Read Online Jacquie D'Alessandro by Who Will Take This Man - Free Book Online Page A

met his questioningly. “Where exactly are we going?”
    “The crates are stored in a warehouse near the docks. I cannot ask you to accompany me to such an area, or to help me with such a task, Miss Chilton-Grizedale. It is tedious, dirty, exhausting work.”
    She lifted her chin and somehow managed to appear to look down the slope of her pert nose at him—amazing, considering he stood a good six inches taller than she. “First, there is no need to ask me, my lord, as I have offered my assistance. Second, I am quite accustomed towork and do not tire easily. And as for the docks, you need not worry about protecting me, as I am armed. Third—”
    “ Armed ?”
    “Of course.” She held her reticule aloft. “Filled with stones. One cosh to the head will fell any brigand. A very practical device I learned long ago to carry with me at all times.”
    He stared at the innocent-looking beaded bag dangling from her wrist by a velvet drawstring. She’d learned this trick long ago? What sort of upbringing had the very proper Miss Chilton-Grizedale had that would warrant arming herself? “Are you normally in the habit of, er, delivering coshes to the head?”
    “Hardly ever.” He raised his gaze and met eyes flickering with mischief. “Unless, of course, a gentleman makes the error of trying to dissuade me from doing something I wish to do.”
    “I see. And in that case you—”
    “Cosh first, then ask questions later, I’m afraid.” She twirled the little bag around in a circle, then continued in a brisk tone, “And third, the time spent together will provide the dual purpose for me to reacquaint you with some of the rules of Society you have clearly forgotten. As for this expedition proving distressing to my clothing, I harbor no fear of my garments becoming dirty, as—brace yourself—they can be laundered. And last, I shall not find any task tedious that might result in the ending of this curse. Have you seen The Times ?”
    “I’m afraid so, although how they gained the information about the curse, I do not know.”
    “Creepers, no doubt.” At his questioning look, she clarified, “Newspaper informers. They earn their living ferreting out information—most often information that the persons involved would prefer not to have offered up for public consumption.”
    “And how do they gather this information?”
    “They steal or intercept correspondence, eavesdrop, bribe servants, any number of devious ways. No doubt one of them overheard us talking in St. Paul’s yesterday.”
    Philip shook his head. “Incredible. The lengths that people will go…just incredible.”
    “Not at all. It’s quite common. Actually, I find you thinking such a practice to be incredible quite amazing. Forgive my bluntness, my lord, but you seem to hold a rather naive view of the world, for one who is so well traveled.”
    “Naive?” An incredulous laugh escaped him. “I have no illusions about people and their motives, Miss Chilton-Grizedale, and I did not have to leave England to form those opinions. If anything, my travels abroad renewed my faith in my fellow man. In one way, however, I suppose you are correct, although I would call myself ‘unpracticed’ as opposed to naive. While I have been exposed to dishonesty in many forms, my time and thoughts have, for many years, been focused on objects and people from the past. I fear I cannot claim any expertise in the area of modern human behavior. In fact, what I know of it leaves me largely unimpressed.”
    She regarded him through serious eyes. “Yet I believe that human behavior is most likely very much the same today as it was hundreds, even thousands, of years ago.”
    Her statement surprised him. And piqued his curiosity and interest. But before he could respond, Bakari interjected, “Invite lady to stay for breakfast? Or tea?”
    Another wave of annoyance washed over Philip. What on earth was the matter with him? He might have developed a few rough edges during his