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)
He rolls his eyes and shows the sky his palms. ‘I find your sisters quite exasperating.’
‘Don’t we all,’ I muse, thoughtful, my mouth pouting in contemplation.
The Duke opens his mouth to speak, probably to agree, but the sound of a horse interrupts him. I gasp and whirl round, seeing three horsemen on the horizon, the stampede heading this way.
‘My God,’ I murmur, noticing the Duke looking somewhat pale in complexion, matching Clara, I expect. ‘Are you all right?’ I ask. It is quite a stupid question when a gang of criminals is racing towards us.
‘This is far from ideal,’ Johnny says, pulling a pistol from his breeches, and Clara’s hands immediately lift into the air. ‘Get in the carriage.’ He takes her arm and leads her to the carriage, and she does not object, her feet working fast to keep up with the Duke’s long strides. I see the post boy jump down from his horse and start running away as Johnny slams the door and faces me.
‘I am impressed,’ I admit, thinking perhaps my new brother-in-law has learned a thing or two about handling Melrose women since he started courting Eliza. I need to get myself a pistol.
‘You will let me deal with this,’ he says. ‘If you want to come out alive.’
‘I rather do,’ I murmur, looking towards the charging horsemen, anticipation whirling in my stomach. I most certainly want to come out alive. So I can pen the story.
‘They are very dangerous men.’
‘Men,’ I muse. And there is no evidence to suggest they are dangerous, only the tall tales of the ton. ‘Have you not been reading the newspaper lately, Winters?’
‘Yes, I have.’
‘Then you will know they are not all men.’
‘It is but a myth.’
‘I can assure you otherwise, for I have seen with my own eyes.’
‘God damn you, Melrose.’ The Duke marches off and mounts his horse quite gracefully for such a big fellow, and in such a frantic situation too. ‘If you get me killed, the Duchess will certainly murder you with her bare hands.’
‘Oh for pity’s sake, no one is getting killed.’ I go to Figaro but stop when I hear what I fear is the sound of a pistol being prepared to be fired. I look back and see the Duke aiming it at me.
‘You will stay with your sister.’
The man is a crazy control freak. ‘Eliza won’t be best pleased to hear you have held me at gunpoint.’
‘I’ll take my chances.’ He trots off leisurely towards the band of horsemen, and I watch in interest, wondering what the hell he’s going to do. Hand over his gold? I smile. The Duke would never. So perhaps he will threaten them. Threaten them and they will never return. My story will be no more. All of my plans will be ruined.
Oh no.
I watch with bated breath as he is circled by the horsemen, and he holds something out to one of them, and then tosses it into one of their hands. His money? So I was wrong. Bugger, he will surely want reimbursing.
‘I am never listening to you again, Frank,’ Clara yells from the carriage. ‘You are a danger unto oneself.’
‘Oh, do shut up, Clara. You’re like a fly buzzing in my ear.’ I start marching towards the Duke, determined.
‘What are you doing?’ Clara asks, hanging out of the window of the yellow boulder.
‘Getting my story.’ And just then, the rider on the white stallion trots over to the Duke … and punches him square in the face. I flinch, gritting my teeth.
‘Oh my,’ Clara breathes. ‘You’re for it now.’
The Duke wipes his nose and spends a few moments gathering himself, until, eventually, he breaks away and trots back towards us. ‘At least you still have your life,’ I say, assessing his face, seeing just a small scuff on his cheekbone. ‘And, respectfully, it would have been a lot worse had one of the two gentlemen planted you one on the face.’
‘Shut up, Melrose,’ he growls. ‘Did you steal their horse?’
Oh shit.
Laughter breaks out behind me, Clara the source, and we both turn dark glares her way.
‘I didn’t know it was their horse,’ I say, wishing Clara would shut the hell up before I shut her up myself.
‘Jesus Christ, Frank, do you have a death wish?’
No, just a wish to know the identity of them. In fact, I would pass up the men. I care not for them. I want the woman.
‘Fear not,’ the Duke sighs, exasperated. ‘I will explain to them.’
‘Explain what?’ I ask.
‘That you’re a blithering idiot.’
‘I will explain myself,’ I declare, pulling in my jacket with my good arm and passing the Duke, wondering if I am brave or stupid. ‘I don’t know what the fuss is all about, he’s clearly found the beast.’ My eyes home in on the white stallion and the rider upon it, my heartrate increasing as I get closer, the Duke yelling at me to stop. Never.