Read Online A Matter of Duty by Sandra Heath - Free Book Online

also no point because I don’t want to know you any better.’
    For a second his outward air of calm friendliness was breeched, allowing the real Geoffrey Lawrence to gaze coldly out from his brown eyes, but then he dissembled again with a smile. ‘You cannot mean that, Miss Cherington. If you do, why on earth have you come here tonight?’
    ‘Because it is as you said, I owe you the courtesy of a hearing.’
    There was an aloofness about her that told him she meant every word. She was immune to his charm and indifferent to any soft words he might choose to employ. If he wanted to possess her – and he did – then he’d have to force her. But first she must be lulled into a false sense of security, so that even if she didn’t find him irresistible, she did at least trust him to conduct himself correctly.
    He smiled again, looking toward the Cyclops . ‘I’ll be very sorry to see her go, but maybe if I choose my words carefully, I’ll be able to persuade Rowe to invite me to Cowes with him. I’d dearly like to see the race between Highclare and Grantham, it’s all the talk. I was entertaining hopes of taking Highclare on myself with the Cyclops , but that’s not to be now.’
    ‘Lord Rowe hasn’t bought her yet,’ she replied, relieved that he’d apparently accepted what she’d said.
    ‘He will, I’m sure of it.’ He pretended to admire the cutter. ‘What do you think of her figurehead, Miss Cherington?’
    ‘Figurehead?’ She glanced at the vessel’s sleek prow. She thought the carved cyclops very ugly indeed, but could hardly say so. ‘It – it’s very handsome.’
    ‘And very clever, don’t you think?’
    ‘Clever? I don’t understand.’
    ‘Haven’t you noticed? No, evidently you haven’t, or you’d know straightaway what I was talking about. Come here, and I’ll show you.’
    He smiled reassuringly. ‘Don’t be nervous, I won’t bite you.’ Slowly she went closer, but not too close.
    ‘I doubt if you’ll see even from there,’ he said, pointing toward the figurehead. ‘It’s the cyclops’ eye. Can you see?’
    She shook her head. ‘No. What is there to see?’
    He laughed a little and with seeming innocence moved over to her, gently taking her arm and pointing again. Then he shook his head. ‘No, you still can’t see, you’ll have to step over here.’ He maneuvered her to where he wanted, so that the summerhouse stood between them and the house.
    She was very aware of his hand holding her arm, and aware that he stood very close to her. Too close. Distrust rose sharply in her, and her breath caught as she glanced up and suddenly saw the truth written large upon his handsome face.
    What a fool she’d been! Panic almost seized her, but with a superhuman effort she remained calm. He mustn’t guess that she’d seen through him – he must be made to believe she felt at ease with him – but her heart was pounding almost unbearably and she knew she was totally defenseless. He had her at his mercy.
    He didn’t know he’d alerted her. ‘Now can you see the figurehead’s eye, Miss Cherington?’ he inquired reasonably. ‘From wherever you look at it, it seems to be staring directly at you. Can you see?’
    ‘Y-yes,’ she replied, trying to quell the tremble in her voice. ‘You’re right, Captain Lawrence, it is indeed very clever.’
    At that moment, to her immense relief, a new sound broke the silence of the night: the sound of voices and laughter as the card party emerged from the house to indulge in the amusing diversion of playing croquet by lantern light.
    Geoffrey gave a low curse, whipping around as the party came into view beyond the summerhouse, their lanterns bobbing. The ladies’ jewels winked and flashed in the moving light, and there was a great deal of hilarity as they discussed what forfeits should be paid for losing.
    Louisa didn’t need bidding; the moment his attention was diverted she wrenched herself free and gathered her skirts to fly toward the