Say Yes to the Duke by Kieran Kramer

Author:Kieran Kramer
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Chapter Seventeen

The duke was standing at one of the windows himself, and when he turned around he wore his usual indifferent expression. But when he saw his grandmother in the Bath chair, all of him—from head to toe—became exactly like one of the icicles that hung from the eaves of the house, one of which, a particularly dangerous one, was visible through the pane of glass.

A similar state had overcome His Grace two nights ago at dinner when he’d told Janice not to go to the stables. But this was far worse. Her palms were slippery on the handles of the chair. Next to her Mrs. Poole’s breathing became audible—and was clearly labored.

“It’s all right, Mrs. Poole,” Janice assured her in a calm voice while she kept her gaze on the duke. “I take full responsibility for bringing the dowager here. Go sit down, please.”

Mrs. Poole did just that.

“Halsey?” The duchess’s voice was weak but hopeful.

The duke smiled at her, but his eyes were still cold. “Hello, Granny.” He strode over and stood before her, his hands behind his back. “You’re up and about, I see.”

“I don’t want to be here,” his grandmother said. “Take me back. I told her.…”

Through the handles of the chair, Janice felt rather than saw the duchess crane herself forward, then fall back—almost an act of desperation.

“I want to go back to my bedchamber,” said Her Grace. “Please.”

Suddenly Janice felt as if she were the most horrible person on earth.

Halsey threw her an accusing glance. “You shouldn’t have ignored my grandmother’s wishes.”

“But she’s been telling me she wants out of that room,” Janice said. “I was only trying to give her a little holiday. If she could see the view, I’m sure she’d change her mind.” She paused a beat. “Now if you’ll excuse me, please. I’m taking Her Grace to the window.”

Janice locked gazes with him, and once more she remembered him greeting her when she’d arrived and she’d sensed he’d explored dark things.…

Several seconds went by. She didn’t blink. But her heart—it was beating so fast, she almost felt dizzy. She inhaled a discreet breath and released it slowly. How long would they have this standoff?

“You’ll take my grandmother back to her bedchamber, Mrs. Poole,” the duke said in a casual tone. He kept his eyes on Janice. “And this time there won’t be any repercussions. I understand that Lady Janice has her own ideas about what’s good for the dowager duchess. But the doctor wouldn’t approve.”

Mrs. Poole stood. “Very well, Your Grace.”

Slowly, she walked over to Janice and reached out a hand to take the chair.

“No,” Janice told her, but she was looking at the duke. She moved as close as she could to the chair handles to block Mrs. Poole, who, to her credit, didn’t try to wrestle the contraption from her.

“Pardon, my lady?” the duke said softly.

“You heard me, Your Grace.” Janice couldn’t back down now. Not when they’d come this far. “I’m here as the dowager’s guest. She shall see the view, and we’ll stay here a good half hour or until she tires, whichever come first.

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