An Abridged Excerpt From THE DARK DUKE

Barroughby hall was an immense building, the work of several generations and several architects, each seemingly trying to outdo each other in the spending of the Fitzwalters' money.

It was not a cozy place to live, yet it did have its compensations, not all of them architectural. Here Hester was not always being compared to her more attractive sisters, or made to wait upon her mother, who, believing herself sickly, was always in need of assistance and accepted Hester's help as her due. The duchess also pleaded a weak constitution, but not nearly as often, and she seemed to appreciate Hester's efforts a vast deal more.

In addition to that, Hester realized, there was now the exciting presence of the Dark Duke himself to make her stay here something out of the ordinary.

She reached the library, found her volume and headed toward the back stairs, which would be the fastest route up to her room.

Once upstairs, she paused in the corridor, realizing that one of the bedroom doors between where she was standing and her room, a door that had always been shut tight, was standing slightly open. Perhaps that was the duke's room, and she would have to pass it by.

This notion filled her with a curious mixture of excitement and dread, until Hester told herself she was being ridiculous. Surely she didn't expect the duke to lunge out of the room, grab her and drag her inside. The image was so...so romantically Gothic that Hester had to stifle a laugh. As if she could ever be a heroine! Besides, with an injured leg, he could hardly be skulking about!

Emboldened, she confidently walked down the hall.

Nevertheless, her steps slowed as she came even with the open door. A low moan caught her attention, so she cautiously stepped inside.

She lifted her candle a little higher, noting the fine proportions of the large room and splendid furnishings.

Including the canopied bed, with the curtains open and the duke slumbering upon it, lying on his side, and turned toward the door. He certainly wasn't a person to fear at the moment, she thought, smiling at her previous imaginings. At present he didn't look like the cold, sardonic man of this morning, or the villain rumor and gossip painted him. With his hair tousled and his eyes shut, he looked like nothing so much as a mischievous little boy - although there was a sensuality to his lips that had nothing of the child about it.

He moved restlessly, rolling onto his back and throwing one muscular arm over his face. One naked, muscular arm. At the sudden realization that he might be nude beneath the bedclothes, Hester backed away, ready to depart.

The duke moaned again.

Perhaps he needed help. Maybe she should fetch someone - but then she would have to explain her presence in the duke's bedroom. She recalled hearing the valet's voice in the servants' hall downstairs. She could ring the bell for assistance and leave before the valet appeared. The servant might believe that the duke had summoned him.

Deciding that would be the best course, Hester moved farther inside the room, for the bell rope dangled near the head of the bed.

What if someone passed by? They would certainly see her light.

Hester blew out the candle, so that the room was in complete darkness. She waited for her eyes to get used to the change, then slowly began to make out the shape of the duke, and the bellpull.

She went slowly toward the bed and reached for the pull, hesitating for a moment as she looked down at the slumbering duke.

He shifted again, rolling toward her and exposing his powerful shoulder.

With a gulp, she yanked on the bellpull, then hurried from the room as quickly and quietly as she could.

When she was gone, Adrian Fitzwalter opened his eyes and smiled.