Free The Reluctant Duke (Love's Pride Book 1) by G.L. Snodgrass

the intruder to his feet. The tall man refused to remain still, flailing his arms about and trying to push himself away. Thomas had had enough, pulling his fist back he punched him square in the face, knocking him back to the floor once again.
    Shaking his bruised hand, he looked around and saw Freddy at the door.
    “Goodwin, please ask the Sergeant Major to join us.”
    A few minutes later. “Sir, you sent for me,” The Sergeant Major said from the doorway as he took in the scene around him. The footman Goodwin peeked around his bulk.
    “Sergeant Major, Please escort Mr. Strait to my study, I will be down in a few minutes.”
    “Yes Sir,” the Sergeant Major said, walking over and picking the man up by the collar of his shirt and propelling him out of the room.
    “You heard the Major, this way.”
    Thomas walked back to the women, Miss Harding had lowered her poker and stood there staring at his bare chest. Her fingers turned white as they squeezed the metal handle.
    His heart skipped a beat when he looked at her. The fire backlit her long legs and every curve. For a moment, he forgot about everything else in the world. He forgot about the other people in the room, about the books and papers waiting on his desk. He forgot it all and saw only her. It moved him, sending a warm feeling through his belly.
    Shaking his head he turned to Isabel, “Are you sure you are all right my dear,” he asked.
    “Yes, Your Grace, thanks to Miss Harding that is,” Isabel said and smiled at the housekeeper. “He said I had to go with him, that I belonged to him. He was quite mad.” The young girl shuddered, hugging herself with her arms crossing her chest.
    “Well we have him now, no need to worry about it,” he said looking off into the distance, fighting with himself to not look at Miss Harding again.
    “The Sergeant Major and I will take care of everything, you try to get a good night sleep. Lizzy, please see to Isabel, Miss Harding, please come down to my study,” he said, still not looking at her.
    She seemed to realize that she was standing there in her night clothes without a robe. Her face went white and her hand to her throat, pulling the shift tight. Then she reached for a blanket on the bed, pulling it off and hiding behind it.
    “Yes Your Grace, I um, let me get changed and I will be right down.”
    “Yes, of course,” The Duke said, feeling a little disappointed about the blanket. He’d truly loved the prior vision. Turning, he left before he said or did something he would regret.
    .o0o.
    Gwen’s hands shook, and her heart raced. The memory wouldn’t go away, she couldn’t bury it. Shaking all over, she sat on her bed wringing her hands as if trying to grasp reality. Her body felt as if it had lost all warmth.
    His Grace was waiting she reminded herself but still she couldn’t force herself to move. Just like last time she thought, would she ever be able to put it behind her.
    - The piece of white paper being handed to her stepfather. A document that sealed her fate. Selling her to a man she didn’t know nor want. - The stink of rum on the Earl’s breathe as he held her down. - The hard thwap sound the fire iron made when she struck him in the head with it. Like tonight, it had been the only weapon within reach. – The red blood that seeped from the wound.
    Had she killed him, she didn’t know, she may never know. She’d run before she could find out, escaped. Fleeing barefoot in her nightgown.
    Like a ship before a storm she’d been blown up onto this island of Brookshire. The one safe place in the world she’d thought. Until tonight.
    Shuddering, she took a deep breath to try and calm herself. It’s over Gwen she repeated in her mind, it’s over, everyone is all right. It’s over.
    After several minutes, her heartbeat slowed enough. Squaring her shoulders, she stood and donned her robe. His Grace was waiting.
    Gwen slipped into the study, quietly closing the door behind her. She pulled the belt