The Danger of Dukes by Phynix de Leon

lovely young lady related to you?”
    “It is not me she is related to but you. This is your great granddaughter, she has come over from America to be married soon.”
    “Married, you say? My granddaughter?” his eyebrows shot up. Then he laughed and pulled me into a tight hug. “Nicely met daughter, nicely met indeed. I had no idea! Well now, you’re the kind of family a man like myself needs, unlike my useless grandson over there.”
    I turned a shocked look to Derek and he just shrugged.
    “You my dear with have to come visit more often now that I know. You simply must. I never met you mother, but your grandmother, my daughter, looks nothing like you. You are much prettier, and I bet you don’t sass back.”
    “No, Grandfather, she has a habit of getting into troubles of other kinds.”
    And so set off the best day I had yet in England. It wasn’t until a couple of hours later that a brash banging on the front door disturbed us all. Miss Morgan, the woman who had answered the door for us went to go see what was happening.
    It didn’t take long for her to turn. Lord Grayson barged into the room, with a Miss Morgan dangling from his arm trying to stop him. Grayson simply shock her off, nabbed my by the arm and grated, “We are leaving.”
    But he was stopped from dragging me out by the hand of my grandfather on his arm.
    “I do say, unhand her,” grandfather said sternly.
    “I shall not, she is coming with me. And you,” he snapped at Derek, “are in more trouble than you can count!”
    Tired of the fight I yanked away from both of them a crossed my arms. I chose to glare at Lord Grayson first.
    “What in heaven do you think you are doing, barging in like that and into the home of a Grand Duke, no less?”
    He glared back. “Saving you.”
    “Saving me? Me?” the very thought made me laugh. “Save me from what, tea and cakes?”
    He looked a little unsure. “I was saving you from Derek, he is rather know to be a playboy.”
    Deciding to use this to my advantage I walked over to Derek and sat next to him, placing my hand over his.
    “I would much rather stay here among family and friends. You may be gone now.”
    He gritted his teeth. “I will not leave! You are going to marry me, is that clear?”
    “I still have a choice. Remember I gave you a chance? Prove that I should.”
    He looked between us all in the room and I saw the arrogance leave his face as he dropped to one knee in front of me.
    “You have entrapped me with your wit, kindness and have shown me such even as I showed you none. You have entangled me in feelings that I didn’t know still existed inside of me, I will do anything. Please, Alana,” he whispered, “Come back to me.”
    I grinned and patted him on the head, “All you ever had to do was ask. Remember what you just said.”
    I kissed Derek on the cheek and the same with my grandfather. “I shall see you soon. Good-bye to you Grandfather and good day to you, Cousin.”
    When I saw the stunned look upon his face I patted his cheek. “Let us go a fetch your sister, I miss her already.”

The Final Deal
     
     
     
     
     
    It was only a short ride back to find his sister and to stall Lord Grayson as long as may be. I had hatched a plan and I was ready to put it into motion. With a sly smile on my face I confessed all to his sister who grinned in return.
    “A most brilliant plan if I do say so myself,” she agreed.
     
    …
     
     
    “I don’t agree to this!” he shouted aghast
    I crossed my arms. “This is how it will be. I will only marry you if you let me ride Champ in the final race. Also you sign him over to me as soon as we are married. You have an eye for the races but not horses.”
    “Bloody hell woman, have you any idea what people of the ton would say about such a thing. The few who knew it was you at the last race could be kept quiet. But just about every lord in the House will be at this race!”
    “That is the deal. My grandfather, the Duke of Norfolk,