One Night With the Duke by Susan Golden EPUB & PDF – eBook Details
- Author: Susan Golden
- Language: English
- Genre:
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 1 MB
- Price: Free
The bell on the door of Benford’s Jewelers tinkled as Emma Poundstone
stumbled inside, her large portmanteau catching on the door frame. She
clutched at her hat, took a deep breath, and approached the counter.
“Good morning, miss. Back again, I see. It has been a while.”
She smiled at the jeweler.
“You remember me, sir? It has been some months. Surely I am not so
noteworthy.” She fingered her fraying cuff.
“I believe you are mistaken in that, my dear. But I make a point of
remembering all who think to sell to me. They are not many, and one must
be circumspect in this profession. Have you something for me today?”
She took a deep breath, blinked several times, and swayed before steadying
herself. Her hands shook as she fought with the drawstring on her wellworn reticule. Finally, she extracted a blue-and-gold snuffbox and placed it
on the counter. Her fingers rested on the box for a long moment before she
withdrew them.
“It is not stolen, I assure you, Mr. Benford,” she said, her voice catching.
Benford looked her square in the eyes. “Of that, I have no doubt.” He made
an obvious survey of her from head to toe. “You are surely a lady of good
breeding who has perhaps fallen on hard times. I am saddened to see you
returned with another item, but let us see what we can do.”
The doorbell chimed. Benford glanced up from the snuffbox, eyed the new
arrival, and quickly put the box down.
“Thirty pounds.” Benford’s attention wandered to the door.
“Oh, please, sir. It is worth at least fifty.” Amanda reached out to touch the
jeweler’s arm.
“I run a business, miss. I must make a profit.” Benford tugged his arm from
under her grasp.
“Yes, yes, of course.” Emma struggled to maintain her composure and keep
the tremor that ran through her body out of her voice. “Could you perhaps
see your way to thirty-five? It is my last one. It is all I have.” The final
sentence was barely a whisper.
Benford was silent for a moment. Emma held her breath and said a short
prayer that he might be guided by charity rather than sound business sense.
“One hundred pounds,” someone said from behind her.
The words spoken in velvet tones weakened Emma’s knees. She thought
she might melt. She was afraid to turn around and see the face of her
benefactor. This all might be a delusion. She felt light-headed, unsure
whether the condition sprang from sheer relief at the unbelievable offer or
from gnawing hunger.
Benford raised his head. “Your Grace.”
Emma wheeled around, thinking to offer up some form of proper greeting, a
low curtsy perhaps, to whatever duke this was, but startling green eyes and
a dazzling smile set in the most handsome face Emma had ever seen halted
her. The duke said nothing, regarding her with kind, laughing eyes. He
pulled a supple grey leather glove off his hand and withdrew a black leather
wallet from his finely tailored tailcoat.
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