Kate
(Diable Delamere series book #1)
copyright @Kate Pearce 2012
"Miss Waterstone, there has clearly been a misunderstanding." Gervase held out his hand to her. "I swear I will not touch you again. You must let me help you."
She stumbled to her feet and continued to retreat until she reached the connecting doorway to his suite.
"Don't you dare come any closer, you...you disgusting reprobate!"
As she turned to run through the open door to his suite and into the freedom of the hallway beyond, Gervase gathered himself and made a lunge for her. With a cry, she crashed against his dressing table, knocked the contents to the floor, and went down on her knees. Her fingers closed around a small travelling clock. Straightening, she aimed it right at his head.
Gervase came to an abrupt stop and held up his hands.
"Miss Waterstone, please put the clock down. It is made of solid brass and you might injure yourself if you attempt to throw it. I'm sure we can sort out this very unpleasant situation to your satisfaction."
Her mouth worked and she swallowed twice before she was able to speak. "I'm well aware of how heavy the clock is, Your Grace. I am the one holding it, after all. My brothers taught me how to throw properly when I was a little girl, and I'm quite capable of hitting my target."
Her brave statement impressed him more than he cared to admit. Any other woman of his acquaintance would have been in floods of tears by now, not calmly threatening to brain him with his own clock. He fought an absurd desire to laugh.
"Well, if you wish to throw something at me, please go ahead."
He advanced a step toward her, one hand held out, and then froze as she drew her arm back.
"I don't think I could kill you, even though you deserve it. They would probably behead me at the Tower if I murdered a duke." She eyed him with great consideration as though he were a paper target. "No, I think if I winged you, it would be enough to stop you from following me."
Gervase laughed then and took another step forward. "Stop this foolishness, my dear. Give me the clock and we will talk. You have my word I won't lay a finger on you."
She took aim as he crossed the carpeted space between them and the heavy clock connected with his shoulder, ripping his dressing gown and making him reel backward.
"That," he said with deep appreciation, "was indeed an excellent shot." The shocking pain caught him unawares and he staggered to the side and fell against the marble mantelpiece, striking his head.
Eventually, he heard his valet's worried voice over the roaring in his ears. When Jacques bent over him, Gervase managed to grasp his sleeve.
"Don't let her leave."
Jacques's voice sounded puzzled and increasingly faint. "Who, Your Grace? You are the only person here."
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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Kate Pearce was born into a large family of girls in England, and spent much of her childhood living very happily in a dream world. Despite being told that she really needed to “get with the program”, she graduated from the University College of Wales with an honors degree in history.
A move to the USA finally allowed her to fulfill her dreams and sit down and write her first romance novel. Along with being a voracious reader, Kate loves walking on the beach and climbing live volcanoes in her new home in Hawaii. Kate is a member of RWA and is published by NAL Signet Eclipse, Kensington Aphrodisia, Cleis Press, Carina Press and Virgin Black Lace/Cheek.
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Historical Romances
Diable Delamere series
House of Pleasure Series
The Sinners Club
The Tudor Vampire Chronicles
Contemporary Romance
Branded, Dirty Sexy Cowboy Shorts
Turner Brother Series
Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?
Sci-fi/Futuristic Romance
Valhalla Series
Tribute Series
Paranormal Romance
Soul Justice Series
Awakening Amelia
Copyright © 2015 by Kate Pearce
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.