Free For Love of the Duke (The Heart of a Duke Book 2) by Christi Caldwell Page B

with a colorful peacock. “Who has written you, Katherine?”
    Katherine bit the inside of her cheek to keep from pointing out that she surely could not yet know who’d written. “I’m not certain, Mother,” she murmured, and accepted the thick, ivory velum with a smile for Ollie. He gave an imperceptible nod, and ever so quickly, winked at her.
    She looked down at the letter with a familiar seal. A crest that bore a lion rearing up on its legs. Her heart paused.
    “Who is it from, Katherine?” her sister asked with a dogged interest.
    “Benedict,” she replied instantly.
    Anne frowned, and shot her a look that said she knew that Katherine lied.
    Suddenly eager to escape her sister’s probing fascination, lest her mother shift her attention away from the embroidery she presently worked on, Katherine stood. “If you’ll excuse me. I find myself developing a megrim.”
    Her sister made no effort to conceal the unladylike snort that escaped her.
    Katherine hurried out of the room, and wound her way through the house, abovestairs to her own chambers. She glanced over her shoulder to ascertain whether her sister had followed, and then slipped inside.
    She closed the door, and turned the lock.
    Katherine leaned against the door, and considered the letter in her hands. The Duke of Bainbridge did not strike her as the type of gentleman who penned words to young ladies. Her lips twitched with amusement. Quite the opposite. She rather suspected he’d rather send all females, wed and unwed, to the devil quite happily.
    Katherine slid her finger under the seal and unfolded the note.
    My Lady,
    I understand you are not overly fond of my, as you put it, frowning countenance, however, I would be remiss if I failed to write and inform you that I am, grateful. Grateful to have rescued you, that is.
    Katherine smiled, and continued reading.
    Allow me to express my most humble appreciation to you for turning over the sole copy of Wordsworth’s latest work to my ownership. In spite of my frowning countenance that day, I was not displeased with your generosity. I too, am in fact, an ardent admirer of Wordsworth’s work.
    I hope you will allow me to return the copy to your care upon my completion of the volume so that you might enjoy the pages, as they should be enjoyed.
    Signed,
    Bainbridge
    Post Script
    I understand by the words in your note that you did have a good deal of fun teasing me. You are forgiven.
    A sharp bark of laughter burst from Katherine, and she stifled it with the tips of her fingers.
    It would seem she’d learned something else about the Duke of Bainbridge—he did appear to have a sense of humor, after all.
    Katherine folded up the note, and held it to her breast as she considered the implications of his words. If the duke were the cruel, heartless lout he’d presented since their first meeting, surely he’d be incapable of the words he’d written her. Nor, for that matter would a callous figure of a man deign to read poetry, or send along a note of gratitude, or tease her for her own words.
    Katherine walked over to her vanity and pulled open the front drawer. She placed the duke’s note in the top and slid it closed. And then froze.
    What foolishness was this? Keeping his note? It was not something a young lady kept, unless there was a reason in keeping it.
    And there wasn’t. A reason to keep it, that was.
    Except…
    Katherine sighed, and slid into the delicate mahogany rose-inlaid chair.  She fetched a pen and parchment from her vanity drawer, and chewing her lip, studied the paper.
    Your Grace,
    I am so very honored…
    An unladylike curse slipped past her lips. She wrinkled the parchment, and tossed it to the floor.
    She dipped her pen into the ink, and made another attempt.
    Your Grace,
    I am eagerly awaiting the return of...
    Katherine set back with a huff, and tossed aside her next weakly started letter.
    Why was she struggling so greatly to find the words to write to him?
    Katherine began