Read Online One Dangerous Desire (Accidental Heirs) by Christy Carlyle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christy Carlyle
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modern, electrified hotel in the heart of London. It seemed an ambitious scheme to May. Like something her father would dream up and then, through sheer force of will, make happen. Did a man who’d given up on her so easily have the grit to top London’s best hoteliers?
“Perhaps Mr. Leighton would prefer to meet our guests as they arrive and become acquainted with them in the traditional way, Papa.”
“Nonsense. The man is seeking a wife. Believe me, he’ll take any assistance we can offer and be grateful for it.”
May couldn’t meet Rex’s gaze, but she sensed him watching her as the duke and Lady Emily referred to his desire to marry. His goals, personal or professional, had nothing to do with her. Apparently he’d found some success in business and had plans for much more of the same. No better time for a man to marry than once he’d made his fortune.
No better time for her to marry than before her father lost all of his.
Encountering Rex now was mere coincidence. Whatever she’d felt before had no connection with her future. Those feelings hadn’t mattered to him then. They shouldn’t signify to her now. If he’d ever loved her, it had been a fleeting affection. He’d gone on with his life, and she would too.
“You’re unusually silent. Are you all right?” Rex’s voice sounded nearby, quiet and breathy.
“Thank you. I’m perfectly well, Mr. Leighton.” Her voice’s shaky quaver betrayed her. The man’s nearness set her on edge, but she met his gaze and tipped her chin high before stepping away and praying she could do so with more poise than she felt.
When the front bell sounded, Emily sat her glass down and patted her father’s arm. “More guests, Papa. I’ll go and greet them if you’ll entertain our American friends.”
May took up a spot near the fireplace that was blessedly warm and as far away from Rex as she could manage without leaving the room.
“Emily tells me you’re acquainted with each other.” The duke prepared himself another cordial with one hand and waved the other in the air between Rex and May.
“Yes, we knew each other long ago in New York.” May attempted to smooth her tone, infusing the words with the finality her father used when he didn’t wish for any questions to follow a pronouncement.
“And now here you both are. One seeking a match with a lord.” The duke tipped his head toward May. “One hoping to marry a noble lady.” He raised his glass out in Rex’s direction as if proposing a toast. “Puts me in the mood for a wager.”
May groaned inwardly. She’d experienced the duke’s love for wagers firsthand. Not only did he enjoy engaging in them himself, but he seemed to derive enormous pleasure from seeing others vie for a goal. She and Emily indulged him with frivolous competitions over cards or which of them would choose the prettiest hat at the milliners, but May never enjoyed the game. Emily insisted it was because she was an only child and had never had to compete for anything in her life. Yet it was the control of it, the sense that she was being manipulated like a marionette on a string, that rankled the most. She’d spent all of her life conforming to rules, performing the role of fashionable debutante and pampered heiress. Only in London had she gained a bit of control over her own actions and begun harboring desires that had nothing to do with achieving the right sort of marriage.
She cut a glance at Rex, who returned a grim stare before answering the duke. “What did you have in mind, Your Grace?”
The duke strode toward May with one thick gray eyebrow raised. “Miss Sedgwick has plans for updating Ashworth House. You should see her drawings, Leighton. The lady has a daring eye for color and rich taste for details.”
“I have no doubt, Your Grace.”
Relief cooled the blush May sensed rushing up her cheeks when Ashworth stepped past her and focused on Rex.
“And you, Mr. Leighton, your plans for the Pinnacle Hotel do
“Perhaps Mr. Leighton would prefer to meet our guests as they arrive and become acquainted with them in the traditional way, Papa.”
“Nonsense. The man is seeking a wife. Believe me, he’ll take any assistance we can offer and be grateful for it.”
May couldn’t meet Rex’s gaze, but she sensed him watching her as the duke and Lady Emily referred to his desire to marry. His goals, personal or professional, had nothing to do with her. Apparently he’d found some success in business and had plans for much more of the same. No better time for a man to marry than once he’d made his fortune.
No better time for her to marry than before her father lost all of his.
Encountering Rex now was mere coincidence. Whatever she’d felt before had no connection with her future. Those feelings hadn’t mattered to him then. They shouldn’t signify to her now. If he’d ever loved her, it had been a fleeting affection. He’d gone on with his life, and she would too.
“You’re unusually silent. Are you all right?” Rex’s voice sounded nearby, quiet and breathy.
“Thank you. I’m perfectly well, Mr. Leighton.” Her voice’s shaky quaver betrayed her. The man’s nearness set her on edge, but she met his gaze and tipped her chin high before stepping away and praying she could do so with more poise than she felt.
When the front bell sounded, Emily sat her glass down and patted her father’s arm. “More guests, Papa. I’ll go and greet them if you’ll entertain our American friends.”
May took up a spot near the fireplace that was blessedly warm and as far away from Rex as she could manage without leaving the room.
“Emily tells me you’re acquainted with each other.” The duke prepared himself another cordial with one hand and waved the other in the air between Rex and May.
“Yes, we knew each other long ago in New York.” May attempted to smooth her tone, infusing the words with the finality her father used when he didn’t wish for any questions to follow a pronouncement.
“And now here you both are. One seeking a match with a lord.” The duke tipped his head toward May. “One hoping to marry a noble lady.” He raised his glass out in Rex’s direction as if proposing a toast. “Puts me in the mood for a wager.”
May groaned inwardly. She’d experienced the duke’s love for wagers firsthand. Not only did he enjoy engaging in them himself, but he seemed to derive enormous pleasure from seeing others vie for a goal. She and Emily indulged him with frivolous competitions over cards or which of them would choose the prettiest hat at the milliners, but May never enjoyed the game. Emily insisted it was because she was an only child and had never had to compete for anything in her life. Yet it was the control of it, the sense that she was being manipulated like a marionette on a string, that rankled the most. She’d spent all of her life conforming to rules, performing the role of fashionable debutante and pampered heiress. Only in London had she gained a bit of control over her own actions and begun harboring desires that had nothing to do with achieving the right sort of marriage.
She cut a glance at Rex, who returned a grim stare before answering the duke. “What did you have in mind, Your Grace?”
The duke strode toward May with one thick gray eyebrow raised. “Miss Sedgwick has plans for updating Ashworth House. You should see her drawings, Leighton. The lady has a daring eye for color and rich taste for details.”
“I have no doubt, Your Grace.”
Relief cooled the blush May sensed rushing up her cheeks when Ashworth stepped past her and focused on Rex.
“And you, Mr. Leighton, your plans for the Pinnacle Hotel do
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