Read Online Kiss From a Rogue by Shirley Karr - Free Book Online
Authors: Shirley Karr
Tags: Romance
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more sharp blades in the room.
A few snips, one button bounced on the floor and was retrieved by a guard dog, then Tony smelled something other than lavender wafting from Sylvia, an earthy and medicinal scent. Moments later she pressed against the back of his head and began winding a cloth around his skull.
“A bandage isn’t necessary, madam. I’ve had worse injuries that healed just fine.”
“Quiet, laddie, and let the lady tend.”
Sylvia finished winding the bandage and tied it off, but he still felt her hand on the back of his skull, pressing on the bandage, though she finally let him raise his head. “You needn’t wear it for long. Just a little while, to let the herbs do their work.” She leaned forward as she spoke, her words soft against his ear. Warmth began to spread through him, radiating from her hand on his head.
Tony stiffened. Here he was on a sofa, a beautiful woman putting her hands all over him. What would a real rake do under these circumstances?
A real rake would never be surrounded by seven old codgers. He sighed.
The housekeeper came back, handed him a full teacup, and sat on the sofa beside him. “So, are you married?”
He paused, the cup halfway to his mouth. “No.”
“Promised to anyone? Drink up, lad, drink up.” She urged the cup toward his mouth.
Tony swallowed. And coughed. “There’s tea in your brandy.”
“That’s the restorative part. Anyone you’re about to be promised to?”
“Galen, no.” Sylvia had removed her hand but stayed close to the sofa. He felt her increased tension.
“My lady, yes. Here’s the perfect solution, dropped on our doorstep, practically in your lap.”
Their positions were entirely wrong for him to be in anyone’s lap, but the suggestion certainly piqued his interest. As long as the lap was the lovely Sylvia’s.
He downed another swallow of the tea-laced alcohol. He’d swiped enough from his brother’s cellar to recognize fine French brandy. Made perfect sense, since he was among smugglers.
“What harebrained idea are you getting at, you old fool?” The eldest of the codgers took another step forward.
The housekeeper turned her steely gaze on the men in the room. “That good-for-nothing captain has been wanting to lift my lady’s skirts, but even the likes of him wouldn’t dare poach on another man’s property.”
Tony heard the gasp from Sylvia behind him, could practically feel the embarrassment radiating from her. This time the room didn’t tilt when he moved his head. He wasn’t sure whether it was the brandy, the herbs on the bandage, or simply the passage of time, but he was feeling much better. Better than she felt, at any rate, given her troubled expression.
“Galen, just what are you suggesting?” The redheaded interrogator took a step closer.
“The captain has been getting a might fresh,” one of the men said. Others nodded.
“Damned insulting, what he does.”
“I’d call the bugger out if I were a few years younger.”
“If it were up to me, I’d just take my knife and cut off his b—”
“Gentlemen, please!” In her agitation, Sylvia had rested her free hand on the back of the sofa, her fingers gripping the upholstery.
Without conscious thought, Tony reached up and patted her hand. At his action, the housekeeper’s eyes widened. She smacked his knee, practically chortling with glee. He resisted the urge to rub his stinging flesh. “I’m not sure I understand what it is you have in mind, madam.”
“Simple, laddie. You’re going to help protect our lady from that nasty piece of work captain by pretending to be her new husband.”
Chapter 5
H usband?
There was a buzzing in Tony’s ears, or was it just the men talking amongst themselves? A few hours ago he’d been trying in vain to learn the widow’s identity, and now they wanted him to pretend to be her husband. A broad, satisfied grin right now would probably not be wise. He bit the inside of his lip.
“This is
A few snips, one button bounced on the floor and was retrieved by a guard dog, then Tony smelled something other than lavender wafting from Sylvia, an earthy and medicinal scent. Moments later she pressed against the back of his head and began winding a cloth around his skull.
“A bandage isn’t necessary, madam. I’ve had worse injuries that healed just fine.”
“Quiet, laddie, and let the lady tend.”
Sylvia finished winding the bandage and tied it off, but he still felt her hand on the back of his skull, pressing on the bandage, though she finally let him raise his head. “You needn’t wear it for long. Just a little while, to let the herbs do their work.” She leaned forward as she spoke, her words soft against his ear. Warmth began to spread through him, radiating from her hand on his head.
Tony stiffened. Here he was on a sofa, a beautiful woman putting her hands all over him. What would a real rake do under these circumstances?
A real rake would never be surrounded by seven old codgers. He sighed.
The housekeeper came back, handed him a full teacup, and sat on the sofa beside him. “So, are you married?”
He paused, the cup halfway to his mouth. “No.”
“Promised to anyone? Drink up, lad, drink up.” She urged the cup toward his mouth.
Tony swallowed. And coughed. “There’s tea in your brandy.”
“That’s the restorative part. Anyone you’re about to be promised to?”
“Galen, no.” Sylvia had removed her hand but stayed close to the sofa. He felt her increased tension.
“My lady, yes. Here’s the perfect solution, dropped on our doorstep, practically in your lap.”
Their positions were entirely wrong for him to be in anyone’s lap, but the suggestion certainly piqued his interest. As long as the lap was the lovely Sylvia’s.
He downed another swallow of the tea-laced alcohol. He’d swiped enough from his brother’s cellar to recognize fine French brandy. Made perfect sense, since he was among smugglers.
“What harebrained idea are you getting at, you old fool?” The eldest of the codgers took another step forward.
The housekeeper turned her steely gaze on the men in the room. “That good-for-nothing captain has been wanting to lift my lady’s skirts, but even the likes of him wouldn’t dare poach on another man’s property.”
Tony heard the gasp from Sylvia behind him, could practically feel the embarrassment radiating from her. This time the room didn’t tilt when he moved his head. He wasn’t sure whether it was the brandy, the herbs on the bandage, or simply the passage of time, but he was feeling much better. Better than she felt, at any rate, given her troubled expression.
“Galen, just what are you suggesting?” The redheaded interrogator took a step closer.
“The captain has been getting a might fresh,” one of the men said. Others nodded.
“Damned insulting, what he does.”
“I’d call the bugger out if I were a few years younger.”
“If it were up to me, I’d just take my knife and cut off his b—”
“Gentlemen, please!” In her agitation, Sylvia had rested her free hand on the back of the sofa, her fingers gripping the upholstery.
Without conscious thought, Tony reached up and patted her hand. At his action, the housekeeper’s eyes widened. She smacked his knee, practically chortling with glee. He resisted the urge to rub his stinging flesh. “I’m not sure I understand what it is you have in mind, madam.”
“Simple, laddie. You’re going to help protect our lady from that nasty piece of work captain by pretending to be her new husband.”
Chapter 5
H usband?
There was a buzzing in Tony’s ears, or was it just the men talking amongst themselves? A few hours ago he’d been trying in vain to learn the widow’s identity, and now they wanted him to pretend to be her husband. A broad, satisfied grin right now would probably not be wise. He bit the inside of his lip.
“This is
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