Read Online A Guardians Angel by Jo Ann Ferguson - Free Book Online Page A

would be want-witted not to believe that you will join forces with Oslington’s other staff to prevent him from coming here.”
    “As I should.”
    “That I shall not debate with you when you have heard only Oslington’s side of this argument.”
    “His Grace is Master Thomas’s guardian. Not you.”
    “Do you always delight in repeating the obvious?” Standing, he gave her no chance to answer. “Mayhap you would like to see what your charge’s brother has been up to in my laboratory here at Harrington Grange.”
    “I thought—”
    “Capturing the butterflies is only part of the course of scientific study, Miss Needham.” Holding out his hand, he said, “Allow me to show you what the lad is learning. Then you may wish to reassure Mr. Weare that Thomas’s time is not completely wasted during his visits to the Grange.”
    “So he will join me in trying to persuade the duke to let Master Thomas come here on occasion?”
    “I have already told you that no one has ever persuaded Oslington to do anything once he has set his mind upon a course of action. Not even logic will jostle him from that stance.”
    “Nor you from yours.”
    “That also is quite true. Shall we?”
    She raised her hand to place it on his. As his long fingers closed over hers, she did not come to her feet. Instead she found herself lost once more in his green eyes, warm as the velvet on the chair where he had been sitting. After their previous conversations, she should have been inured to the powerful emotions in those enigmatic eyes, but each time she was held by them, she found it more impossible to escape. The warmth seeped through her, tingling along her skin to where his fingers held hers.
    “Miss Needham?” he asked softly.
    “Yes?”
    “Shall we?”
    Justin kept his smile to himself as Miss Needham blinked as if she were waking from a deep sleep. Too easily, he understood her reaction. His own clear thinking was muddied whenever he was in her company.
    It made no sense because she was so blasted sensible. He had had enough of pragmatic people in his life. All those nosy souls who had a comment about anyone who did anything they deemed improper. After so many years of trying to please them, he had learned it was impossible without giving up all he was. So he had taken the biggest risk of his life, the one everyone said he would fail at. He had not, but the happiness at proving them all shortsighted had been too short-lived.
    “Thank you,” Miss Needham said as she stood.
    “You are welcome, Angela.”
    Her head snapped up and her fingers froze where she had been dabbing at the wet spots on her skirt. The warm, wide pools within her eyes enticed him to explore more deeply. Again he was tempted to laugh. He might be foolhardy, but he was not fool enough to delve into them.
    “I doubt you will convince young Thomas to change his mind any more quickly than you will Oslington,” Justin said, keeping his smile cool. “I suspect we shall be having enough conversations to make it appropriate for me to call you by your given name and you to offer me the same intimacy.”
    She folded her arms in front of her, accenting her delightful curves. “You like trying to startle people with your ways and words, don’t you … Justin?”
    “Ah, you have discovered the truth with such speed.” He laughed.
    “It is not difficult when you make every effort to unsettle me.”
    “To the contrary. I wish only for you to be yourself as I take pride in being.”
    Her tone became prim when she said, “You were going to show me what work Master Thomas has been involved with here at Harrington Grange.”
    “Certainly.” With a half-bow, he motioned toward the door.
    “You know I must be honest with both Mr. Weare and the duke.”
    “Must you?”
    Whatever she might have said was halted by Mrs. Graves returning with the tea tray. Asking his housekeeper to keep the quilted cozy over the pot so the tea would remain hot, he motioned again for Angela