Read Online A Matchmaking Miss by Joan Overfield - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joan Overfield
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remember me, my lord," she said, her full lips curving in an intimate smile. "I was still in the schoolroom when you set out on your grand adventure."
So that was the way it would be, Jossthought, his eyes narrowing with cynicism. When he was just the second son it was known he'd been shipped off to India to avoid inconveniencing his family. Now that he was the marquess his exile was magically transformed into "an adventure."
"I recall a dirty-faced brat with big gray eyes," he said, although in truth he recalled no such thing. "Never say that troublesome little hoyden was you, my lady?"
Lady Bettina was torn between fury at hearing herself described as "a dirty-faced brat" and annoyance that the marquess didn't remember her. Deciding she'd rather be a brat than ignored, she dredged up an enticing pout. "I'd hardly refer to myself as a brat, my lord," she reproved, tapping him lightly on the arm. "But I suppose to a man in his twenties a girl scarce ten would rate as naught but a nuisance."
"But such a charming nuisance," Joss drawled, electing to take pity on the vixen. "But I knew even then you would doubtlessly grow into a beauty. That is the way with dirty-faced brats, is it not, Raj?" He gave his friend a wide smile.
Raj returned the smile. "I have often found it so, my lord," he intoned gravely, relieved that Joss hadn't been misled by the lady's charms. For all her beauty she reminded him of a hooded cobra, spectacular but deadly, and hedistrusted her on sight.
The next hour passed in a pleasant enough fashion, although Joss wasn't in the least bit sorry when the duke rose to take his leave. "You'll have to come and inspect my stables, sir," he informed Joss in his hearty manner. "Those hayburners of yours would be better shot than ridden, if you want my opinion of it. Pity your brother had to sell off his hunters, but that's the way of it. Debts of honor, and all that."
"Of course." Miss Stone hadn't specifically mentioned gaming debts, but he wasn't surprised to hear Frederick had incurred them. Before Joss's banishment to India, he had often heard his brother and father quarreling over the matter.
He managed to avoid committing himself to a specific social call, although he still intended speaking to the duke about his tendency to make free with Kirkswood land. He flirted enough with Lady Bettina to keep her happy, and ignored her heavy hints that she would be happy to reacquaint him with his neighbors. The moment the door closed behind their guests he relaxed his shoulders, causing the material of his jacket to split.
"Blast!" He glared at the rip beneath his arm in annoyance. "Now I shall have to put on another jacket. Have my trunks arrived, LadyLouisa?"
"What?" She blinked at him in confusion, and then said. "Oh, yes, my lord. Kingsley took me aside just as I was coming downstairs and told me they'd just been delivered. Yours too, Mr. Fitzsimmons." she gave Raj a distracted smile. "I'm sure they will have been unpacked by now."
"Thank God for that," Joss grumbled, already starting for the door. "Raj, are you coming?"
"In a moment." Raj had arisen, but was studying Lady Louisa with a worried frown. "My lady, is all well?"
His sharpness took Lady Louisa by surprise, but she quickly hid her discomfiture behind another smile. "All is fine, Mr. Fitzsimmons, I thank you," she said, her voice firm. "Will you require the services of a valet now that your luggage is here?"
"If it is no trouble," Raj replied gravely, his eyes still resting on her face. Something was troubling her, he could sense it, but he was uncertain what he should do. Perhaps he'd take Joss aside and seek his counsel, he decided, bowing as he took his leave. The pretty blonde was his sister-in-law, after all.
The moment the door had closed behind the gentlemen Lady Louisa leapt to her feet, the skirts of her silk gown swirling about her anklesas she began pacing the room. Everything had been going so well, she fretted, her blue eyes
So that was the way it would be, Jossthought, his eyes narrowing with cynicism. When he was just the second son it was known he'd been shipped off to India to avoid inconveniencing his family. Now that he was the marquess his exile was magically transformed into "an adventure."
"I recall a dirty-faced brat with big gray eyes," he said, although in truth he recalled no such thing. "Never say that troublesome little hoyden was you, my lady?"
Lady Bettina was torn between fury at hearing herself described as "a dirty-faced brat" and annoyance that the marquess didn't remember her. Deciding she'd rather be a brat than ignored, she dredged up an enticing pout. "I'd hardly refer to myself as a brat, my lord," she reproved, tapping him lightly on the arm. "But I suppose to a man in his twenties a girl scarce ten would rate as naught but a nuisance."
"But such a charming nuisance," Joss drawled, electing to take pity on the vixen. "But I knew even then you would doubtlessly grow into a beauty. That is the way with dirty-faced brats, is it not, Raj?" He gave his friend a wide smile.
Raj returned the smile. "I have often found it so, my lord," he intoned gravely, relieved that Joss hadn't been misled by the lady's charms. For all her beauty she reminded him of a hooded cobra, spectacular but deadly, and hedistrusted her on sight.
The next hour passed in a pleasant enough fashion, although Joss wasn't in the least bit sorry when the duke rose to take his leave. "You'll have to come and inspect my stables, sir," he informed Joss in his hearty manner. "Those hayburners of yours would be better shot than ridden, if you want my opinion of it. Pity your brother had to sell off his hunters, but that's the way of it. Debts of honor, and all that."
"Of course." Miss Stone hadn't specifically mentioned gaming debts, but he wasn't surprised to hear Frederick had incurred them. Before Joss's banishment to India, he had often heard his brother and father quarreling over the matter.
He managed to avoid committing himself to a specific social call, although he still intended speaking to the duke about his tendency to make free with Kirkswood land. He flirted enough with Lady Bettina to keep her happy, and ignored her heavy hints that she would be happy to reacquaint him with his neighbors. The moment the door closed behind their guests he relaxed his shoulders, causing the material of his jacket to split.
"Blast!" He glared at the rip beneath his arm in annoyance. "Now I shall have to put on another jacket. Have my trunks arrived, LadyLouisa?"
"What?" She blinked at him in confusion, and then said. "Oh, yes, my lord. Kingsley took me aside just as I was coming downstairs and told me they'd just been delivered. Yours too, Mr. Fitzsimmons." she gave Raj a distracted smile. "I'm sure they will have been unpacked by now."
"Thank God for that," Joss grumbled, already starting for the door. "Raj, are you coming?"
"In a moment." Raj had arisen, but was studying Lady Louisa with a worried frown. "My lady, is all well?"
His sharpness took Lady Louisa by surprise, but she quickly hid her discomfiture behind another smile. "All is fine, Mr. Fitzsimmons, I thank you," she said, her voice firm. "Will you require the services of a valet now that your luggage is here?"
"If it is no trouble," Raj replied gravely, his eyes still resting on her face. Something was troubling her, he could sense it, but he was uncertain what he should do. Perhaps he'd take Joss aside and seek his counsel, he decided, bowing as he took his leave. The pretty blonde was his sister-in-law, after all.
The moment the door had closed behind the gentlemen Lady Louisa leapt to her feet, the skirts of her silk gown swirling about her anklesas she began pacing the room. Everything had been going so well, she fretted, her blue eyes
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