A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,3
darling Willa’s Scottish accent always thickened when she was excited.
“You brought your knife?” Katherine asked softly.
“My dirk.” Willa shrugged. “Kat, I thought there might be a wee bit of trouble. An’ I was correct.”
Katherine shook her head.
“At least I dinnae bring my claymore,” Willa added defensively.
“Thank God for small miracles,” Katherine murmured. “We’d both be thrown out of the office if you drew your sword.”
Yet, she couldn’t be angry. Tall, spry, and in her forties, Willa had been with Katherine since she was a small girl, first as a nursemaid, now as her companion. Even when Katherine’s mother was alive, it was Willa who tucked her into bed and tended to her when she was sick. More than a companion, Willa was Katherine’s only family—well, besides Meri the “trigamist” and perhaps the duke.
“Don’t let anyone see it,” Katherine scolded softly. “Will you fetch my cloak from Mr. Hanes’s office while I speak with them about my money?”
Willa nodded, upsetting several curls of her graying red hair. “What about the will?”
“I doubt if Meri left me anything.” Katherine tried to smile but failed. She wanted to summon nice thoughts of her dead husband, but it was uniquely difficult after he’d left her to fend on her own. Now, it was inconceivable after learning he had two other wives. She exhaled. “We were only together a day.”
“Six hours,” Willa corrected as her green eyes flashed. “Not even enough time to consummate the marriage. Yet the bastard ate the bridal breakfast afore he left.”
“Hush, please,” Katherine begged. “I don’t need to be reminded, and I don’t want them to know.”
“What about ’im?” Willa threw her head in the duke’s general direction.
“I’ll take care of it.” Katherine patted Willa’s hand.
“It,” Willa grunted while eyeing the duke. “That’s a good description of ’im.” She nodded reluctantly, then left.
Katherine took a deep breath and turned to face Meri’s brother and Mr. Hanes once more. The duke stared at her while continuing his discussion with his solicitor.
She smoothed her hands down her skirt, then started forward. The duke nodded briefly in her direction then turned his focus to the solicitor.
“I don’t care what you have to do. Take care of this mess,” the duke commanded in a voice that demanded results.
Once Katherine stood beside them, a flustered Mr. Hanes turned in her direction before his gaze whipped back to the duke’s daunting visage. “Your … Your Grace, may I introduce your late brother’s wife?”
Miraculously, the duke smiled and, for a moment, Katherine could have sworn the sun had burst through the clouds in welcome. The room practically swam in light. Two perfect dimples appeared on his angular cheeks.
Immediately, she changed her opinion. He was handsome. Too handsome, if truth be told.
Another clerk motioned Mr. Hanes forward, leaving Katherine alone with the duke.
The imposing man tucked his hat under the arm adorned with a simple black armband to show he mourned his brother. He clasped her fingers in his. In a show of respect, he slowly bent over her hand.
“I’m so sorry we meet under these circumstances,” he murmured. “Randford at your service, Lady Meriwether.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Though he acted the perfect gentleman, the heat of his long fingers clasping hers sent a slow meandering chill down her spine. Ignoring the response, Katherine dipped a curtsey. When she rose, she smiled demurely.
“How are you faring under this trying situation?” he asked with a deep, smooth voice that could charm harpies from the ocean.
Completely captivated, Katherine leaned forward. His sandalwood scent surrounded her, and she inhaled deeply. “Well, Your Grace. Thank you for asking.”
His eyes softened. “I’m glad to hear that.”
The rumbling sound resonated within her chest, warming her insides, and she smiled in return. This man was the definition of dangerous, a celebrated war hero who led his men into battles that others ran from. He always won, no matter the odds. If he had asked her to follow him into one of his heroic war campaigns, Katherine didn’t know if she could have refused. Thankfully, this wasn’t war.
Or at least, she didn’t think so. But heaven knew this was a disaster beyond epic.
“If you’ll excuse me? It was lovely to meet you,” he said.
The vision of a warrior who conquered all dissolved before her eyes. “Wait, you can’t leave.”
“Indeed, I can,” he murmured as he bowed. “And I will.”
Chapter Two
“You can’t leave me with this situation.” Lady Meriwether’s soft tone didn’t dull the steel in her voice. Then she added, “Your Grace,” almost as an afterthought.