Free Duke Herheart Final by Olivia Ritch Page A

be wrong.
    He let the silence stretch. “Do you like cider?”
    “I appreciate cider but I don’t much drink it. I don’t really drink any juices. I just prefer to avoid all the sugar calories.”
    “Is that why you are so trim?” He couldn’t help himself.
    “That and a fortunate combination of genes from remarkably well built people and a lot of exercise.”
    They arrived at a small residence with well trimmed shrubbery growing against the high, small windows.
    “Here we are.”
    As he lifted her down, Michael heard her in-drawn breath and felt the shiver that ran down Kathryn’s spine. She was not unaffected by him.
    He released her reluctantly and she stepped quickly to the side. They moved toward the first home side by side, not touching. At the blacksmith’s home, the third they had visited, the man’s young wife and his three children were in awe of his companion just as the others had been. Kathryn stepped up to the woman with her now familiar self-assurance. “Your daughter is gorgeous. She looks like my sister did when she was little. What is her name?”
    “H-Her name is Te-ess,” the woman stammered and Michael 46

    Duke of Her Dreams – Olivia Ritch

    realized she was searching for a title to call the exquisite lady in front of her. Kathryn with her striped golden tresses, surprisingly well fit gown, glowing eyes and genuine smile looked positively expensive and yet she compared this woman’s small lowborn girl with her own sister . Mrs.
    Smith’s face was glowing with pride.
    “Captain Stafford, I don’t believe I have seen a prettier little girl.”
    She turned to him, beaming, and his soldier’s heart fluttered. He had not realized until these moments what message he had been sending to his tenants by presenting the lady. He might need to deal with the notions at some point but right now, with her conquests, she was making his life so much easier. This lady was charming his tenants and building exactly the kinds of relationships with their wives that would make their loyalty absolute. He reminded himself to thank her properly when they were on the way back.
    In hindsight, he decided that it was not a mistake to allow the supposition to grow in strength. From what little he already knew of her, Kathryn Ragland would be a formidable partner to help him rebuild the strained relationships with the tenants and villagers that had festered due to his Father’s inattention.
    “My sister’s name is Christine but we call her Christy,” Kathryn explained. “She has thick brown hair just like yours and pure green eyes.
    You are a little beauty.” The small child could only stare wide eyed at the lady until she finally reached out and touched Kathryn’s shoulder. It was at that moment that he saw Kathryn recognize too what was happening. These were poor people, commoners, and laborers, and now she must realize they thought she was a noble. Did she also realize that they thought she was soon to be their Duchess? She seemed to take the moment at face value and then with ease pulled the child toward her into a motherly embrace.
    Michael almost reached for her because he knew, just knew, the family would be petrified but he should not have worried about Kathryn for as he moved he could see the girl sink into the embrace.
    Mrs. Smith’s in-drawn breath caught his attention. Her eyes were huge and filled with horror as her daughter embraced what Mrs. Smith surely thought was nobility. But Miss Kathryn Ragland, enigmatic beauty personified, was not finished. She hugged the child and he watched a tear run down her cheek as she squeezed little Tess.
    “Thank you, Tess for that wonderful hug. I very much miss my sister. I think you just made me feel better.”
    And little Tess twisted some of Kathryn’s hair about her hand and laid her head on Kathryn’s shoulder once again slipping her stained 47

    Duke of Her Dreams – Olivia Ritch

    thumb into her mouth.
    “Gold,” she lisped. The two of them