Ducal Encounters 01 - At the Duke's Discretion Read Online Free

this year, Lord Amos,” her uncle said.
    Ah, so he was Lord Amos Sheridan, the second son. Crista had heard he was the sibling responsible for the horse stud at Winchester Park. It was a great success. Well, of course it was! Everything that family touched turned to the equivalent of the precious metal Crista spent her days working with. When she had time to herself, she often walked on the common land between the village and Winchester Park and observed one or more of their lordships charging across it on horseback. Lord Amos was the most familiar sight, but she had never seen him at such close quarters before. His large frame filled her uncle’s establishment with an inundation of masculine power and smooth formidability that made Crista feel inexplicably warm.
    Something stirred deep inside her—some dormant feeling that curled through her body and settled pleasurably in her abdomen—as she continued to observe him. She was angered by a reaction over which she appeared to have no control. Through no fault of her own, enough of the control she had once exerted over her own activities had already been wrested away from her. She did not require handsome gentlemen with charming smiles, sophistication, and poise stalking her thoughts. Even so, there was something about Lord Amos she reacted to, in spite of her best endeavours to remain immune. Yea gods, she must be more tired than she realised since such whimsical fancies did not usually have any place in Crista’s world.
    “That is remarkably good of you, Chesney,” Lord Amos replied amiably. “But, excuse me, I heard tell your eyesight is not what it once was. Are you perfectly sure the strain wouldn’t be too much for you?”
    How extraordinary, Crista thought, that he should know of her uncle’s malady and seem genuinely concerned about it.
    “Your lordship is remarkably well informed.”
    Lord Amos shrugged those impossibly broad shoulders. “It’s a small village.”
    “However, I would ask you not to listen to rumours put about by establishments in Compton, for I am persuaded that is where this whimsy must have originated.” Lord Amos raised a brow, but said nothing. “I am perfectly able to be of service to your lordship. I can no longer do the close, intricate work, it is true, but I have a very able assistant who more than adequately serves me in that respect.”
    “An assistant?” Reece blurted out, his face like thunder.
    “You?” Lord Amos turned towards Reece and raised both brows this time, as though he couldn’t quite believe such a dandy would be prepared to get his hands dirty. Ah, so there was more to his lordship than a handsome face and easy manners.
    “I have that honour.” Reece recovered quickly and executed an elegant bow.
    “Hmm, I see.”
    But when it became apparent Lord Amos did not appear to care too much for what he saw, Crista warmed to him a little more.
    “Well, Lord Amos, I am sure we can meet your request for something out of the ordinary to mark the occasion.”
    “Stop fishing for compliments, Chesney. All of your work is out of the ordinary, and well you know it.”
    Uncle Charles inclined his head. “Your lordship does me great honour.”
    “On the contrary, I speak as I find. However, as I was saying, her grace turns sixty this year. The duke’s commission for an additional piece of silver to add to her growing collection will not change, but I am charged by the duke to seek your advice on something more personal. A gift from her children to mark the occasion.”
    “Perhaps a special suite of jewellery? A necklace, earrings and bracelet in gold or platinum, with ruby and diamond settings.”
    “I’m listening.”
    So was Crista. As her creative mind whirled with possibilities, her excitement grew. Her uncle ought to have warned her he intended such a suggestion, since it was she who would have to design and make the jewellery. Had she been aware, she could have prepared some sketches. But that was not why