The Duke's Dilemma by Nadine Miller Page A

somewhat bleary looking man-of-affairs.
    “I’ve never known you to open your eyes before the morning was well and truly launched.”
    “Miss Haliburton,” Edgar grumbled. “The head groom sent word she had persisted in her morning ride despite his protests that it wasn’t safe until this blasted highwayman was apprehended. Though what he thinks I can do about the situation, I’m sure I don’t know. Miss Haliburton strikes me as a woman who follows her own dictates.”
    “Amen to that,” Jared said, more concerned than he wanted Edgar to know. He frowned. “I doubt our thief is bold enough to cross Brynhaven land, but still I would have expected Miss Haliburton, or any other sensible female, to stay safely within the walls of the manor house with such a fellow on the loose.”
    “I fear Miss Haliburton ‘s good sense is overset by her zeal in this case,” Edgar said morosely. “She is most likely hoping to encounter the thief so she can persuade him to give up his evil ways. I gained the impression yesterday that she held him in sympathy—claimed circumstances could have made him desperate—or some such rot.”
    “She said that?” Jared stopped in his tracks, struck by a sudden thought that brought an unconscious smile to his lips. He gave Edgar a hearty whack between the shoulder blades.
    “Go back to bed. You’re as useless as a duck in a thunderstorm before the hour of eleven. I’ll search out Miss Haliburton. I feel certain I know where I can find her.”
    “How can you know that?”
    “Because, dear fellow, I simply do. Leave it at that.” Edgar’s sleep-glazed eyes narrowed to accusing slits.
    “Why you unconscionable rake! You arranged an assignation with her yesterday morning, didn’t you—and don’t try to play the innocent. She’s already told me she met up with some scruffy fellow named Jared on her ride.” He gasped. “Good God! Never say she thinks you are the highwayman!”
    Jared shrugged, determinedly ignoring the twinge of conscience that made him avert his eyes from Edgar ‘s shocked scrutiny. “It is possible I could have given her the impression that I plied some such lawless trade,” he admitted, “but I shall tell her the straight of it when next I see her.”
    “I should certainly hope so.” Edgar’s voice held a quiet menace that set Jared’s teeth on edge. “I have watched you play some havey-cavey games in the past with your demimondes and superficial ladies of the ton . But be assured Miss Haliburton is neither of those; she is, in fact, not at all the kind of woman a jaded aristocrat such as yourself could understand or appreciate. She could be deeply hurt by what you perceive as merely a clever jest.”
    “Cut line, Edgar. You overstep yourself,” Jared snapped. “I’ll tolerate no lectures on my behavior from any man, not even you. I said I would tell the lady the truth, and so I shall.”
    Edgar pulled himself up to his full height and stared Jared in the eye. “Be certain you do, your grace, or I swear by all that’s holy, she will hear it from me. “
     
    Jared breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Emily had safely reached the oak tree before him. If the fool woman had come to harm at the hands of the outlaw because of him, he would never have forgiven himself.
    There she sat, stiff as buckram astride the gray, watching his approach and only when he drew quite near could he see the shadows the long night had painted beneath her troubled eyes. The sight of those telltale shadows touched him as nothing else had in a long time.
    “Good morning, Emily,” he said softly. “I am pleased you changed your mind about joining me for a morning ride.”
    “I did nothing of the sort, sir. I am here only because I wish to…that is, I felt I should…”
    “Should what, Emily?”
    “Warn you, you fool. Whatever were you thinking of to rob a coach so close to Brynhaven? Now you have the Duke of Montford and Mr. Rankin and the local squire, and heaven