A Duke, Love & Sunshine by Tabetha Waite

Author:Tabetha Waite [Waite, Tabetha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WOLF Publishing
Published: 2023-09-27T16:00:00+00:00

A loud bang woke Iona from a sound slumber. At first, her heart lodged in her throat as she pictured her irate father storming into her room and dragging her out of the cottage by her ear. However, she would kindly remind him that she was five and twenty, no longer under his rule, nor relying on his support, and she could do as she pleased.

She got out of bed and walked over to peer at the clock on the mantel. Her eyes didn’t want to focus, so she rubbed them and finally she was able to read the time. It was half past four in the morning.

“Keep your voice down, you drunken sod. You’ll wake the entire house.”

Iona overheard some sort of incoherent reply, followed by masculine laughter. Curious, she padded over to the door and opened it just enough to peer out into the hallway. There, she saw Thorpe barefoot in his breeches, a shirt tossed over his torso and hanging loose, as if he’d been disturbed rather hastily. For an instant, staring at his chiseled chest, she quite forgot what she was doing up.

However, when the man he was escorting caught sight of her, he ground to a halt and offered a lopsided grin. When he spoke, his voice was directed at Thorpe. “You ol’ devil! Starting th’ fun without me! How rude.”

Iona decided he wasn’t terrible to look at, with his light-colored hair and dark eyes that captivated the recipient of his gaze and held. But it was his direct and high-handed manner that she abruptly took offense to.

“My dear lady.” He broke away from Thorpe and stumbled toward her. Thankfully, the doorjamb kept him from falling on top of her. With an arm to support himself, he leaned toward her. She blinked at the strong scent of brandy on his breath. “Where ‘as my comrade been hiding a sweet thing like you?” He narrowed his gaze and stared even harder at her. “You look familiar. Do I know you?”

A firm hand appeared on his shoulder, followed by a dark warning. “I would consider your next actions very wisely. I don’t care to have my guests assaulted.”

“I’m your guest, too.” The man almost pouted, but he gave a reluctant sigh as he started to depart, but not after he’d offered Iona a devilish wink as the duke escorted him away.

“I’ll be right back,” Thorpe mouthed to her as he disappeared farther down the hall.

Iona closed the door and waited for him to return. It was nearly a quarter hour later when he returned with a soft knock. She opened it immediately, and he strode inside with a grim look on his face. “I apologize for the Earl of Stanton’s behavior. I wasn’t expecting him to arrive this soon, nor quite so inebriated, but I fear he has a terrible time saying no.” He shook his head with a sigh and then reached out to cup her cheek. “I hope you can forgive his behavior, and me for making the mistake of inviting him here, although he rather invited himself.

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