing of that.” A disbelieving smile crossed her lips.
     “Can you prove he stole your property?”
    Hucker was the one to answer. “Witnesses saw him take Blue Blazes from the stables
     last night.”
    As Maman paled, Lisette went limp. Witnesses. That wasn’t good.
    Yet Maman persevered. “Be that as it may, it has naught to do with me. I cannot control
     my son. I’m sure he will return the horse soon. It may very well be back in the stables
     now, if your lordship would just go—”
    “I’m not going anywhere, Mrs. Bonnaud. The first place Tristan would come is here,
     if only to tell you of Father’s passing.” George stared at her with the lazy arrogance
     that made them all hate him. “So I’ll make this simple enough for even a French whore
     to understand. Either tell me where Tristan is, or vacate this cottage by first light
     tomorrow.”
    As Dom cursed under his breath, Lisette spat, “You can’t do that!”
    “I most certainly can.” George glanced at Maman. “Do you have this month’s rent?”
    “Of course not,” she said, her face now ashen. “Ambrose owns it.”
    “ Owned it. My father is dead, remember?” George said coldly. “So now the cottage belongs
     to me, and I require rent. Can you pay it? Because if you can’t, I have the right
     to evict you.” He smiled his bullying smile. “Hell, I have the right to evict you
     anyway. Especially since you’ve been harboring a thief.”
    Dom stepped forward. “Show some mercy, George. They’re still reeling from the news
     of Father’s death. We all are. Allow them time to grieve, to get through the funeral
     and the reading of the will.”
    “I hope you’re not siding with them, brother mine,” George said acidly as his horse
     danced back and forth. “Because there’s nothing in Father’s will for you. He wrote
     it shortly after I was born, and he hasn’t changed it since.”
    Judging from Dom’s sharp intake of breath, he hadn’t known that. “That can’t be true,”
     he ground out.
    “Consult with Father’s solicitor if you don’t