Read Online In the Bed of a Duke by Cathy Maxwell - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cathy Maxwell
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laird say? I’m assuming I was mentioned.”
This time, she didn’t dither. “Laird MacKenna didn’t mention your father, but he did refer to you as his enemy. His first words to me were that we shared a common enemy—you.”
“And he searched you out for that reason,” Phillip said, stating a fact. Nor did he believe it could be coincidence that Laird MacKenna’s interest in Miss Cameron would coincide with his receiving Nanny Frye’s letter.
Phillip wanted to pull out the letter and studyit for new clues or hidden meanings but knew he must wait until he had a moment alone—
“So what did your father say about Laird MacKenna?” Miss Cameron pressed, interrupting his thoughts. “Did he consider them friends?”
“Not hardly,” Phillip confessed with a snort. “When my father told me the story of the feud, he prefaced it by saying the MacKennas are a strange lot. At one time, they traveled in the same circles.”
“Could something have happened then?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Phillip said, allowing his voice to echo the exasperation he was feeling. “Perhaps. Maybe. Certainly it is possible Father could have insulted the man. In fact, it would be probable. My father could be quite ruthless when he had a mind to be.”
“Like his son?” she murmured.
Phillip narrowed his gaze at her. “No one has accused me of such to my face,” he said, in a tone that had never failed to make any man freeze in fear.
It had no such effect on Miss Cameron.
She stood in the moonlight, her eyes shiny with intelligence, her back straight, and her head high. “Just because they don’t say it to your face, Your Grace, doesn’t mean it isn’t said…or holds a ring of truth.”
Damn, but he liked her courage!
In spite of himself, he had to smile. “Well done, Miss Cameron. Well done.”
Now it was her turn to be surprised. Her brows came together. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you smile before. Does that mean there is a truce between us?”
He let his smile widen before assuring her, “Absolutely not.” Tugging Homer’s lead, he began walking toward the hayrick.
Behind him, she said, “You’d best beware then, Colster. I am a fierce enemy.”
Phillip almost laughed aloud at that statement. He turned, still walking, and said, “I hope so, Miss Cameron.”
She didn’t take offense. In fact, she gave a rueful smile and started following. “You’re incorrigible. Perhaps I should believe the things they say about you.”
“Your drivers and their friends are still back the other way. You could ask them,” he said turning, the two of them falling into step together.
Miss Cameron gave a mock shiver of disgust. “No, I made my choice when I shot one of them. Better the devil you know.” She said this last with such a cheerful attitude, Phillip did laugh. He couldn’t help himself, and she grinned back at him as if she’d accomplished a miracle.
It bothered him a bit to be thought so sour.Fortunately, they’d reached the hayrick, and he was happy to change the subject. “We are finally in luck. This looks good enough for the night.” The hayrick was full of freshly mowed hay. He took off his greatcoat and spread it on hay. “Stay here while I scout out the area.”
For once, she didn’t argue but sank gratefully down onto his coat.
“And you, my friend Homer,” Phillip said to the horse, who was excited to see so much fresh fodder, “you will graze over here.” He led Homer over to a pasture and away from such a bounty of fodder. Removing his neckcloth, he used it to hobble the horse. Homer seemed content to give up his claim on the hay in return for a pasture of grass.
Phillip circled the area around the hayrick. Not far away was a line of trees and a running stream. He returned to tell Miss Cameron of his find. “I’ll lead you to it, and you can have a moment alone,” he offered delicately.
“You don’t need to,” she told him. “I can find it.”
“I would feel
This time, she didn’t dither. “Laird MacKenna didn’t mention your father, but he did refer to you as his enemy. His first words to me were that we shared a common enemy—you.”
“And he searched you out for that reason,” Phillip said, stating a fact. Nor did he believe it could be coincidence that Laird MacKenna’s interest in Miss Cameron would coincide with his receiving Nanny Frye’s letter.
Phillip wanted to pull out the letter and studyit for new clues or hidden meanings but knew he must wait until he had a moment alone—
“So what did your father say about Laird MacKenna?” Miss Cameron pressed, interrupting his thoughts. “Did he consider them friends?”
“Not hardly,” Phillip confessed with a snort. “When my father told me the story of the feud, he prefaced it by saying the MacKennas are a strange lot. At one time, they traveled in the same circles.”
“Could something have happened then?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Phillip said, allowing his voice to echo the exasperation he was feeling. “Perhaps. Maybe. Certainly it is possible Father could have insulted the man. In fact, it would be probable. My father could be quite ruthless when he had a mind to be.”
“Like his son?” she murmured.
Phillip narrowed his gaze at her. “No one has accused me of such to my face,” he said, in a tone that had never failed to make any man freeze in fear.
It had no such effect on Miss Cameron.
She stood in the moonlight, her eyes shiny with intelligence, her back straight, and her head high. “Just because they don’t say it to your face, Your Grace, doesn’t mean it isn’t said…or holds a ring of truth.”
Damn, but he liked her courage!
In spite of himself, he had to smile. “Well done, Miss Cameron. Well done.”
Now it was her turn to be surprised. Her brows came together. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you smile before. Does that mean there is a truce between us?”
He let his smile widen before assuring her, “Absolutely not.” Tugging Homer’s lead, he began walking toward the hayrick.
Behind him, she said, “You’d best beware then, Colster. I am a fierce enemy.”
Phillip almost laughed aloud at that statement. He turned, still walking, and said, “I hope so, Miss Cameron.”
She didn’t take offense. In fact, she gave a rueful smile and started following. “You’re incorrigible. Perhaps I should believe the things they say about you.”
“Your drivers and their friends are still back the other way. You could ask them,” he said turning, the two of them falling into step together.
Miss Cameron gave a mock shiver of disgust. “No, I made my choice when I shot one of them. Better the devil you know.” She said this last with such a cheerful attitude, Phillip did laugh. He couldn’t help himself, and she grinned back at him as if she’d accomplished a miracle.
It bothered him a bit to be thought so sour.Fortunately, they’d reached the hayrick, and he was happy to change the subject. “We are finally in luck. This looks good enough for the night.” The hayrick was full of freshly mowed hay. He took off his greatcoat and spread it on hay. “Stay here while I scout out the area.”
For once, she didn’t argue but sank gratefully down onto his coat.
“And you, my friend Homer,” Phillip said to the horse, who was excited to see so much fresh fodder, “you will graze over here.” He led Homer over to a pasture and away from such a bounty of fodder. Removing his neckcloth, he used it to hobble the horse. Homer seemed content to give up his claim on the hay in return for a pasture of grass.
Phillip circled the area around the hayrick. Not far away was a line of trees and a running stream. He returned to tell Miss Cameron of his find. “I’ll lead you to it, and you can have a moment alone,” he offered delicately.
“You don’t need to,” she told him. “I can find it.”
“I would feel
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