Free Daring the Duke by Anne Mallory Page B

you in over your head?"

    "Go to hell."

    "Ah, I believe we are already there. Let’s enjoy it, shall we?" Travers toasted her and took a drink. "My partnerships with the ‘vicious people,'
    as you called them, are ingenious. I will be rich, powerful, and untouchable. Mark my words, in five years will be Prime Minister. And then, my dearest Audrey, you will be begging for my favor."

    A young serving girl splashed a tankard down before Travers, her bountiful breasts nearly popping from her dress as she pressed against him. Travers threw her a coin and shifted his gaze back to Audrey. The serving girl brushed seductively against him, but pouted upon receiving no encouragement. She grabbed the coin and flounced from the table.

    Travers took a drink and smiled. "I only tell you these things because you are now mine, Audrey Kendrick. I own you and your sister."

    Audrey chose to ignore his words, as they only made her think violent thoughts. She noticed the serving girls whispering among themselves and eyeing Travers. He only needed to crook a finger. She didn’t know why they couldn’t see beneath his handsome, aristocratic features. She could barely stomach looking at him; it was like seeing a petulant monster hiding behind an ill-fitting mask.

    Travers was a second son of a viscount, with an ego not quite large enough to overcome his feelings of inadequacy. He believed with every ounce of his being that his birthright had been stolen. And he made everyone pay for the theft.

    Attracting his attention was one more sin she could lay at Maddox’s feet.
    Maddox, who always needed money and had arrived in London furious that he could no longer claim guardianship over Faye and Audrey and touch their amassed monies. So instead Maddox had figured out another way to make money off them by selling their identities to Travers. Dear Lord how she hated Maddox and Travers both.

    She tamped down the feeling and forced a smile. Let him believe her cowed by his bizarre designs for power. "I understand the shipping interests and the Exchequer plot, but what about the watch?"

    "The watch is a personal item. It is mine."

    "Somehow I doubt that."

    His eyes narrowed. "It’s mine, and you will get it back for me."

    "So, does your partner know about this side project of yours?"

    Fear passed over his face. He waved his hand, trying to act nonchalant.
    "This is no concern of . . .of my partner ‘s."

    For a second she had thought he might divulge the man’s name. Although she wasn’t quite sure if she wanted to know. Sometimes knowledge was dangerous. "You still want me to steal it then?"

    He gave her a look that said, "Of course."

    "Then release my sister from Newgate, or no deal."

    "There is no 'deal,' don’t you understand? I repeat, you are mine to do with as I will. All will happen in good time." His voice trailed off as his dark eyes devoured her.

    She again felt the need to bathe. "No. There is no way you will convince me. And if you touch me, I will cut off whatever body parts make contact."

    "Even dressed as a boy, you are breathtaking when angry, my sweet. But do remember in which part of Newgate you were housed. A word from me, and your sister will be hanging from a beam by the Old Bailey."

    Every muscle in her body clenched. "You wouldn’t do it. You have to know you would soon follow. "

    "Perhaps. But I am willing to take the risk. Are you?"

    Audrey stood and said nothing. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

    "Dr. Smith will be by in the morning. You’d better have the papers in hand. Faye’s release in a few days depends upon it."

    She took a couple of even breaths. "You will release her then?"

    "As long as you do as promised. I’m not a monster, Audrey." He opened his eyes wide, but couldn’t quite wipe the smirk from his face. "If you would only agree to my plans, everything else would go so much more smoothly."

    She turned to leave, but his parting words caused her to pause. "Oh, and Chalmers is being