Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
Arthur could see that the pup was hurt, breathing too fast and trembling.
* * *
“Fetch the farrier to see to it.” He peered closer, “What is it? Male or female?”
* * *
The groom grimaced but did a quick check. “It’s a boy I think, Your Grace.”
* * *
Arthur smiled but the groom looked mystified.
* * *
Arthur was about to indicate that the groom should go when he was interrupted by a hail. He turned around to see the most extraordinary sight. A young lady, striding towards him, her inky dark locks flowing down her back, striking blue eyes regarding him boldly. Even more astounding, she was dressed in men’s clothes! The cut of her shirt outlined her shapely breasts, and her breeches gave him an unhindered view of the sway of her ample hips and her tapering legs.
* * *
He blinked at the vision before him, wondering if he was fevered and having visions.
* * *
“Your Grace!” she called, startling him slightly, her voice low and sweet.
* * *
He had no memory of what he said next, too distracted was he by her looks and dress. When she asked for the puppy, however, he immediately knew he could not just let her walk away without knowing where he could find her again.
* * *
He told himself that he was simply fascinated by her oddity. He had certainly heard of the Raven family. Lord Benjamin Raven was the second son of an Earl who’d run off with the already betrothed daughter of a Welsh Baron. She had come to England to marry one man and had ended up running off to Gretna Green with another. It was enough of a scandal that even Arthur had heard the maids gossip of it when he was but a young boy.
* * *
According to the Ton, the Ravens had gone off to live in seclusion, on property bequeathed to Lord Benjamin by his grandfather, where they proceeded to have several children. The family was known to be eccentric and reclusive. That was plenty of reason for him to be interested in them. He was always interested in families with an odder history than his own.
* * *
The girl seemed to be very concerned about the pup and mistrustful of his ability to look after it, if her worried glances were any indication. He did manage to distract her with his conversation, a feat he was quite proud of. By the time they arrived at her gates, she was flustered and confused, her cheeks becomingly flushed and her hair windswept and wild. She looked like nothing less than a fairy, come to grace the nearby woods with her blessing.
* * *
The door opened and a man of similar coloring stood glaring at the girl. “Where have you been? I was about to send out a search party. What were you thinking gallivanting about in this inclement weather?”
* * *
She looked up at the rapidly gathering clouds. “Oh, I’m home in plenty of time. And I’ve brought a guest. This is His Grace, the Duke of Hampton. We found a puppy.”
* * *
To his credit, the man did not look at all nonplussed by this explanation. He merely turned to Arthur and smiled. “Glad to make your acquaintance, Your Grace. Where on earth did you find my daughter?”
* * *
“Oh, I do assure you, she found me. She tells me you have someone capable of seeing to this puppy. He seems to be hurt.”
* * *
The man, Lord Benjamin, Arthur could only presume, looked down at the animal. “Oh yes. I’m sure Mr. Fraser can see to it.” He took the animal from Arthur’s arms with no regard to the mud and passed it on to a footman. “Very good.” He brushed his hands together, “Now that’s taken care of, would you like to come in for a spot of dinner? We were just about to sit down – well, as soon as my daughter was located of course.” He gave Lady Janice a reproving glance.
* * *
She simply pursed her lips and rolled her eyes, brushing past her father. “Well, I shall go and wash up. Do stay for dinner Your Grace, then Peters can take you home in the carriage. It’s about to pour again.”
* * *
Arthur glanced up at the sky, realizing that she was right. With a sigh, he stepped into the madhouse that was the Raven Manor. He stood cautiously, waiting to be ushered to the parlor, taken aback by the sheer amount of noise.
* * *
He could hear raised voices close by, a man’s and a woman’s. They seemed to be finding umbrage with the fact that one or the other of them had not checked on the health or wellbeing of a…bird? Arthur was not sure if he’d heard right.