Read Online Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 05] - Nanette by Patricia Veryan - Free Book Online Page A

of his dazzling smile,
and she said feebly, "You'll likely find… somewheres… sir."
    "Not tonight, I'm afraid. Been just about everywhere. Though
nowhere as home-like as this." He patted her hand. "Now take that
worried look from your pretty eyes. I shall do."
    His own green eyes were making Mrs. Burnett's heart beat
faster than it had done for many a day and prompting the wish she was
twenty years younger. "And—you was in Spain, sir? Oh, my! To send one
of our fine young fighting men out on such a night . . ! It do seem
downright cruel."
    "I've slept under a hedge on many a worse night, I do assure
you…"
    "Hedge!" she cried indignantly. "For a gentleman such as
yourself?" She pulled her register closer and, tearing her gaze from
his hopeful face, peered at the close-written page. "We must have
something
…"
    Half an hour later, sprawling before the fire that burned
brightly in the parlour gate, Harry was almost too weary to pull off
his boots. Accomplishing this he settled back, blinking drowsily at the
flames and calling down blessings on Mrs. Burnett's head for having
discovered that this small suite had just been vacated. A gust of wind
sent smoke billowing down the chimney, and the waiter, entering with
the tankard of ale he had ordered, observed it was a perishing night.
Harry agreed, and expressed his relief that he had been able to find a
room. "Did
Mr
. Burnett give you the suite, sir?"
the waiter enquired curiously. "I doubt as they've changed the sheets
yet." Harry assured him the suite had been allocated by the landlady
herself, then desired that his riding coat be cleaned, his shirt and
cravat washed and ironed, his beaver dried, and his boots polished.
"Better let me take your breeches, too, sir," said the waiter. "All
mud, they is." Harry agreed, the waiter accepted his gratuity and,
laden with clothing, took himself off.
    Despite the fire, Harry's scanty remaining apparel soon
reduced him to gooseflesh. He blew out the candle and tottered into the
darkened bedroom. He felt no compulsion to search for fleas, but
crawled between the sheets and stretched luxuriously. The bedding was
adequate, the mattress a soft billow of feathers, the sheets almost
perfumed…
    He awoke with a start. The room was very dark, but he knew
suddenly that he was no longer alone. His first thought was of the
thieves that were known to haunt hostelries and boardinghouses these
days, but then the blankets were pulled back. A sweet fragrance reached
his nostrils, and a warm, soft form slid into the bed beside him. Mrs.
Burnett's had more to recommend it than he'd dreamed! Delighted, he
slipped an arm about her. "Hello, sweetheart," he said by way of
welcome.
    A smothered shriek rang out. The feminine form struggled
frenziedly against his ardent embrace. "Come now," he laughed. "No need
to play about, m'dear." Amusement became indignation as nails clawed at
him. "I say, now! That's a bit much!" His arm tightened. "What's the
difficulty? Wrong gentleman? Well, it's too late now. Here you are,
and—"
    "Oooh!
Ooooh
! Let me go! You horrid
beast! You wicked ravisher! Let me go!"
    "Let you
go
? I should jolly well think
not!
You
came to
me
—I
didn't drag you! How
dare
you call me a ravisher?
Boot's more on t'other foot if you was to ask me!"
    She fought wildly, but she was soft and cuddly for all her
struggling and, from the sound of her voice, was young. "Come on,
puss," he said, cajoling if somewhat breathless. "I'm not such a bad
sort. How about a kiss?"
    Instead, a hand cracked against his nose. He yelped and held
her tighter.
    "I shall scream!" A note of pure terror was in the panting
little voice. "And—and if I do—you will be incarcerated!"
    "And you, m'dear, will likely ruin any hopes you may entertain
of future business in
this
boardinghouse! Come
now—enough is enough. You hopped into my bed, and now you must—"
    "This is
my
bed! And
my
room! There must have been some mistake. I should have lit the lamp,
but I was so