In Bed with the Duke

Tears streamed down her face unchecked.

‘I was afraid to go down to the docks at first, because he’d told me it was a rough, horrid place and that he’d handle things. By the time I’d plucked up the courage, the ship had sailed. And I was left there alone, with no means of paying the bill, since he hadn’t left me with anything! And I know you sent that young man—’ she gestured to the door through which Wrothers had gone ‘—to hunt me down and bring me to justice, but I have never been so glad to see anyone in my life.’

‘It appears,’ said Gregory with scorn, ‘that rather than own up at once that she had no means to pay her shot your aunt stayed at the inn, racking up a substantial debt.’

‘I spent most of my stay there on my knees,’ said the tearful older woman. ‘Praying for inspiration. Or a miracle. I know it will be hard for you to forgive me, Prudence, for the part I played in all this, but at least you have the satisfaction of knowing that I have already been punished by a higher authority.’

Gregory made a sort of snarling sound. He was looking at Aunt Charity as though he couldn’t believe his ears.

‘That’s true,’ Prudence pointed out. ‘All the things she did to me have now been done to her. She has been robbed and abandoned. By a man she loved, at that. So you could say her punishment is greater, since I found you.’

She got up and went to him, hands outstretched.

‘You are going to ask me to let her off, aren’t you?’

She nodded. ‘We learned something about giving people a second chance, didn’t we? In that barn? The farmer forgave us for literal trespass and spared us both a horrible time trying to explain everything away to the law. Could we not now forgive Aunt Charity for her trespass against us?’

He was still glowering.

‘You have already forgiven her, haven’t you?’

She nodded. ‘Because if it hadn’t been for her giving way to Mr Murgatroyd’s persuasion we would never have met. Besides, she took me in when nobody else would.’

‘Grudgingly, you said.’

‘Nevertheless...’ She spread her hands wide.

He stepped forward and took them. ‘You are the most generous-hearted, lovely creature on God’s whole earth. No wonder I love you so much.’

‘Then you won’t have her prosecuted?’

‘How can I when to do so would offend you?’

As he drew her into his arms Aunt Charity collapsed into a fresh spurt of sobbing. Though now, Prudence suspected, they were tears of relief.

‘Thankfully,’ he said dryly, ‘I have no end of properties in which I can stow indigent aunts. Some of them even further from London than Bramley Park.’

‘So there are some benefits to marrying a duke, after all,’ she said with a smile.

‘Baggage,’ he murmured, pinching her chin. ‘You know very well that you adore being married to a duke.’

‘Only because I happen to adore the Duke in question,’ she countered.

‘Long may that continue,’ he said.

‘Oh, it will,’ she vowed, reaching up to kiss his cheek. ‘It will.’

* * * * *

If you enjoyed this story, you won’t want to miss these other great reads from Annie Burrows:

THE CAPTAIN’S CHRISTMAS BRIDE

A MISTRESS FOR MAJOR BARTLETT

LORD HAVELOCK’S LIST

PORTRAIT OF A SCANDAL

REFORMING THE VISCOUNT

Keep reading for an excerpt from MORE THAN A LOVER by Ann Lethbridge.

Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!

Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!

Do you want to earn Free Books and More?

Join Harlequin My Rewards points program and earn points every time you shop.

You can redeem your points to get more of what you love:

Free books

Exclusive gifts and contests

Book recommendations tailored to your reading preferences

Earn 2000 points instantly when you join—getting you closer to redeeming your first free book.

Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!

Click here to sign up

Or visit us online to sign up at

http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Historical.

You dream of wicked rakes, gorgeous Highlanders, muscled Viking warriors and rugged Wild West cowboys from another era. Harlequin Historical has them all! Emotionally intense stories set across many time periods.

Enjoy six new stories from Harlequin Historical every month!

Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!