Read Online Scoundrel (Lost Lords of Radcliffe Book 4) by Cheryl Holt - Free Book Online
Authors: Cheryl Holt
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was.
“Shall we go down and walk on the beach?” he asked as if reading her mind. “We could strip off some of our clothes and splash in the waves.”
“I don’t think so. It’s awfully dark down there.”
“We can bring a lantern.”
“I’d better not.”
“You don’t have to be afraid. I’d never let anything happen to you.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t, but all the same, I’ll stay right here.”
“You don’t have to leave in the morning,” he said.
“Rowena told me. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Ralston. He pleaded your case. I was fully ready to kick you out.”
“You were not.”
“I was. I’m the worst wretch in the world.”
“You try very hard to make that statement true.”
“I don’t have to try hard ,” he claimed. “I don’t have to try at all.”
“Would you really have tossed us out?”
“Probably.”
“But Mr. Robertson dissuaded you.”
“He’s my moral compass.”
“Which is good. What is he to you? Are you related?”
“No, he was simply on the same ship as I. He was clerk to a grain merchant and they were on their way home. Before the pirates attacked, we had chatted a few times, but that was all. Then we spent several days clinging to a log and fighting for our lives. It’s interesting how that type of dire situation can bond one fellow to another.”
“You’re bonded now?”
“Absolutely. We’re closer than two brothers could ever be. He imagines I’m some kind of hero for saving him.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Gad, no. I was as terrified as he was. I hid it better.”
“What became of the grain merchant? Was he pitched overboard too?”
“Yes, and unfortunately Ralston tells me he had gold coins sewn into the hem of his coat, so it was very heavy. He sank before I hit the water, so he likely drowned.”
“You don’t know?”
“We sent inquiries up and down the coast, in case he was found, but we’ve never heard a word.”
“Your story gets more horrid with each tidbit you share.”
She glanced up, finding him to be much nearer than she’d realized. He was scowling, as if confused by their proximity. He was studying her mouth, and she suffered from the strangest notion that he was considering kissing her. It was absurd, but she couldn’t move beyond the outrageous prospect.
She stepped away, and when he stepped too, she held out a hand to stop him, to warn him off, and her palm smacked into his bare chest. His skin was as hot and smooth as she’d predicted it would be.
“I beg your pardon,” she murmured as she pulled away.
“You don’t have to beg pardon from me,” he said. “It’s been an eternity since I’ve seen an Englishwoman. If you want to place your hand on my chest—or anywhere else for that matter—I won’t complain.”
“Mr. Hubbard, you apparently assume I have loose tendencies, but I have no idea why you would.”
“You’re a long way from home, Sister Faithful, and there’s no one to chaperone or tattle on you. You can act however you choose.”
She’d just had this same discussion with Rowena, and it was odd to her to suppose morals could be ignored simply because one was off on her own and away from what was familiar.
“I expect I’ll act as I always have,” she firmly responded.
“Well, you don’t have to. Not around me, and if you relax a bit, you might actually have some fun while you’re here.”
“I’m having plenty of fun ,” she insisted.
“Are you?” His lazy gaze drifted down her torso. “It’s seems to me you’re cranky because you’re miserably uncomfortable in those heavy clothes.”
“I’m fine.”
“There are some women’s garments in a cupboard if you’d ever like to wear what’s more realistic for the climate. You should definitely get rid of your veil. No one will die of shock if you have your hair uncovered.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And I will state categorically that I would love to see all that red hair curling over
“Shall we go down and walk on the beach?” he asked as if reading her mind. “We could strip off some of our clothes and splash in the waves.”
“I don’t think so. It’s awfully dark down there.”
“We can bring a lantern.”
“I’d better not.”
“You don’t have to be afraid. I’d never let anything happen to you.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t, but all the same, I’ll stay right here.”
“You don’t have to leave in the morning,” he said.
“Rowena told me. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Ralston. He pleaded your case. I was fully ready to kick you out.”
“You were not.”
“I was. I’m the worst wretch in the world.”
“You try very hard to make that statement true.”
“I don’t have to try hard ,” he claimed. “I don’t have to try at all.”
“Would you really have tossed us out?”
“Probably.”
“But Mr. Robertson dissuaded you.”
“He’s my moral compass.”
“Which is good. What is he to you? Are you related?”
“No, he was simply on the same ship as I. He was clerk to a grain merchant and they were on their way home. Before the pirates attacked, we had chatted a few times, but that was all. Then we spent several days clinging to a log and fighting for our lives. It’s interesting how that type of dire situation can bond one fellow to another.”
“You’re bonded now?”
“Absolutely. We’re closer than two brothers could ever be. He imagines I’m some kind of hero for saving him.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Gad, no. I was as terrified as he was. I hid it better.”
“What became of the grain merchant? Was he pitched overboard too?”
“Yes, and unfortunately Ralston tells me he had gold coins sewn into the hem of his coat, so it was very heavy. He sank before I hit the water, so he likely drowned.”
“You don’t know?”
“We sent inquiries up and down the coast, in case he was found, but we’ve never heard a word.”
“Your story gets more horrid with each tidbit you share.”
She glanced up, finding him to be much nearer than she’d realized. He was scowling, as if confused by their proximity. He was studying her mouth, and she suffered from the strangest notion that he was considering kissing her. It was absurd, but she couldn’t move beyond the outrageous prospect.
She stepped away, and when he stepped too, she held out a hand to stop him, to warn him off, and her palm smacked into his bare chest. His skin was as hot and smooth as she’d predicted it would be.
“I beg your pardon,” she murmured as she pulled away.
“You don’t have to beg pardon from me,” he said. “It’s been an eternity since I’ve seen an Englishwoman. If you want to place your hand on my chest—or anywhere else for that matter—I won’t complain.”
“Mr. Hubbard, you apparently assume I have loose tendencies, but I have no idea why you would.”
“You’re a long way from home, Sister Faithful, and there’s no one to chaperone or tattle on you. You can act however you choose.”
She’d just had this same discussion with Rowena, and it was odd to her to suppose morals could be ignored simply because one was off on her own and away from what was familiar.
“I expect I’ll act as I always have,” she firmly responded.
“Well, you don’t have to. Not around me, and if you relax a bit, you might actually have some fun while you’re here.”
“I’m having plenty of fun ,” she insisted.
“Are you?” His lazy gaze drifted down her torso. “It’s seems to me you’re cranky because you’re miserably uncomfortable in those heavy clothes.”
“I’m fine.”
“There are some women’s garments in a cupboard if you’d ever like to wear what’s more realistic for the climate. You should definitely get rid of your veil. No one will die of shock if you have your hair uncovered.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And I will state categorically that I would love to see all that red hair curling over
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