Free The Black Duke's Prize by Suzanne Enoch Page A

back to his town house, distracted
enough that he nearly ran down the Viscountess of Franton before he noticed her
yammering French poodles and swerved the team. He hadn't meant to kiss her. He
had only meant to tease her, to remind the little madcap that she should not be
placing herself in a position where she was alone in a room with a man. But
then, as if of its own accord, his hand had touched her cheek, and she had trembled.
    He had always sought women who knew the rules of the game, and who,
without exception, had played it before. They appreciated his attentions, or so
they claimed, and he rewarded them for their time and discretion. And not one
of them had ever trembled at his touch. And not one of them would have named
laughter or friendship, or chocolate creams, as more necessary than wealth or
comfort.
    Gladstone was waiting in his study. Nicholas wanted time to think, but
Clarey had impressed on him the importance of time in the acquisition of
Crestley Hall, so he threw his gloves on the desk and sank into the chair behind
it. "Well?"
    The older man didn't even blink. "There is a legal precedent in
our favor, if the boy and the legal guardian both sign the deed."
    "Grand," Nicholas said with a growl, and got to his feet.
    "If that's all―"
    "Not quite, sir." Gladstone glanced up from the stack of
papers he held.
    Nicholas cursed and seated himself again. "Make it quick, will
you?"
    "I'm trying, Your Grace."
    "Be very careful, Gladstone," Nicholas murmured, leaning
back. "I am not in a good mood."
    His secretary swallowed. "Yes, Your   Grace." He consulted his papers again.
"First of all, there are apparently several other parties interested in
Crestley, and―"
    "Competition?" Nicholas cut in, sitting forward again.
"Why?" he muttered, mostly to himself.
    "You haven't allowed me to discover that, Your Grace, but I assume
that because of the situation and the price, any number of miscreants might be
looking at this as a way to buy themselves into society."
    "Miscreants?" Varon repeated, raising an eyebrow. Gladstone
flushed. "Not you, of course, Your Grace." Nicholas waved a hand at
him. "Outbid the miscreants." Gladstone sighed. "Yes, Your
Grace." He paused, pulling free another piece of parchment. "You
instructed me to purchase the entire estate holdings."
    "Yes."
    "Well, the proprietor informed me that he had already sold part of
it off."
    "Damn," Nicholas caused. "Which part?"
    "The contents of the stables, milord."
    "Can you track them?"
    Gladstone lifted the paper. "I already have."
    "Good man. Buy them back."
    "But Your Grace―"
    "Buy them back."
     
    On the rare occasions that he attended Almack's he always felt like a
fox to the hounds because of all the mamas who seemed to feel that the assembly
was the place for their daughters to catch a husband. Even so, this evening he
was tempted. There was no use in trying to make excuses. Surprising though it
was, he wanted to see Kate again. The chit was beautiful, but she was far from
the type of female who generally attracted him. She was outspoken, argumentative,
and outrageous. And, he was forced to admit, quite the most diverting woman he
had encountered in years. After much swearing and the destruction of three
cravats, to the dismay of his valet, he took himself off to White's instead.
    When he returned sometime after midnight he went through his mail and
found a scrawled invitation from Thomas to go riding in Hyde Park the next day.
He hesitated before writing his answer, for Hyde Park in the early afternoon
was worse than Almack's. But Katherine would likely be going as well. Damn the
woman, anyway, for making him feel such a nodcock.
    Finally he sat back and grinned. She had a quick tongue, but he doubted
she had the experience to back it up. He scribbled back a reply to the viscount
to be delivered in the morning. He was no green stripling, and he would see who
won this battle.         
     
    Mr. Hodges's man had not yet returned from