Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
‘You do not find her desirable?’
I hate lying to my sister. ‘Not at all.’
She laughs. ‘Are you blind?’
‘No, I am not.’
‘Are you sure? Really sure?’
‘Yes, I am quite sure.’
‘So you can see that you are naked?’
‘What are you blathering on about?’
‘This,’ Eliza says, motioning down my body, and I frown as I glance down to my chest. My naked chest.
‘Oh,’ I breathe.
‘What is it with us Melroses dashing around the square in a state of undress?’ Eliza smiles, and I join her, taking her in a hug. ‘We must keep up momentum in sales, Frank. We have another machine to pay for now.’
I laugh under my breath. ‘No pressure,’ I whisper. But I am confident. All of the ingredients are there, I just have to put them together.
‘I want your word, Frank. No more inappropriate dalliances with unsuitable ladies. We have a name to protect. Scandal to avoid. I am a duchess now, and after everything Johnny and his family have been through, I cannot bear thinking that I might bring disgrace to their family name, not when they have only just repaired what was broken.’
‘I understand,’ I say, and it is not with reluctance.
‘I rather love my brother and should like to keep him.’
I stare at the draperies, humming my agreement. ‘I am focused on work, I assure you.’
‘You’d better be.’
‘Is that a threat?’
‘Yes, it is. I have worked hard and I am about to hand the reins to my rake of a brother who has always preferred to hold a woman rather than a pen. Papa isn’t getting any younger, you know. He should not be stressed.’
I flinch. She is right, of course. Always right. I have spent too long with my priorities askew, and I would like nothing less than to see Papa looking so forlorn and broken again, when he thought all was lost. When he was backed into a corner by Lymington and his blackmail. This isn’t only about sating this reborn desire to write, the spark. It is about continuing Father’s legacy. ‘You have my word. Now, come with me as I wish for you to make friends with His Grace.’ I have no doubt my intervention on this matter will be received with gratitude, and, hopefully, if the Duke was to ever discover that I very nearly ruined his sister, he might spare me my life and perhaps only break one leg. ‘Come,’ I say, breaking our hug. ‘Let me take you to your husband.’
‘Where is he?’ Eliza asks, pulling on a coat.
‘With Papa in his study.’
‘Oh, wonderful. Papa knows?’
‘It is not Papa you should be worrying about, but our crafty little sister.’
‘Oh no, the whole square will know. And what of the stable boy, Frank? Good grief, Clara is heading for trouble.’ Indeed. It is not only I who can bring disgrace to this family.
‘I can’t say I enjoy this,’ I admit. ‘But even I can appreciate this is an unsuitable match. We have no choice but to order his return to the countryside before their friendship is discovered, but I fear I do not carry enough clout to make such demands.’
‘No, but Johnny does.’ Eliza pouts. ‘Such a shame, it is. He is a sweet boy, but even I am worried for Clara’s dreams, for they are certainly more impossible than mine ever were.’
‘She is sixteen, Eliza,’ I remind her. ‘This is calf-love. She knows not of true love.’
‘And you do?’
‘No, and I have never claimed to.’ I reach for my jacket to pull it in, frowning. I look down at my bare chest.
‘I see you still haven’t found your clothes.’ Taya appears from another room fastening the button of her coat dress.
I puff my chest out and smile my brightest smile. ‘You are welcome.’
She snorts and barges past me.
‘Have a wonderful day,’ I call, earning myself a jab in my naked ribs from Eliza. ‘Owww.’
‘Must you rile her?’
If I am to avoid kissing her, then yes. ‘No,’ I breathe, walking Eliza down the stairs.
‘Stay away,’ she warns. ‘That, too, is part of our deal.’
‘That is not a problem,’ I reply, sounding surer than I should.
Chapter 11
The moment we pass through the door, Mama is pouncing on my poor, helpless sister like a lion, smothering her in her affections. Of course, Florence Melrose will be flaunting this news with the greatest of pride, for not only is her daughter now a duchess, but her grandson will one day be a duke. I smile to myself. My nephew will be a duke. Who would have thought? ‘Wonderful news!’ Mama sings, cupping Eliza’s cheeks with both hands, scanning her face. ‘My God, you are glowing already!’
‘Mama, please,’ Eliza breathes, taking her hands and releasing them from her face. ‘If I am glowing it is merely because I am roasting hot.’ She blows out air, flapping the front of her coat. ‘Are the fires raging?’