Read Online A Gentleman's Kiss by Kimberley Comeaux - Free Book Online
Authors: Kimberley Comeaux
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grabbed her hand. “Whoever it is matters not to me, Helen. Just speak it.”
“He’s working for Lord Kinclary,” Helen said in one fast breath.
Claudia pulled her hand back slowly, her mind whirling with the implications of Helen’s news. She didn’t know what to say. “It makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time,” she murmured, bringing her gaze up to meet Helen’s. She fell silent again then finally said, “I think I may have met my grandfather, and I didn’t even know it.” She shook her head. “How could I not recognize my own grandfather?”
Helen reached out and patted her arm. “Don’t worry about that now. You must concentrate your efforts on figuring out a way to tell Kinclary your news.”
Claudia stood and paced. “I am the granddaughter of his butler, Helen. Cameron is the future Duke of Ravenhurst, tenth in line to the throne.”
Helen stepped in front of her to stop her pacing. “Why does it matter? I thought you didn’t want to have anything to do with Kinclary,” she reminded her gently.
Claudia shook her head. “I don’t. It’s only—well, he might not want to help me get to know my grandfather Canterbury once he realizes the truth. It might change his perception of me.”
Helen smiled at her gently. “Claudia, it seems to me, no matter how much you deny it, the two of you have feelings for one another. I’m sure he already knows the story of your parents’ elopement. Why would this make a difference?”
Claudia could not deny Helen’s assessment, for it was true. But would those feelings continue once he found out the truth?
❧
“I don’t understand where he could be!” Claudia waved her hands about in the air. “A week has passed, and I’ve attended three balls. Why doesn’t he show himself?”
She leaned back in Helen’s carriage and stared up at the gray velvet ceiling. Helen, sitting across from her, reached out to pat her knee.
“I’m sure something has come up to detain him. Don’t lose hope yet. Once you speak to him today, I’m sure everything will turn out all right.”
“Are you sure we’re doing the right thing by going to his home? What if he thinks I’m pursuing him or something?” she said anxiously.
Helen gave her a level look. “After what you told him the last time you parted, I don’t believe he thinks you’re marriage minded,” she answered dryly.
Claudia thought back to that day and became even more concerned. “Perhaps I’ve offended him. He seemed fine when I left, but later he might have thought about what I said and become angry with me.”
“Stop fretting,” Helen admonished as the carriage came to a stop. “Now let’s put on our best smiles, walk in that house, and tell Kinclary our news. God will guide us, I’m sure.”
Claudia had faith in God; she just wasn’t sure about Cameron.
After a few moments they were standing at the large door, banging with the ring held by the giant lion’s head.
When the door opened, Claudia was disappointed to find her grandfather was not the one behind it. “We’re here to see Lord Kinclary,” she told the servant, hoping her nervousness did not show.
The young servant eyed the two of them. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but you can tell him that Lady Claudia is here to see him about a most urgent matter.” She hoped the mysteriousness of her statement would cause him to let her in.
The man hesitated a moment, then showed them into the large entrance hall. “Please wait here while I take him your message.” He motioned for them to sit on a delicate settee by the door.
As they waited, Claudia could only stare straight ahead and concentrate on being calm.
“Just look at these paintings, Claudia. I’ll bet they are worth a fortune.” She pointed to the ceiling. “And have you ever seen such a large chandelier? Amazing!”
“Helen, please!” Claudia whispered. “Reminding me of how rich and powerful he is does not help to calm my poor
“He’s working for Lord Kinclary,” Helen said in one fast breath.
Claudia pulled her hand back slowly, her mind whirling with the implications of Helen’s news. She didn’t know what to say. “It makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time,” she murmured, bringing her gaze up to meet Helen’s. She fell silent again then finally said, “I think I may have met my grandfather, and I didn’t even know it.” She shook her head. “How could I not recognize my own grandfather?”
Helen reached out and patted her arm. “Don’t worry about that now. You must concentrate your efforts on figuring out a way to tell Kinclary your news.”
Claudia stood and paced. “I am the granddaughter of his butler, Helen. Cameron is the future Duke of Ravenhurst, tenth in line to the throne.”
Helen stepped in front of her to stop her pacing. “Why does it matter? I thought you didn’t want to have anything to do with Kinclary,” she reminded her gently.
Claudia shook her head. “I don’t. It’s only—well, he might not want to help me get to know my grandfather Canterbury once he realizes the truth. It might change his perception of me.”
Helen smiled at her gently. “Claudia, it seems to me, no matter how much you deny it, the two of you have feelings for one another. I’m sure he already knows the story of your parents’ elopement. Why would this make a difference?”
Claudia could not deny Helen’s assessment, for it was true. But would those feelings continue once he found out the truth?
❧
“I don’t understand where he could be!” Claudia waved her hands about in the air. “A week has passed, and I’ve attended three balls. Why doesn’t he show himself?”
She leaned back in Helen’s carriage and stared up at the gray velvet ceiling. Helen, sitting across from her, reached out to pat her knee.
“I’m sure something has come up to detain him. Don’t lose hope yet. Once you speak to him today, I’m sure everything will turn out all right.”
“Are you sure we’re doing the right thing by going to his home? What if he thinks I’m pursuing him or something?” she said anxiously.
Helen gave her a level look. “After what you told him the last time you parted, I don’t believe he thinks you’re marriage minded,” she answered dryly.
Claudia thought back to that day and became even more concerned. “Perhaps I’ve offended him. He seemed fine when I left, but later he might have thought about what I said and become angry with me.”
“Stop fretting,” Helen admonished as the carriage came to a stop. “Now let’s put on our best smiles, walk in that house, and tell Kinclary our news. God will guide us, I’m sure.”
Claudia had faith in God; she just wasn’t sure about Cameron.
After a few moments they were standing at the large door, banging with the ring held by the giant lion’s head.
When the door opened, Claudia was disappointed to find her grandfather was not the one behind it. “We’re here to see Lord Kinclary,” she told the servant, hoping her nervousness did not show.
The young servant eyed the two of them. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but you can tell him that Lady Claudia is here to see him about a most urgent matter.” She hoped the mysteriousness of her statement would cause him to let her in.
The man hesitated a moment, then showed them into the large entrance hall. “Please wait here while I take him your message.” He motioned for them to sit on a delicate settee by the door.
As they waited, Claudia could only stare straight ahead and concentrate on being calm.
“Just look at these paintings, Claudia. I’ll bet they are worth a fortune.” She pointed to the ceiling. “And have you ever seen such a large chandelier? Amazing!”
“Helen, please!” Claudia whispered. “Reminding me of how rich and powerful he is does not help to calm my poor
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