Read Online In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lydia Dare
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Blodswell heard her words.
“And you’re a witch,” he returned just as quietly, bending slightly to speak softly in her ear. The hair on her arms stood up. “I’ve known several of your kind over the years, Miss Sinclair, and we’ve always gotten along rather amiably.”
“Well, I’ve no’ had the same fortune with those of
yer
kind.” That was an understatement, but not something she wished to discuss with him. Rhi tugged her hand from the vampyre’s arm. “And I’d rather keep my distance from vampyres, if ye doona mind.”
“I’m afraid I mind very much. The Marquess of Eynsford has requested my presence in his home tomorrow, and I’ve given my word as a gentleman that I’ll attend.”
What did vampyres know about being gentlemen? The one in Edinburgh certainly hadn’t been one. “Why would he make such a foolish request?”
“To smooth over the blow you dealt my cheek, not to mention my honor, earlier this evening, I would imagine,” the earl explained as though she was a child.
Rhi begrudgingly had to admit that made sense, but she still didn’t like it. Besides, she wasn’t the only one in residence at Thorpe House. Rhiannon feigned a smile and curtseyed. “Well, then I hope ye and the marquess get along famously on the morrow. Good evenin’, my lord.”
Addled. Matthew couldn’t recall the last time he’d felt addled. But there wasn’t another word for it. Every time Rhiannon Sinclair escaped his company he was more bewildered than the time before. She’d run from him three times now. It was almost enough to deal a fatal blow to a fellow’s ego. By Saint George’s teeth, he had only tried to help the lady. Chivalry was not necessarily dead, but Rhiannon Sinclair wanted none of it.
He watched as Lady Eynsford and her pack of wolves circled around the lady in question. She clearly didn’t want any part of him or his help. What should it matter to him? He didn’t know her. He didn’t owe her anything. Yet as the bloody Viscount Radbourne pressed his lips to Miss Sinclair’s fingers, Matthew had to stop himself from flying across the room and crashing his fist into the fortune hunter’s face. But that was hardly gentlemanly…
Radbourne
was
a fortune hunter, wasn’t he? Or so Sir Ralph had claimed. And why would Sir Ralph malign Radbourne if there was no truth behind it? If Miss Sinclair
was
in the possession of a fortune, he should make certain the
fortune hunter of questionable character
kept his distance from the lady. After all, Eynsford and his wife seemed to be blind to Radbourne’s character flaws. The two men were most definitely related somehow. Matthew only wished he knew the particulars.
If Eynsford couldn’t be trusted to ensure Miss Sinclair’s best interests, Matthew probably should keep the lass in his sights. Besides, who better than a knight to rescue a damsel in distress, even if the damsel didn’t know it?
“And you say
I’m
stubborn,” Alec MacQuarrie muttered at his side.
Matthew hadn’t even noticed the reborn Scot approaching him. He didn’t even bother to glance at MacQuarrie, as his eyes were still trained on Miss Sinclair. “What are you going on about?”
“I specifically asked you to stay away from Rhiannon, and you ignored me completely.”
At that, Matthew scoffed and finally did look his charge in the eyes. “I believe you have assumed a role unbefitting our relationship, Alec,” Matthew scolded. He said the words low enough that the Scot was the only one who could hear them. He was certain he’d hit his mark when MacQuarrie’s face colored.
Matthew softened his expression. The lady was an old friend of Alec’s. He should be happy the Scot cared about
something
, considering the way he carried on with little regard for feelings or emotions now that he was a vampyre. “You should have seen her last night. She was so sad. And now…”
“And now what?” MacQuarrie glanced across the room at Eynsford’s corner, toward
“And you’re a witch,” he returned just as quietly, bending slightly to speak softly in her ear. The hair on her arms stood up. “I’ve known several of your kind over the years, Miss Sinclair, and we’ve always gotten along rather amiably.”
“Well, I’ve no’ had the same fortune with those of
yer
kind.” That was an understatement, but not something she wished to discuss with him. Rhi tugged her hand from the vampyre’s arm. “And I’d rather keep my distance from vampyres, if ye doona mind.”
“I’m afraid I mind very much. The Marquess of Eynsford has requested my presence in his home tomorrow, and I’ve given my word as a gentleman that I’ll attend.”
What did vampyres know about being gentlemen? The one in Edinburgh certainly hadn’t been one. “Why would he make such a foolish request?”
“To smooth over the blow you dealt my cheek, not to mention my honor, earlier this evening, I would imagine,” the earl explained as though she was a child.
Rhi begrudgingly had to admit that made sense, but she still didn’t like it. Besides, she wasn’t the only one in residence at Thorpe House. Rhiannon feigned a smile and curtseyed. “Well, then I hope ye and the marquess get along famously on the morrow. Good evenin’, my lord.”
Addled. Matthew couldn’t recall the last time he’d felt addled. But there wasn’t another word for it. Every time Rhiannon Sinclair escaped his company he was more bewildered than the time before. She’d run from him three times now. It was almost enough to deal a fatal blow to a fellow’s ego. By Saint George’s teeth, he had only tried to help the lady. Chivalry was not necessarily dead, but Rhiannon Sinclair wanted none of it.
He watched as Lady Eynsford and her pack of wolves circled around the lady in question. She clearly didn’t want any part of him or his help. What should it matter to him? He didn’t know her. He didn’t owe her anything. Yet as the bloody Viscount Radbourne pressed his lips to Miss Sinclair’s fingers, Matthew had to stop himself from flying across the room and crashing his fist into the fortune hunter’s face. But that was hardly gentlemanly…
Radbourne
was
a fortune hunter, wasn’t he? Or so Sir Ralph had claimed. And why would Sir Ralph malign Radbourne if there was no truth behind it? If Miss Sinclair
was
in the possession of a fortune, he should make certain the
fortune hunter of questionable character
kept his distance from the lady. After all, Eynsford and his wife seemed to be blind to Radbourne’s character flaws. The two men were most definitely related somehow. Matthew only wished he knew the particulars.
If Eynsford couldn’t be trusted to ensure Miss Sinclair’s best interests, Matthew probably should keep the lass in his sights. Besides, who better than a knight to rescue a damsel in distress, even if the damsel didn’t know it?
“And you say
I’m
stubborn,” Alec MacQuarrie muttered at his side.
Matthew hadn’t even noticed the reborn Scot approaching him. He didn’t even bother to glance at MacQuarrie, as his eyes were still trained on Miss Sinclair. “What are you going on about?”
“I specifically asked you to stay away from Rhiannon, and you ignored me completely.”
At that, Matthew scoffed and finally did look his charge in the eyes. “I believe you have assumed a role unbefitting our relationship, Alec,” Matthew scolded. He said the words low enough that the Scot was the only one who could hear them. He was certain he’d hit his mark when MacQuarrie’s face colored.
Matthew softened his expression. The lady was an old friend of Alec’s. He should be happy the Scot cared about
something
, considering the way he carried on with little regard for feelings or emotions now that he was a vampyre. “You should have seen her last night. She was so sad. And now…”
“And now what?” MacQuarrie glanced across the room at Eynsford’s corner, toward
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