Read Online Seductive as Flame by Susan Johnson - Free Book Online Page A

could be a problem.”
    “It never has been before.”
    “I never gave a damn before.”
    She hid her shock. “I see,” she calmly said.
    “Which is why I can’t decide if I want to go down to dinner.”
    She looked at him for a contemplative moment. “I didn’t raise a coward, my boy.”
    “It’s not me. I’m not sure I care to hurt her.”
    “Maybe you won’t.”
    “Of course I will. I have nothing to offer a woman.”
    Mercy me, there is a God. But Mrs. Creighton only said, “Your mother isn’t as fragile as you think.”
    “What if you’re wrong? Then what?” This wasn’t a new discussion.
    “Very well. But I don’t think Miss MacKenzie is breakable. She looks like a strong woman to me. She’s Scots for one thing.”
    Dalgliesh chuckled. “The woman of Achruach, you mean.” It was Creiggy’s favorite story.
    “ ‘The day I cannot keep my countenance and hold men in their place and work my will on them, that is a day you will never see,’” Creiggy softly quoted, a half smile on her lined face. “Now go and see if your MacKenzie lass can put you in your place.” She glanced at Chris. “I’ll have him ready at eight tomorrow morning. Go.”

    S TERN TALKING TO or not, Zelda had been equally reluctant to face Dalgliesh, and she came down late for the drinks hour. Alec must have changed his mind, she decided; he wasn’t in the drawing room. Standing in the doorway, she saw her father near the fireplace in the midst of his cronies. She was still debating whether to walk in and if so what to drink, when Oz Lennox, splendidly handsome in evening rig, walked up, smiled, and asked, “Whiskey or champagne?”
    “It depends what kind of whiskey,” she replied with an answering smile.
    “Follow me, my dear, and I’ll dazzle you with the array.” He offered her his arm. “Come, she won’t bite.”
    “How perceptive.”
    “I had a lot of practice before my marriage. I know who bites and who doesn’t—figuratively speaking, of course,” he added with a grin. Taking her hand, he placed it on his arm. “Come, this’ll be easy. And after a drink or two, I guarantee you, nothing much matters.”
    She glanced at him, amused. “More of your practice?”
    He laughed. “An ongoing process in my case. But I have a darling wife who allows me to be troublesome at times. As I do her,” he said with a quirked smile. “I’ll introduce you later. She’s still with the children in the nursery.”
    “How many children do you have?”
    “Two—both the most beautiful children on the face of the earth, of course. Ah, here we are.” A servant stood behind a drinks table. “I’d suggest the whiskey from Locaber; it’s clear as glass, smooth and strong, and full of wonder.”
    After collecting their drinks, they moved to a quiet corner, drank the fine whiskey, and talked about the hunt, the weather, Fitz’s hounds.
    Oz was facing the door, so he saw Dalgliesh walk into the drawing room looking like he’d just come out of his bath. He was slicking his wet hair back behind his ears with a quick brushing gesture as he scanned the room. It was clear that he’d seen them, but he didn’t come over; instead, the earl grabbed a glass of whiskey from a servant passing by with a tray of drinks and kept his distance.
    Several moments later, having covered all the conventional topics, curious about Lennox’s distinctive features, and perhaps less restrained with the whiskey warming her blood, Zelda asked, “Where do you live?”
    “Cambridgeshire mostly.”
    “Then where do you come from with this?” She brushed her finger up his bronzed cheek.
    He smiled. “India—Hyderabad.”
    “Ah—I should have known. You’re incredibly handsome, although I’m sure you know that. Why are you here charming me?” she pleasantly inquired. He was affable and urbane but not flirtatious.
    “I’m on duty—very pleasant duty, I might add. I’m saving you from Violetta,” he said with a flick of his eyes in