The Duke and the Lady Gardener

The Duke and the Lady Gardener The Grantham GirlsBook One By Alissa Baxter © Copyright 2023 by Alissa Baxter Text by Alissa Baxter Cover by Kim Killion Designs Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. is an imprint of Kathryn Le Veque Novels, Inc. P.O. Box 23 Moreno Valley, CA 92556 [email protected] Produced in the United States of America First Edition May 2023 Kindle Edition Reproduction of any kind except where it pertains to short quotes in relation to advertising or promotion is strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. License Notes: This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook, once purchased, may not be re-sold. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. 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CEO, Dragonblade Publishing Dedication For my parents Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Publisher’s Note Dedication Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Chapter Thirty-Two References Acknowledgements About the Author Chapter One The door of the carriage jerked open, and a coated figure on horseback, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and black face-covering, leaned into the coach with pistol drawn. “Stand and deliver!” The coarse cloth mask may have muffled the voice, but not the force of the command behind it. The occupant of the vehicle, a dark, elegantly attired gentleman, raised his quizzing glass and inspected the highwayman through it. “I think not.” “Stand and deliver!” The highwayman’s eyes narrowed behind the slits of the mask. “Your money or your life.” The gentleman lowered his quizzing glass and leaned back against the seat cushion. “My guarded retinue follows me and will come upon us at any moment. I suggest you depart forthwith and play your childish games with someone else.” “I play no games with you, sir, and you are foolish to challenge me. Stand and deliver, I say!” The gentleman gave a weary sigh. “My dear fellow, you may think it great sport to masquerade as a highwayman, but you have surely had your fun. Take that beast back to your father’s stable forthwith, or you may leave me with no choice but to unmask you.” The highwayman scoffed. “You cannot unmask me, sir. I am the one pointing this pistol at you.” Quick as a flash, the gentleman moved, knocking the pistol out of the thief’s hand and into the verge. Leveling his own pistol, which he had kept hidden beside him, he drawled, “I think you find yourself mistaken.” The bandit’s hands shook as the reality of this sudden reversal settled in. A second, larger thief, who held a pistol to the coachman’s head, shouted to his accomplice, and, in an instant, both highwaymen wheeled their horses around and galloped away. The thieves rode swiftly across the countryside, saying not a word to one another as they sped away. Finally, they came to a secluded copse where they drew up their horses and silently dismounted beside an open carriage, which had been carefully concealed amongst the bushes. The leader picked up a bundle from the conveyance and slipped away behind some trees while the larger highwayman harnessed the horses. He went about his task efficiently, muttering to himself as he put the animals in their traces. Finally, the man raised his voice: “Our escape this time was too narrow, Miss Grantham. When I saw the barrel of that gun in your face—. Your brother would have my blood if he knew I aid you in such foolishness.” “It isn’t foolishness, Ben, and we managed to escape, so don’t fuss. Is my appearance tidy enough?” Ben scowled at the young lady who emerged from behind the bushes. “Aye, miss, you look tidy enough. But that wouldn’t be the case if a bloodstain happened to mark those pretty clothes of yours.” “You concern yourself far too much over me. I admit our plans went slightly awry today, but Lady Luck has smiled on us—as she always does.” She laughed up at him as he assisted her into the carriage. Ben continued to frown. “Well, in my experience, miss, it don’t pay to tempt fate. We’d be mad to continue this for much longer.” Alexandra Grantham opened her eyes very wide. “Continue what?” Her voice was innocent. “I am a perfectly respectable lady enjoying a perfectly respectable drive in the countryside.” Ben merely grunted as he lowered himself into the