Read Online Lord and Master by Kait Jagger - Free Book Online

particulars of how Patrice would get the dress and basque to her, Luna and Kayla went to a small Italian eatery down the street from him in Soho, where Kayla had a Campari and Luna had a slice of pizza. By 10pm Luna was back on her bike, and just under an hour later she was pulling onto the drive at Arborage.
    She pulled slowly into the barn, dropped her feet and carefully backed her bike into its usual corner, then hopped off, popping the kickstand. She’d realised about halfway home that the lack of underclothes had been a mistake, as the trousers started to chafe against her thighs. Removing her helmet, she unzipped her jacket and wrestled it off, relishing the cool air on her shoulders and slightly sweaty hairline.
    She’d fancied she heard a slight chatter in the bike’s chain on the way home, so she squatted next to it for a better look.
    â€˜So it
was
you,’ came Stefan’s voice from the darkness. Luna yelped in surprise and fell straight back on her bum.
    â€˜Bloody h—’ she started. ‘You scared me.’
    She’d somehow missed him as she’d driven in. It looked as though he’d just removed the tarp from his Lamborghini in preparation for going out. He was wearing a dark grey suit and black shirt, and even from her vantage point on the floor of the barn, he smelled heavenly. Acutely conscious of her vest and braces, and sticky hair in a braid down her back, Luna scrambled to her feet.
    â€˜What is that, an Enduro?’ Stefan asked.
    â€˜Yeah.’ Luna patted the seat.
    â€˜Very nice.’ He walked over to get a better look. ‘I must say, Luna,’ – there it was again; she was going to have to get used to him using her given name without melting into a puddle – ‘you are full of surprises.’
    â€˜It gets me where I want to go.’ Luna shrugged, briefly recounting the story of her university boyfriend and the road to the Lake District.
    â€˜So, I got the Enduro and he upgraded to a Ducati…and a hotter girlfriend,’ she concluded with a wry smile.
    â€˜Oh, I find that hard to believe,’ Stefan replied with a slightly uncomfortable look.
    Luna was pretty sure she knew what that look meant. ‘You own a Ducati, don’t you.’
    â€˜I do.’
    â€˜I’ll bet it’s red, too.’
    â€˜Does it come in another colour?’ he quipped. Really, he had the nicest smile, and standing this close to him, Luna was acutely aware of just how little she had on underneath her biking trousers. ‘Do you think less of me, for my lack of imagination?’ he murmured.
    â€˜No,’ she said. ‘I’d own a red Ducati too, if I were you.’
    â€˜But your parents, they can’t approve of their little Stellaluna’s chosen mode of transport,’ he said. To Luna’s regret, because the conversation had been going so well.
    â€˜Ah, unfortunately my parents are dead,’ she replied, bending to retrieve her jacket and helmet.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Luna.’ Stefan touched her shoulder, clearly angry at himself. ‘That was thoughtless of me.’
    She shook her head. ‘You weren’t to know,’ she said, and began to walk away. And then, because he looked so genuinely stricken, she said over her shoulder, ‘You’re right though. My mother wouldn’t have approved.’

Chapter Five

    The Marchioness returned the following morning from Venice. Although it was a Saturday, life at Arborage didn’t follow a traditional working week pattern, so soon after Lady Wellstone’s car returned from the airport Luna headed down to the office. Her one concession to the weekend was her clothes: black leggings, boots and a chunky grey jumper. Her hair she wore in its customary French twist, a tool of her trade she was loath to forego.
    As Luna entered her anteroom, Regina came bounding out of the Marchioness’s office, tail wagging furiously. Luna knelt