Read Online Lady Pirate by Lynsay Sands - Free Book Online Page B

His lips puckered briefly; then he backed toward the door. Her exceedingly quiet and calm manner seemed to be making him a touch nervous. Perhaps he’d learned over the last thirteen years that when she was calm, it usually preceded a storm. “I’ll be getting back to you on that,” he ended lamely, backing through the door.
    â€œI am sure you will,” Valoree snapped, then returned her attention to her bottle.
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    â€œWe are here.”
    Valoree glanced about at the announcement just as the coach came to a halt. Shifting closer to the window, she looked out at the town house they had stopped before, peering at it through a jaded eye. They wereabout to waste a whole lot of time and coin pursuing the impossible.
    This was the answer the men had come up with for getting her “some invites to them sorries.” They had determined that she must rent a town house for the “seasoning” and “have one o’ them there comin’-up things.” Brilliant. Marvelous . They were all mad. How did they think renting a town house would get her married? It was not as if the members of the ton were like to be overwhelmed by her grace, charm, and beauty.
    The door suddenly opened and Henry appeared, offering a hand to aid her out. Sighing, she caught up her skirts in a bunch, grabbed his hand, and clambered irritably down from the coach. Once on the ground, she released her skirts, giving them a slight shake so they would fall back in place, and glanced at the carriage parked in front of their own. The door to that one opened and a tall, slender, fair-haired man alit somewhat cautiously even as Henry helped Meg down from their own carriage.
    â€œLady Ainsley?” he asked hopefully as he approached.
    Nodding, Valoree automatically offered him her hand to shake.
    â€œLord Beecham, at your service,” he assured her, giving a smile before bending to gallantly kiss her hand.
    Eyes widening in dismay as he slobbered over her fingers, Valoree glared briefly at Henry as if to say this was all his fault. Quickly, she drew her hand back to gesture toward Meg as the woman moved forward, eyeing the man with intent interest. “My aunt.”
    â€œMy lady.” The man could do no less than bend to kiss her hand as well now, and Meg appeared as stunned by the act as Valoree had been. Afterward, he straightened and smiled from one woman to the other. “The house is all in order. I had it cleaned as youruncle requested in his note. It has not been used for several months, so it took a bit of doing. I shall send him the bill, of course.”
    â€œOf course,” Valoree agreed dryly with another pointed glance at Henry. He had written the letter, signing it as her uncle. Women did not perform such transactions. Either their man of affairs did, or a male relative. Henry had thought an uncle, husband to Aunt Meg, of course, might be a good touch—so that it was not thought Valoree was without protection. As for the bill, the town house was the men’s idea, so let them pay for it.
    â€œThe house is pretty much yours for as long as you need it,” Beecham continued, turning to lead them up to the front door. “Just have your uncle write me a note should he wish to stay longer than the six months he has already rented it for.”
    Nodding mutely, Valoree stepped past him into the house as he opened the door for her. Inside, she stood glancing about the entry as Meg—Aunt Meg, she reminded herself—joined her.
    â€œAs you can see, it’s just what your uncle requested. Large, top quality, and clean as a whistle.” He ran his gloved hand down the banister of the stairs that led to the second floor to prove his point, and Valoree nodded before turning to move into the first room on the left.
    â€œAh, now, this is the salon, as you can see.” Her host hurried to keep up with her, rushing into the room at her heels and nearly running over Aunt Meg in the