Page 33 of Good Duke Gone Wild

“France. Can’t. Leave.” she huffed. Then she tried again, “We can’t leave yet.”

He held up a hand to her in the universal gesture symbolizing wait. And though that was quite rude and she was affronted by his dismissal, she could actually use the moment to catch her breath.

When Jude finally shook hands with the man and turned his attention to her, she didn’t even give him a chance to speak.

“You owe me an experience,” she demanded with her hands on her hips.

“Excuse me?”

“I said that you owe me an experience.”

“I heard you,” a crease formed between his eyes, “I’m just not sure I understand what you mean. You want more? Now?” He tilted his head and asked, “Are you actually saying you want an experience here and now?” A small smirk played at his lips.

“Yes.”

His eyes darted around, “I’m not sure where—”

“I want to try some food.”

“Food?” He looked dumbfounded.

Hadn’t she just said that she wanted an experience? Wasn’t food at the top of everyone’s list when it came to trying new things? He couldn’t be that daft. But in case he was, she decided to lay it out for him.

“I’ve never been abroad, and now that I’ve made it all this way, I’m not leaving without some experience.”

“Ahhh…experience.”

Why was he saying that word in such a ridiculous tone?

“Yes. Now,” she said as she took his arm in her hand. “Do whatever you need to do to buy us two hours. That should be plenty of time to get the experiences I want.”

Jude chuckled. “I’m not sure that it is.”

“You want to return to England by tomorrow morning at the latest, don’t you?”

“It’s a bit of a requirement.”

“Because of the princess?” He nodded. “Then we should not delay.” She tugged on his arm. “Let’s go. Oh wait—” and this was the crucial part of her plan —”grab Sprat, please. I need his help with something while we go on our adventure.”

“You need Sprat?”

“We’ve grown close over our time together.”

“Your time together being one day?”

“Yes. And he said he would do this for me.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

Damn it. Jude wasn’t going to give in. She could see it in his skepticism. But this was the part of her plan that she needed to work—

“Give me one second.” Untangling her fingers from his arm, he walked over to the ship and called out a few instructions before returning to her. After a few minutes, Sprat came ambling down the gangplank toward them.

He was doing his best to not raise a quizzical brow at the two of them, so Agatha intercepted him first out of earshot from Jude. He had to help her. And obviously she was grossly exaggerating the connection she had made with him, but she hoped she wasn’t wrong about him. Surely if she just explained everything he would see the benefit to everyone involved. Surely he would help her out. Surely, surely, surely he was a good man.

So she took her chance. Giving him her instructions, he nodded and smirked. After a small laugh, he nodded to her first then turned to Jude.

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