Read Online Going Rogue by Jessica Jefferson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jessica Jefferson
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to no end.
He was so different from the boy she’d known, he didn’t even smell like himself. She remembered Derek’s scent—freshly turned dirt, grass, and laundry that had been hung out in the sunshine to dry. Everything pleasant about the country . Now, his skin and clothes smelled of salt and the sea, sandalwood. His jacket reeked of cigar smoke.
When had he taken up smoking?
And when had he become so overwhelmingly masculine ?
Nothing familiar remained of the boy who’d once declared his love for her. He was a man now, and a stranger. Ophelia hadn’t exaggerated when she’d spoke of his presence. As if casting a wide-reaching net, he ensnared the attention of everyone around him.
As a young man, Derek had always been quiet and good natured. The man she met tonight was charming and confident—not at all reserved. And that confidence, coupled with his rugged good looks, made for a potent combination.
And damn if she wasn’t feeling some of its dizzying effects.
He was sitting there, one polished boot crossed over his knee, calm and casual, as if his presence in London was nothing out of the ordinary. He faced the stage, occasionally conversing with the others in the box, but not once did he look at her. She wasn’t sure what was more infuriating—his sense of entitlement or how acutely aware she was of him. Sitting leg to leg, she could practically feel the heat radiating off him.
Meredith opened her fan. “What are you doing here?” she hissed, just loud enough for him to hear.
He leaned toward her. “Watching opera.” His deep, graveled voice raked over her like a cold wind. “Why? What are you doing here?” He raised a thick, dark eyebrow.
“You know good and well what I mean.”
“Do keep your voice down, Miss Castle. You’ll cause a scene . . . again.”
He looked at her, those piercing blue eyes peering out from under a hood of thick black lashes. She took a moment to absorb the features of his face. Gone were the soft edges of youth—now he looked hard, his jaw square. The shallow cleft in his chin peaked out through the shadow of his evening stubble. Despite the dimly lit theatre, she could easily tell the years hadn’t been entirely kind. There was a scar above his left eye, just a thin white line no longer than her small finger. His once straight nose, perfect and aquiline, now sported a bump. His imperfections boasted a life of danger, a testament to his daring new lifestyle.
Damn him for piquing her curiosity!
Meredith folded her gloved hands in her lap, glancing away. “If this is about me . . .”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I wouldn’t cross the street for you, Miss Castle, let alone an ocean.”
She stared back at him, her mouth agape.
“After my last accident ,” he patted his shoulder, “my cousin suggested I steer the business in a more conservative direction. Travel is becoming more and more a favorite pastime of the wealthy, so I thought why not switch from the transport of goods to the transport of people? It’s the same basic premise after all. But don’t worry. I only plan on staying through the end of summer. By then, the business should be able to get along fine without me.”
She faced the stage again, fanning herself a bit more vigorously. “You’re staying for the duration of the Season? Your timing couldn’t be worse if you planned on getting any actual work done.”
“I thought while I was here I could kill two birds with one stone and find myself a countess as well. I hear every manor can use one.”
“A countess? You really are an Earl then?”
“I always knew I had family in Scotland—my father’s brogue was evidence enough of that. But he was a stubborn man, to a fault. He had a falling out with his father and left Scotland with just enough money to purchase our farm and a few extra plots in Middlebury. My grandfather died just a few years ago, and to my complete surprise, I inherited an Earldom.”
“But shouldn’t it have gone
He was so different from the boy she’d known, he didn’t even smell like himself. She remembered Derek’s scent—freshly turned dirt, grass, and laundry that had been hung out in the sunshine to dry. Everything pleasant about the country . Now, his skin and clothes smelled of salt and the sea, sandalwood. His jacket reeked of cigar smoke.
When had he taken up smoking?
And when had he become so overwhelmingly masculine ?
Nothing familiar remained of the boy who’d once declared his love for her. He was a man now, and a stranger. Ophelia hadn’t exaggerated when she’d spoke of his presence. As if casting a wide-reaching net, he ensnared the attention of everyone around him.
As a young man, Derek had always been quiet and good natured. The man she met tonight was charming and confident—not at all reserved. And that confidence, coupled with his rugged good looks, made for a potent combination.
And damn if she wasn’t feeling some of its dizzying effects.
He was sitting there, one polished boot crossed over his knee, calm and casual, as if his presence in London was nothing out of the ordinary. He faced the stage, occasionally conversing with the others in the box, but not once did he look at her. She wasn’t sure what was more infuriating—his sense of entitlement or how acutely aware she was of him. Sitting leg to leg, she could practically feel the heat radiating off him.
Meredith opened her fan. “What are you doing here?” she hissed, just loud enough for him to hear.
He leaned toward her. “Watching opera.” His deep, graveled voice raked over her like a cold wind. “Why? What are you doing here?” He raised a thick, dark eyebrow.
“You know good and well what I mean.”
“Do keep your voice down, Miss Castle. You’ll cause a scene . . . again.”
He looked at her, those piercing blue eyes peering out from under a hood of thick black lashes. She took a moment to absorb the features of his face. Gone were the soft edges of youth—now he looked hard, his jaw square. The shallow cleft in his chin peaked out through the shadow of his evening stubble. Despite the dimly lit theatre, she could easily tell the years hadn’t been entirely kind. There was a scar above his left eye, just a thin white line no longer than her small finger. His once straight nose, perfect and aquiline, now sported a bump. His imperfections boasted a life of danger, a testament to his daring new lifestyle.
Damn him for piquing her curiosity!
Meredith folded her gloved hands in her lap, glancing away. “If this is about me . . .”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I wouldn’t cross the street for you, Miss Castle, let alone an ocean.”
She stared back at him, her mouth agape.
“After my last accident ,” he patted his shoulder, “my cousin suggested I steer the business in a more conservative direction. Travel is becoming more and more a favorite pastime of the wealthy, so I thought why not switch from the transport of goods to the transport of people? It’s the same basic premise after all. But don’t worry. I only plan on staying through the end of summer. By then, the business should be able to get along fine without me.”
She faced the stage again, fanning herself a bit more vigorously. “You’re staying for the duration of the Season? Your timing couldn’t be worse if you planned on getting any actual work done.”
“I thought while I was here I could kill two birds with one stone and find myself a countess as well. I hear every manor can use one.”
“A countess? You really are an Earl then?”
“I always knew I had family in Scotland—my father’s brogue was evidence enough of that. But he was a stubborn man, to a fault. He had a falling out with his father and left Scotland with just enough money to purchase our farm and a few extra plots in Middlebury. My grandfather died just a few years ago, and to my complete surprise, I inherited an Earldom.”
“But shouldn’t it have gone
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