Read Online Moonspun Magic by Catherine Coulter - Free Book Online Page B

also?”
    â€œNo, no one. But you already guessed that, didn’t you?”
    He said very patiently, “Listen to me, my child; a young lady doesn’t go alone anywhere. Look what very nearly happened to you tonight.”
    â€œI shall be more careful in the future.”
    â€œI applaud your courage, but your naiveté will bring you low.”
    â€œI might not be of your advanced years, but I am not all that naive.”
    â€œIf not naive, then stupid.”
    â€œThat is unkind of you. I think I would rather fit the pattern card of naiveté than stupidity.”
    He grinned and said without further consideration, “All right, dammit, I’ll escort you to London.”
    â€œEscort me? Are you certain? Are you jesting with me?”
    â€œDo I sound like I’m carried away with hilarity?”
    â€œNo. Rafael, you don’t mind, truly?”
    He winced at the plea in her voice. “No, I don’t mind. However, what am I going to do with you once we’re there?”
    Her chin went up. “I have someone to see there. After I have seen him, I shan’t have to worry about money. I will be able to see to myself.”
    Rafael wasn’t either naive or stupid. “So you discovered you really aren’t Elaine’s poor relation?”
    She paled under his interested gaze.
    â€œI won’t tell my brother. To tell you the truth, Victoria, there’s little love lost between us. Now it’s your turn for some home truths. Go ahead, I’m listening. You stole the twenty of Damien’s pounds . . .”
    â€œYes, from Damien’s strongbox, in his study. I will pay it back. It was then that I saw a packet of letters. One of them wasn’t folded quite properly.”
    â€œAnd you unfolded it unproperly?”
    â€œI saw my name written on the unfolded part. It was to Damien from a solicitor in London. I’m not poor. I’m really quite well-off, it would appear. At least I hope I still am.”
    â€œDamien is your guardian?”
    â€œI don’t know. I suppose so. He has never spoken of anything to me. No one told me I had any money. I guess it is from my mother’s side of the family. Father had the good name, you see, but few farthings in his pockets.”
    â€œI imagine that Damien has been making free with your funds,” Rafael said quietly, more to himselfthan to her. “Hopefully he has shown some good sense in his financial dealings.” Rafael sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers, lightly tapping them together.
    â€œI don’t think so,” Victoria said in a morose voice. “The letter from the solicitor said something about his concern about the principal. I don’t know anything more.”
    â€œSo you were going to leave Drago Hall even before you knew you were an heiress?”
    â€œYes. I really don’t know if I’m what you would call an heiress. There is money, that’s all I know.”
    â€œYou planned to escape with a paltry twenty pounds?”
    â€œI had no choice. In my position, what would you have done?”
    I would have beaten him senseless, Rafael wanted to say. But of course he was a man, a very strong man, not a young girl dependent on a man for the roof over her very head, the same man who also wanted to make her his mistress.
    â€œI would have perhaps done the same.”
    â€œNo, you wouldn’t have. You’re just trying to make me feel better. Less naive, less stupid.”
    â€œVictoria, you couldn’t very well have coshed him on the head or planted your fist in his face. You did very well until the smugglers.”
    â€œIf it weren’t for a kind Fate, I should be a morsel on this Bishop’s plate.”
    Rafael had never before been a kind Fate. It wasn’t the worst thing a man could be. He grew thoughtfully silent and she watched in fascination as he began again to tap his fingertips rhythmically together. He