Read Online Amanda Scott - [Dangerous 03] by Dangerous Illusions - Free Book Online Page A

happy to accompany you.”
    But if she was grateful for his intervention, she did not show it, replying curtly, “We ride toward the shore, sir, not toward Bodmin Moor.”
    Still determined to frustrate St. Merryn’s opposition, Gideon said evenly, “Then we can ride together as long as our routes coincide, my lady. Surely you do not wish to stand here debating the point when you could more efficiently employ the time in changing to your riding dress.”
    For a moment she looked as if she would stand her ground, but then, with a swift look at the two girls, she nodded, said abruptly, “Wait for me in the hall, Charley,” and swept from the room with the same air of dignity that the child had assumed to enter it. Only, in Daintry’s case, the attitude was clearly a natural one and inspired not the least urge in Gideon to laugh.
    “That’s the dandy,” St. Merryn said, his humor rapidly improving. “A firm hand, that’s what you’ll need with the chit. You just show her who’s master, lad, and you’ll have no regrets.”
    Lady Ophelia, chuckling, said, “All things are possible, I suppose.”

Four
    D AINTRY’S AIR OF DIGNITY deserted her the moment the drawing-room doors closed behind her, and she hurried upstairs to her bedchamber, where walls papered above white linen-fold wainscoting in a mock-India pattern of colorful flowers and birds on a sky blue background provided an elegant background for dark wood furniture. The hangings at bed and window were of matching blue silk, and a cheerful fire crackled on the white marble hearth.
    Ringing for her maid, she crossed the pastel-colored floral carpet and flung open the doors of her wardrobe. Then, kicking off the pink satin slippers she had worn with her morning dress, she untied her sash with one hand while with the other she riffled through the clothes hanging in the wardrobe.
    “Merciful heavens, Daintry, whatever are you doing?” Susan demanded from the doorway. There was amusement in her voice, and when Daintry, startled, whirled to face her, she said, “Wait for Nance to help you, for goodness’ sake. You know how much it annoys her when you disarrange the things in your wardrobe.”
    “Good gracious, Susan, do you try to please even your maid? Nance is very good in her way, and I prefer her services to those of that awful dresser Aunt Ophelia insisted I hire my first Season in London, but I do not exert myself to please her. Where the devil is she, anyway? And what are you doing here?”
    “I came to help you choose what to wear, of course, and to discover what you think of your betrothed.”
    “He is a typical man, overbearing and arrogant,” Daintry said, laughing at her, “but you can’t fool me, my dear. You just wanted to escape from the drawing room. Not that I blame you in the least, but won’t Papa be displeased by such base desertion?”
    “I daresay he did not even notice that I followed you,” Susan said evenly. “Nobody ever pays heed to me.”
    Daintry arched one eyebrow and said mockingly, “No one? Not even Sir Geoffrey? Come now, that is carrying things too far, I think. Or have you changed your mind about that handsome husband of yours? Why, I can recall when you thought him the most magnificent, the most charming, the most perfect of men.”
    “Well, Aunt Ophelia never thought him so,” Susan said, moving across the room toward the tall, blue-silk-draped window.
    “Aunt Ophelia does not appreciate masculine charm,” Daintry said, abandoning her search and drifting restlessly toward her dressing table. “Nor am I generally drawn to aesthetic-looking blond gentlemen, myself, but you did not answer my question. Have you altered your opinion of him?”
    “Do not be nonsensical,” Susan retorted without turning. She added in a worried tone, “Do you think it is safe to take the girls out so soon after that rain? The cobbles in the courtyard are still wet.”
    “We won’t be riding on cobblestones, silly,” Daintry