To Pleasure a Duke Read Free

placed them behind her back; she sensed that this man would not respond to weakness. He was a great deal taller than she and now he looked down at her, making use of that height to intimidate.
    “What in the blue blazes did you think you were doing, woman? I could have run you down!”
    “If you had been more cautious—”
    “Cautious?” he repeated, furiously, as if she were insane to suggest it. His eyes were dark and stormy, his hair the same color beneath his hat, and his lips curled. Plainly he’d like to throttle her. She glanced down at his hands, saw them clenched into fists, and took an involuntary step back.
    Her movement seemed to bring him to his senses.
    “You’re unhurt?” he said, his voice dropping. “The children?”
    The twins were standing nearby, watching, for once still and silent, while Jack murmured to the horse. “Shaken, that is all,” she said.
    His dark eyes swept over her and she thought for a moment she saw a spark of interest in them. But Eugenie knew she must be mistaken. She wasn’t the sort of girl men found interesting at first sight.
    He looked over his shoulder, as if suddenly remembering his mount, and Eugenie followed his gaze, and smiled. Jack had worked his usual magic on the creature. It was resting its chin on his shoulder, nuzzling against him.
    “Good God,” the gentleman muttered. “I’ve never seen him do that before.”
    “Jack has a way with animals,” Eugenie replied, the pride evident in her voice.
    Those dark eyes were back on her again. “And you are, madam?”
    Eugenie gave a little smile and dipped a curtsey. “Miss Eugenie Belmont. And these are my brothers, Jack, Bertie, and Ben. We live at Belmont Hall.”
    He nodded as if he knew it but she could read the puzzlement in his face. “Somerton,” he said brusquely.
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Somerton,” he repeated. “It’s my name.”
    “How do you do, Mr. Somerton?” her wretched tongue joked.
    He gave her a narrow look. “I beg your pardon?” he repeated her own words back to her.
    “I’m sorry. Of course I know you are His Grace, the Duke of Somerton.”
    The most important man in the county and reportedly the most eligible man in England, she added in her mind but thankfully did not say it aloud.
    He moved toward his horse without replying—he was probably used to people treating him with goggle-eyed reverence. But Erik the billy goat had no such respect for the duke’s position in the realm and he chose that moment to come cantering down the lane and, head lowered, butted the duke square in the buttocks.
    His Grace went sprawling most ungracefully, his long body thudding to the ground, arms and legs splayed out, his hat rolling toward Jack’s feet.
    “Oh my . . .” Eugenie gasped, shocked into a little giggle. “I am so sorry.”
    She hurried to his side, a sharp look at the twins stopping their loud hoots of laughter, or at least muffling them.
    Bending down she clutched his arm and tried her best to help him to his feet. Irritably he shook her off, getting to his feet under his own power. After one glance up at his face she didn’t look again; she did not dare. Instead she took hold of Erik’s rope, gripping it securely in case he tried to escape, but the billy wasn’t concerned. He looked completely unrepentant and didn’t seem to realize that his future was looking very bleak indeed.
    “Erik,” Jack said in a wavering voice, “you—you very bad boy.”
    The goat rolled his eyes at his young master, as if inviting him to enjoy the joke.
    “You know you’re not to butt strangers. Apologize. Now.”
    Eugenie had seen Jack’s magic before but it still amazed her when the billy goat went down on his front knees and bowed his head. The Duke of Somerton, who had never seen it, was clearly speechless. His mouth twisted as if he wasn’t sure whether to roar with rage or shout with laughter.
    “You have to forgive him, sir,” Jack explained anxiously. “Otherwise