Read Online A Dangerous Love by Sabrina Jeffries - Free Book Online
Authors: Sabrina Jeffries
Ads: Link
do, since you used your newfound station to chastise me publicly.”
“Don’t grumble at me! This was your idea, not mine. And if you can’t control the bloody woman, how the hell do you expect me to?”
“How the hell do you expect me to search the house with her on my heels?”
“I have no idea.” Daniel leaned forward, concern on his features. “I take it you didn’t find the proof last night.”
“No. She caught me before I could finish searching the desk. There’s something in there that prompted her concern, but it might not be what I’m looking for. The damnable piece of paper could be anywhere.” When Daniel shot him a look that said I told you so , he growled, “I’ll find it eventually, don’t worry.”
“In the meantime, what do you intend to do about her?”
“Do? Damnation, I don’t know.” Glancing across the room and into the hall, Griff noted how Lady Rosalind and her sister eyed him and Daniel with ill-disguised curiosity. He feigned interest in the sausages growing cold on his plate, shoving them about with his fork. “Since I roused her suspicions last night, I’d best humor her whim this morning.”
“Do you think she’s guessed what you’re up to?”
“I doubt it.” He couldn’t imagine that the earl would tell his daughters the true history of his dealings with the Knighton family. From the little Griff had gleaned of their characters, they would be appalled. “I think she’s a suspicious woman in general. And she feels some sort of responsibility for the estate.”
“Maybe you should try charming the girl. Flattery softens a woman.”
“It may work for you, but you know I’m bad at it, especially with a woman as clever as this.” He poured himself more tea, taking note of Swanlea’s expensive china. At least the man had better taste than his daughter. “Besides, I tried it last night. She took offense, told me I was a ne’er-do-well, then peppered me with questions about why I was in her father’s study.”
“She’s no soft, weak-willed light-o’-love, I’ll give you that. Never met a woman like her before—so ready to speak her mind and all.”
That was a fine understatement. “Maybe I should make myself so disagreeable that she’ll eagerly abandon me.”
“That’s playing to your strengths, all right.”
Griff glowered at him. “It’s playing to her rank, you ass. She’s a lady—squiring a man of affairs about can’t be her favorite choice for entertainment.”
“I’m not so sure. A woman who’ll come after a man with a sword…Did she really do that?”
“Oh, yes. Thrust a shield in my face, too.” Griff speared a sausage and bit off the end, then chewed it thoughtfully. “And all the while wearing only her chemise and wrapper. I swear the cheap silk was sheer enough to see through—I wouldn’t have paid that trader Hung Choi a farthing for it.”
“Hmmm, this grows more interesting each time you tell it. When you said she dressed like a soiled dove, I thought you meant her gown was gaudy.”
“That goes without saying.” He nodded in Lady Rosalind’s direction. “Look at that assault-upon-the-eyes she’s wearing today.”
The dizzying striped print of bright yellow and green rivaled her handiwork in the entrance hall. Didn’t the woman own a single piece of clothing that wasn’t vividly colored? And how did she still manage to look so damnably alluring in the things?
Daniel cast her a furtive glance. “I don’t notice anything wrong with it.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Daniel bristled. “See here, you got no cause to insult me. I’m doing what you asked.”
“Not entirely. I’m still saddled with Lady Amazon. You were supposed to play to your strengths and charm the woman out of my way.”
“Can I help it if the woman can’t be charmed?”
“Well, maybe she can be frightened off, if I can only think how to do it.” Griff mused a moment.“She wasn’t entirely bold last night, after all. I did shut
“Don’t grumble at me! This was your idea, not mine. And if you can’t control the bloody woman, how the hell do you expect me to?”
“How the hell do you expect me to search the house with her on my heels?”
“I have no idea.” Daniel leaned forward, concern on his features. “I take it you didn’t find the proof last night.”
“No. She caught me before I could finish searching the desk. There’s something in there that prompted her concern, but it might not be what I’m looking for. The damnable piece of paper could be anywhere.” When Daniel shot him a look that said I told you so , he growled, “I’ll find it eventually, don’t worry.”
“In the meantime, what do you intend to do about her?”
“Do? Damnation, I don’t know.” Glancing across the room and into the hall, Griff noted how Lady Rosalind and her sister eyed him and Daniel with ill-disguised curiosity. He feigned interest in the sausages growing cold on his plate, shoving them about with his fork. “Since I roused her suspicions last night, I’d best humor her whim this morning.”
“Do you think she’s guessed what you’re up to?”
“I doubt it.” He couldn’t imagine that the earl would tell his daughters the true history of his dealings with the Knighton family. From the little Griff had gleaned of their characters, they would be appalled. “I think she’s a suspicious woman in general. And she feels some sort of responsibility for the estate.”
“Maybe you should try charming the girl. Flattery softens a woman.”
“It may work for you, but you know I’m bad at it, especially with a woman as clever as this.” He poured himself more tea, taking note of Swanlea’s expensive china. At least the man had better taste than his daughter. “Besides, I tried it last night. She took offense, told me I was a ne’er-do-well, then peppered me with questions about why I was in her father’s study.”
“She’s no soft, weak-willed light-o’-love, I’ll give you that. Never met a woman like her before—so ready to speak her mind and all.”
That was a fine understatement. “Maybe I should make myself so disagreeable that she’ll eagerly abandon me.”
“That’s playing to your strengths, all right.”
Griff glowered at him. “It’s playing to her rank, you ass. She’s a lady—squiring a man of affairs about can’t be her favorite choice for entertainment.”
“I’m not so sure. A woman who’ll come after a man with a sword…Did she really do that?”
“Oh, yes. Thrust a shield in my face, too.” Griff speared a sausage and bit off the end, then chewed it thoughtfully. “And all the while wearing only her chemise and wrapper. I swear the cheap silk was sheer enough to see through—I wouldn’t have paid that trader Hung Choi a farthing for it.”
“Hmmm, this grows more interesting each time you tell it. When you said she dressed like a soiled dove, I thought you meant her gown was gaudy.”
“That goes without saying.” He nodded in Lady Rosalind’s direction. “Look at that assault-upon-the-eyes she’s wearing today.”
The dizzying striped print of bright yellow and green rivaled her handiwork in the entrance hall. Didn’t the woman own a single piece of clothing that wasn’t vividly colored? And how did she still manage to look so damnably alluring in the things?
Daniel cast her a furtive glance. “I don’t notice anything wrong with it.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Daniel bristled. “See here, you got no cause to insult me. I’m doing what you asked.”
“Not entirely. I’m still saddled with Lady Amazon. You were supposed to play to your strengths and charm the woman out of my way.”
“Can I help it if the woman can’t be charmed?”
“Well, maybe she can be frightened off, if I can only think how to do it.” Griff mused a moment.“She wasn’t entirely bold last night, after all. I did shut
Similar Books
