The Duke's Christmas Summons by Jane Charles

Author:Jane Charles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical, victorian, regency, duke, rake, danby
Publisher: NightShiftPublishing

Ben settled back against the log and watched her sleep. For the longest time Mary had lain there silently, simply staring at the fire and he’d been unable to take his eyes off her. Slowly her body relaxed and her eyes grew heavy. She’d open them, they’d drift shut again, until they finally remained closed. Now, her breaths were deep and even. He kept the fire high so that she was not chilled more than necessary and the light danced across her face, highlighting the beauty and shadowing the hollows of her cheeks and hiding her neck.

To think, he’d been so afraid he was attracted to…No. He couldn’t even finish the thought, and he would never think on it again.

Mary was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. One he also admired. She wasn’t like anyone he’d met before. He knew of no woman who would dress as a man and drive a wagon filled with whisky that had been hidden in a coffin across town, let alone from Falkirk to Danby Castle.

Did Brachton know what she was about? Surely, he would not approve.

Once again, Ben reminded himself to have a talk with His Grace about making unreasonable demands. Anything could have happened to her. If anyone had seen through her disguise, it could have gone very badly. Or, what if excisemen had decided to search the coffin. She’d be in jail, possibly sent all the way to Newgate.

She shivered in her sleep and Ben rose to drag another blanket from the back of the wagon, but they were all gone. Instead, he grabbed the one he had been using and placed it over her. After a moment, she seemed to relax and he returned to his spot against the log. The ground was colder against his backside without the thick wool. Soon, it began sinking into his skin through his trousers.

Before long, he was shivering. Even a few drinks of the whisky didn’t warm him anywhere besides his belly.

He’d freeze with no blankets and he’d be no assistance to Mary when she woke to find him frozen solid.

After tossing more wood on the fire, Ben made his way to her side. Doing his best not to disturb her, he slid beneath the blankets and snuggled as close as he dare without waking her.

Slowly he began to warm and relax. The only sound was the fire as flames cracked and burnt limbs fell and settled, and he was almost asleep when he heard the distinct click of a gun.

His stilled as Mary rolled to her back and pointed a pistol at his head.

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