The Pleasure of the Rose--The MacNeil Legacy--Book One by Jane Bonander

Author:Jane Bonander [Bonander, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781682302880
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2016-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

• • •

Rosalyn searched out the duke, finding him in the stable. He glanced at her briefly and then went back to his chore. He had shed his shirt and was bare to the waist as he curried his steed. Lord, but he was finely made.

“To what do I owe this honor, madam?” The stallion’s muscles shivered with delight as the grooming continued.

Rosalyn swallowed. “Geddes tells me you wish to eliminate all the rents from the crofters.”

He paused in his chore. “You don’t agree?”

“I think it’s a fine thing to think of, but these are proud people. Poverty stricken, yet proud, nevertheless.”

“Yes, but haven’t they been paying for this land forever? I merely feel it should come to an end. It should be theirs to do with as they wish. I don’t need any of it; I’m disgusted about the fact that all of the decent land is apparently mine. I can’t let this continue. For God’s sake, they’ve probably overpaid for the land. It may not be a wise decision, but it’s the one I want to make. It’s the very least I can do.”

Rosalyn was constantly surprised by the duke. She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a sugar cube, placing it on her palm beneath the stallion’s nostrils. He took it, his soft mouth brushing her skin.

“You’ll spoil him.”

She chuckled. “I think you’ve already done a fine job of that, Your Grace.”

“When are you and Geddes going to quit Your Gracing me?”

She blinked, her nerves beginning to thrum. “What would you have us call you?”

“How about My Savage Duke? Or is it My Lord Savage?”

She gasped as he turned to study her, one eyebrow and one corner of his mouth lifted in wry amusement.

“I…I mean…it didn’t…I didn’t…” She felt the flush stain her cheeks and neck.

“You what? You didn’t mean to call me that?” he interrupted, stepping closer.

“Well, I…” She drew in a breath and decided she couldn’t lie, for apparently he’d heard from someone, God knows who, about how she’d talked of him that first day. She expelled the breath and straightened her shoulders. “Yes. I admit I called you that. Do you know why?” She didn’t give him time to answer. “Because when you arrived, you were wild and savage looking. You had braids down your back nearly to your bum and you wielded a knife big enough to flense a whale. You swore like a sailor and your clothes were unspeakably filthy. You flaunted your big, naked body in front of me like someone who had no sense of decorum. How else would you have me address you?”

“You have seen a whale flensed, madam?” He was calm, unperturbed.

“I don’t have to. All I have to know is that it takes a bloody huge weapon, and yours was bloody huge.”

He gave her a salacious grin. “Why, thank you, ma’am. I’m happy you noticed.”

She blushed further. “I meant your knife, you oaf.”

He drew the stallion to his stall, making sure he had feed and water before closing the door.

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