Free The Heart of a Duke by Victoria Morgan

hand.
    While she had not been successful, she balked at the idea of Daniel waltzing back, and like Homer’s
Odyssey
, setting everything to rights after a decade away. As if he was the only one who could.
    She had managed Taunton Court for nearly two years. She could take care of Bedford Hall once she was married. If working with Daniel gave her a rare opportunity to assess what she would be facing, she would not squander it. She lifted her chin and snatched up the gauntlet. “Maybe Lord Bryant and I can talk to a few tenants and get a better understanding of their needs. They might speak more freely without Edmund’s presence, and once we have gathered some information, we can share it with Edmund.” Anticipation filled her at the prospect of doing something active. Finally.
    “Good, then it is settled.” Her father appeared pleased. “Now then, I believe it is time for port. If you ladies will excuse us, I promise to keep an eye on the prisoner until your return,” he grinned.
    “You might want to curtail Lord Bryant’s walk down the plank if you need his assistance for the foreseeable future,” Emily added as she stood with Julia.
    “You are right. After a lesson on table manners, I will teach Jonathan the meaning of clemency.”
    “I am indebted to you for your mercy,” Daniel said, his eyes on Julia. His gaze swept over her bare collarbones and dipped to linger briefly upon the round curves of her breasts.
    His look left her breathless, as if she had run up a flight of stairs, and her resolve momentarily wavered. Had she been too hasty in agreeing to this idea? No, she had not. Together they could accomplish so much, and her growing anticipation reaffirmed her decision. It was the right one.
    In the future, she would simply dress more appropriately.

Chapter Six

    D ANIEL did not know how the stars had aligned so that the next morning he found himself riding with the Chandler siblings to Bedford Hall. It was like Christmas morning had arrived early, and he had been given a precious gift.
    Julia’s straight-backed figure rode sidesaddle ahead, Jonathan beside her on his pony. She wore a sky blue riding habit and a bonnet set at a jaunty angle on her head with a scattering of flowers adorning its rim.
    As he admired her competent handling of Constance, he mulled over how to get into her good graces. He needed to do so in order to decipher her true feelings for his brother. He could then determine the best way to tell Julia her fiancé was a coldhearted, good-for-nothing bastard. She’d be better off ruined through the scandal of a broken engagement than through marriage to him.
    Such news had to be delivered delicately.
    He shrugged off his misgivings. Julia was a strong woman. She would weather the news. Her management of her father’s estates demonstrated her courage and strength.
    An image of her blazing blue eyes and stinging slap had him shifting in his saddle and flexing his jaw, his confidence wavering.
    So much for Christmas morning. Truth be told, his Christmases had never been all that grand, because they were spent with his father and Edmund. Why the devil should this be any better if he were given a present that he could never touch, let alone ever unwrap?
    “You are scowling. Are you having doubts already?”
    He jumped to find Julia beside him. “I am not allowed second thoughts, because I have been threatened with the dungeon should I fail. Worse, I am to be deprived of iced pudding and apple tarts.”
    “I see. Dire repercussions indeed.” The twitch to her lips belied her somber tone. “’Tis a pity that we are finally at peace, and yet you remain a prisoner of a war that ended nigh on five years ago.”
    “Perhaps my timing was not as fortuitous as your father believes.” He grinned. “Speaking of wars, peace, and my arrival, I am afraid we got off to a poor start with each other. I would like to make amends for that, as I am sorry for it.”
    A flicker of surprise crossed her