Noble Scoundrel - Amy Sandas Page 0,45

his gaze and a tingling sensation coursed through her.

Mason Hale was unlike anyone she’d ever known. He was irreverent and undeniably dangerous. He could make her feel languid and melty one minute, tense with anger and frustration the next. He unsettled her and challenged her and confused her.

And she had placed the most precious thing in her life right into his large, calloused hands.

AFTER LEAVING THE STUDY, Mason headed up to the third floor to see how Claire was faring.

He found his daughter sitting on a rug before the fire of what had once been a schoolroom. An ancient set of toy soldiers lay scattered around the skirts of her pale pink frock.

It took a bit to convince the nurse it was all right to leave his daughter in his care. Though he appreciated the woman’s loyalty and protective nature considering the fact Claire had experienced little of either in her life, he was never again going to father his child from a distance.

When they grew bored of playing with the soldiers, they switched to horsey rides. Claire bounced around on Mason’s back, clutching his hair in tight fists as they raced around the toy chest, reading chairs, and sofa, until they were both exhausted. Then they stretched out on the floor as Mason read a book Claire chose from a selection shelved in the corner.

After father and daughter enjoyed a very fine evening meal in the schoolroom, the nurse returned to get the girl bathed before bedtime. Claire pouted in resistance until Mason assured he’d be back to tuck her in for the night. His daughter had very efficiently wrapped him around her little finger.

And Mason wasn’t the slightest put out by it.

Chapter Fifteen

Not long after the first light of dawn began to tinge the sky the next morning, Mason was down in the ballroom awaiting his first student of the day. On the appointed hour exactly, Freddie strode through the open double doors.

Mason was pleased to see the young duke had dressed in loose-fitted clothing as he’d been instructed.

“Morning, Your Grace. You ready for this?” Using the boy’s title felt strange after weeks of calling him simply Freddie, but he figured he’d better start getting used to it.

Freddie gave a nod as he closed the doors behind him. “I hope so, Mr. Hale. I’d like to thank you for suggesting this training.”

Mason chuckled. “It wasn’t a suggestion, lad. And if you’re not cursing me for it in another hour, I won’t be doing my job right.”

He’d decided to train the boy after witnessing his frustration over having his idea to bait the kidnappers rejected. Mason could understand Freddie’s desire to take action. It had to be difficult for the boy to sit idle while an undefined threat hovered overhead. Mason always felt more comfortable when taking a fighter’s stance. But he agreed with Lady Katherine’s refusal to use Freddie as a means of drawing their enemy out. Very simply, it was too dangerous.

There had to be another way. Hopefully, Morley would have some luck digging up information that could help them.

In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to give the boy a few helpful skills. Not only could it come in handy if someone tried to nab him again, but he hoped it’d also satisfy Freddie’s need to do something about his circumstances.

Sometime later, Mason had Freddie wrapped in a bear hug from behind. The boy stood still for only a moment before he took a deep breath, stepped wide with one foot, snuck the other foot behind one of Mason’s while shifting his hips and leaning his shoulders into the bigger man. The swift change in positioning threw Mason off-balance, landing him on his back on the floor.

He laughed as he got back to his feet while Frederick stared at him, shock evident on his flushed face.

“I did it. I actually tossed you to the ground.”

Mason nodded. “Now you see how you can use an opponent’s size against them.” He stepped behind Freddie and placed him in the same hold. “Again. Only this time, I intend to put up a bit of resistance. Don’t let it change what you’re doing. Same principles apply.”

This time, Mason held on to Freddie as he fell, bringing the boy down with him.

“Now. Use your head,” he instructed as Freddie began to struggle.

With a quick snap, the back of Freddie’s skull connected with Mason’s chin at the same time he kicked his heel back into Mason’s knee. Both of which caused him to