To Pleasure a Duke (The Husband Hunters Club 3)

“Oh my . . .” Eugenie gasped, shocked into a little giggle. “I am so sorry.”

She hurried to his side, a sharp look at the twins stopping their loud hoots of laughter, or at least muffling them.

Bending down she clutched his arm and tried her best to help him to his feet. Irritably he shook her off, getting to his feet under his own power. After one glance up at his face she didn’t look again; she did not dare. Instead she took hold of Erik’s rope, gripping it securely in case he tried to escape, but the billy wasn’t concerned. He looked completely unrepentant and didn’t seem to realize that his future was looking very bleak indeed.

“Erik,” Jack said in a wavering voice, “you—you very bad boy.”

The goat rolled his eyes at his young master, as if inviting him to enjoy the joke.

“You know you’re not to butt strangers. Apologize. Now.”

Eugenie had seen Jack’s magic before but it still amazed her when the billy goat went down on his front knees and bowed his head. The Duke of Somerton, who had never seen it, was clearly speechless. His mouth twisted as if he wasn’t sure whether to roar with rage or shout with laughter.

“You have to forgive him, sir,” Jack explained anxiously. “Otherwise he’ll just stay there all day.”

Eugenie didn’t expect the duke to be impressed by this. In fact she had taken a step forward, to place herself between the duke and the now repentant goat. But Somerton surprised her.

“I forgive you,” he said gruffly, eyeing the goat uneasily.

On cue Erik jumped to his feet, tossing his head, eyes rolling wickedly. Immediately Jack heaped him with praise. Somerton raised his eyebrows, catching Eugenie’s gaze.

“Do you often take your goat out for a stroll?” he said, a mocking note in his voice. “I would suggest leaving it at home next time.”

“There won’t be a next time,” Jack replied, before Eugenie could answer. His lip quivered. “Mama is sending Erik back to Mr. Bartholomew’s farm, where he came from, and Mr. Bartholomew will sell him to someone else and we will never see him again.”

“Or he’ll cook him in a pot,” one of the twins added, and a tear ran down his cheek. The other twin leaned against him for comfort.

Somerton took in their woebegone faces. “I see,” he said, and Eugenie felt that he really did. “Sir Billy has been given his marching orders, has he? What did he do to fall out of favor with your mother?”

“Ate her Parisian cap with the cerise ribbons!” the twins shouted together.

“Her favorite,” Jack said. “The one that reminded her of when she was young and pretty, before she was—was plagued with children.”

Somerton considered this. Eugenie, expecting some remark along the lines of “serves him right” or “you’ll find another goat” was again pleasantly surprised.

“Do you think he would like to come and live with me?”

Suddenly Jack was grinning all over his face and the twins were cheering. Eugenie, feeling a little dizzy herself, said, “You are very kind, Your Grace, but—”

“I have need of a good goat,” he interrupted, before she could finish.

If he wanted to make fast friends of her brothers then he had done so. They were gazing at him as if he were the hero in a storybook.

“You—you are very kind,” Eugenie managed, as Somerton took hold of his horse’s reins. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Then say nothing,” he retorted awkwardly, as if her emotion was unwelcome. The dark eyes swept over her again, and it seemed to Eugenie that he saw every flaw and fault, before he fixed on her own green eyes. He cleared his throat and added gruffly, “It is a small thing. Of no consequence.”

“Can—can we visit him?” Jack asked anxiously. “I know he will be fed and everything, but he will miss us. And we will miss him.”

“Naturally you must visit him.” The duke mounted his horse, settling himself with a grimace. Eugenie wondered if Erik had caused any permanent damage but knew she could hardly ask. “I’ll send someone to talk to your father.” His gaze turned quizzical. “You do have a father?”

“Of course,” Eugenie said rather sharply.

His gaze lingered but whatever it was he was thinking he kept it to himself, merely nodding, before he turned his mount back the way he’d come. A moment later he was cantering away and soon he’d vanished around the bend in the lane.

“You are going to a new home, Erik. A duke’s home,” Jack was telling his naughty pet, stroking the rough head. “And I will visit you as often as I can. Don’t worry, I won’t forget you.”

Eugenie smiled. No, she thought, it would be a long time before any of them forgot their meeting with His Grace, the Duke of Somerton. Who would have thought he could be so generous? And who would have thought the brush of those dark eyes could make her skin burn and her heart bump? Arrogant, yes. Aware of his own worth, that, too. He was a million miles out of her league.