Free The Danger of Dukes by Phynix de Leon

in both fashion and how you act. You shall do nothing that will tarnish the name of my family.”
                  Offended by not only his words but his tone I replied coolly, “You shall not have to worry about that. If there is any talk of your family it will be in awed whispers of your wife accomplishments rather than her husband’s rake helling around the town and gambling at the tables!”
                  Mr. Grayson’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I am no rake hell, nor do I gamble. But if you believe you shall have no problem in winning the hands of my Peers, it seems we have a deal.”
              “It would seem so,” I hissed at him.
                  Suddenly he smiled slightly. “And here I thought marriage to an American was going to be rather dull. I look forward to our future battle of words Ms. Black. I plan to leave for London within a week’s time. Be ready for the journey to your new home.”

A New Home
     
     
     
    London was as different from Kentucky as summer was from fall, even in early summer, there was a distinct chill still to the air and rather than a clear day it was foggy, misty and pure dismal. The ship ride over was just as bad, the ride in the wagon and the boats to the coast had worn on me. It wore on me until I was too exhausted to travel, but in too much pain to sleep.
                  Mr. Grayson, no Lord Grayson , paid little notice to me and the time he did, I hid the pain behind a smile like I did every day for everyone other than my Pa. I knew that if he knew of the troubles that faced my body he would not wed me, and it was too late now to turn back for the sake of my father. And Pa had been right. No man who knew me would likely marry me. I just hoped that I and Lord Grayson could find some even ground between us to make an even marriage.
                  Currently however I was facing a problem of another sort. I was facing the long drive that faced the sprawling yellow stoned manor house that was the seat of the Bedford Estate and my new future home. 
                  In a whirlwind of excitement the carriage was unloaded and suddenly I found a hand offered before my face to help me out from the box seat.
                  I took his hand gently and groaned inwardly while standing up. My hip and back groaned in protest with me as badly healed muscles were used. Silently however after I was out I stared up at the four stories of the ancient family home in awe.
                  “What are you thinking?” Lord Grayson asked softly tipping my chin in his direction so I could look up into his eyes.
                  Feeling a wee bit evil I shrugged his hand off and said airily as I walked by, “Only a man trying to make up for something he is lacking needs something so big.”
                  Stunned he stared after me as I walked off to the front door. I paused at the steps and smiled sweetly. “Are you not coming, my lord?”
                  Fire flared in his eyes and he coolly walked to me, around me and rapped swiftly upon the door. The winged doors spread wide to reveal a smartly dressed young man with white blonde hair.
                  “Welcome home, Your Grace,” the young man chirped. His smile froze when he spotted myself in the doorway behind his master.
                  “Welcome the new lady properly, Gibbs. She will be the new mistress of this property soon enough,” His Grace said with a smirk as he walked inside passed the young man.
                  I glared after him, the young man gulped and quickly moved out of my way as I walked up the stairs to go inside. In a fine huff I made it to the top step before a muscle in my leg decided to give out finally under the strain I had put on it.
                  I was helpless as I tried to catch myself as I tumbled down the steep