The Duke's Secret Heir

She was sitting very upright and gazing resolutely ahead. She said coldly, ‘Mr and Mrs Arncliffe are my friends. I am doing this for their sake.’

‘Mrs Arncliffe is Lottie’s mama,’ Jamie informed him. ‘Lottie is my friend.’

‘Is she?’ said Max. ‘Well, Lottie’s papa is my friend, too. We have known each other since I was your age. We were soldiers together.’

Jamie fixed him with his steady gaze.

‘I want to be a soldier when I grow up. I want to wear a red coat and bang the drum.’

‘Really? Perhaps I should buy you a toy drum, so you can practise.’

‘Not until we live in a much larger house. One with very thick walls.’

Max laughed at Ellen’s interjection. ‘Mayhap you are right.’ He hesitated. ‘Is my presence upsetting you, ma’am?’

‘Not at all,’ she said politely. ‘What is it you wish to say to me, Your Grace?’

‘Why, nothing of moment.’

She bridled at that. ‘I thought you wished to talk to me. Anyone watching will think that I—that you—’

He could not resist teasing her.

‘They will conclude I am, er, smitten by your radiance, ma’am.’

Ellen glared. Max could see she was about to make a blistering retort, but as she opened her mouth little James piped up.

‘What is smitten, Mama?’

‘I think you had best ask the Duke, Jamie, since he used the word.’

‘Witch.’ He mouthed the word at her over the boy’s head and received a very false smile in return. ‘Well now, let me see. Smitten means enamoured, besotted.’ He heard Ellen’s scornful laugh and added gruffly, ‘Not that that is the case, of course.’ He saw that the boy was looking confused and felt compelled to explain. ‘People will think I consider your mama very beautiful.’

‘Mama is very beautiful,’ stated Jamie.

Max’s good mood was evaporating rapidly. He had thought her beautiful once, before he had known her true character.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.