Strike While the Duke is Hot (Dukes in Danger Book 2) by Emily E K Murdoch

Author:Emily E K Murdoch [Murdoch, Emily E K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-03-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

April 29, 1810

Henry had never looked on anything more beautiful. It was perfection. It was…outstanding.

“Voila!” he said proudly, holding up his masterpiece.

The forge was unusually silent as Henry beamed at Minny who had been seated on the stool for the last hour or so, scribbling in that notebook of hers.

Ever since last week when he had lost all his senses and started stripping off before her—not nearly enough, sadly—Henry had been careful when working at the anvil when Minny was in the forge.

At least, he had tried to be careful. It was easier said than done, but in the following six days, he had managed not to kiss Minny senseless and admit his foolish scheme to identify a gossiping scandalmonger.

He had neither allowed the truth to slip through his lips nor permit his lips to lock on hers.

He should be congratulated.

Still. He was unusually aware of her presence whenever in the forge. Henry had been determined to focus on the task at hand—the task she had set him—and only twice had he lifted his head to take in the splendid beauty of her hair.

Well. Perhaps three times.

Yet despite that, he had managed to complete his first project at the anvil. And what a thing of beauty it was!

“Is…that it?” asked Minny faintly.

Henry’s shoulders slumped. For some reason, there was neither amazement nor congratulations in Minny’s tone. In fact, there was a strained smile across her cheeks and a puzzled expression on her brow.

Which did not make any sense. Why, he had never seen a horse shoe so splendid. Wiping beaded sweat from his brow, Henry gazed with delight at the curved metal in his hands.

It had taken him the best part of an hour, he would guess, and his shoulders ached.

“Remember,” Minny had said only yesterday, “it’s the detailed work that takes the time, that really puts the pressure on the nerves. When you have to take your time, if you want beauty to emerge.”

Henry swallowed at the mere remembrance of her words. Yes, one had to go slowly if one wanted beauty to emerge. And he had tried to rush things, hadn’t he?

Foolish cad, taking off his shirt like that! He would have to hope that never got back to the Dulverton Club. He would be eaten alive by his friends for doing such a foolhardy thing.

He had tried, since then, to tread more carefully. If he were going to get information from Minny—and that was the only reason he was still here, he tried to convince himself—he would need to go slowly.

And that was why his damned shoulder ached, and he’d forced himself to have cold baths every evening after returning to his room at the King’s Head.

“What is it?” Minny said lightly.

Henry frowned. Was it not obvious? “A horse shoe.”

It was ridiculous to be so proud, he knew. Part of his rational mind, buried deep under desire for Minny Banfield, could see the thing in his hand was nothing to write home about.

A curve of metal, poorly angled, not entirely smooth on one side.

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