Christian Seaton_ Duke of Danger(56)

It was also in complete opposition to what Christian had instructed before going to his bedchamber.

He really was going to have to put Lisette over his knee and spank her—

‘There was something of a...language barrier, Your Grace, but I believe she did not intend to be out long,’ his butler answered uncomfortably.

There would be no ‘language barrier’ necessary once Christian caught up with Lisette. ‘Language’ would not be used, but physical retribution.

‘To be truthful, Your Grace, I was becoming a trifle worried about her myself,’ Evans continued awkwardly. ‘I had assumed she was just going to walk about the square, but she has been gone far too long for that to be the case. A young lady out alone...’ The elderly butler broke off with a wince as Christian gave him a glowering frown.

Although in truth, he could not hold any of his household responsible for Lisette’s actions; she was impulsive and strong-willed to the point where she was a danger to herself and everyone else. Christian could not deny that her impulsiveness and strong will had saved his life a time or two, but he had been perfectly serious earlier when he had warned Lisette of the dangers lurking beyond the walls of this house.

It was not only her identity but also the fact that she was a beautiful young woman, now out and about without escort or chaperone, so leaving herself prey to any of the criminal element that strolled these streets, day as well as night.

‘It is not your fault, Evans,’ he assured him on a sigh. ‘Miss Duprée is...an independent young lady, brought up in the country and used to doing as she wishes. I fear she is not yet used to the ways of the City.’

‘I guessed that, Your Grace.’ The elderly butler nodded. ‘I even offered for her to take young Mary with her for company—the Second Upstairs Maid,’ he supplied as Christian looked baffled as to who Mary might be. ‘But Miss Duprée indicated there was no reason to bother or disturb anyone and that she would only take a stroll outside in the fresh air.’

A stroll that had already lasted for two hours or more...

‘My cloak and hat, if you please, Evans,’ Christian requested wearily. ‘If I do not return for another two hours then perhaps you had better send out a search party,’ he added drily in parting as he swept out of the front doorway of Sutherland House in search of his errant and rebellious house guest.





Chapter Twelve

‘It is so bon to see you, Davy!’ Lisette beamed at the young man walking along beside her, aware that he probably did not understand a word she was saying, but hoping to convey her happiness with the brightness of her smile.

She had badly needed to escape Sutherland House earlier, to breathe in the fresh air, to be free for a while of the worry and intrigue that had surrounded her these past few days.

After leaving the house she had taken a stroll about the square outside Sutherland House, as she had given Evans the impression she intended to do. Which had taken her all of ten minutes to complete, and that included pausing to watch a group of small children playing with a ball, watched over by their gossiping nannies.

Having no child of her own to allow to play, and no English either to join in the conversation, Lisette had then ventured out of the square in search of other entertainment.

It had taken some time to reach the shops, and they had proved to be amusing for a while, but as usual she was only window-shopping, having no money to buy any of the pretty lace or fashionable leather gloves on display inside those windows.

It had been shortly after she had given in to the lure of a much bigger park, and become fascinated with watching the ducks swimming happily about on the pond there, that she had spied young Davy, the assistant to the cook on board The Blue Dolphin, strolling by.

Fortuitously, because by this time Lisette had walked so far and for so long that she had absolutely no idea how to find her way back to Christian’s ducal home.

Conversation between herself and Davy was, as might be expected, a little difficult, but they had managed, between the two of them, to convey the fact that Lisette was well and truly lost in England’s capital and Davy had now generously offered to walk back with her to Sutherland House.

Where Lisette would no doubt have to face a wrathful Christian.

She really had not intended to be out for so long or to walk so far, had thought to be back long before Christian rose from his nap. So that perhaps he would not even need to know that she had been out at all.

Instead she had become lost, and no doubt Christian would have been up for some time now and possibly pacing one of those elegantly appointed rooms in Sutherland House as he contemplated what was to be her punishment for having disobeyed him.