Read Online Silver Splendor by Olivia Drake - Free Book Online Page B

Greaves,” Cicely said. “I tell you I know the boy.” Catching sight of her brother, she leaned over the side and Bfted a ladylike hand. “Why, hullo, Nick! Will you kindly tell Greaves to cease badgering my friend?”
    Ignoring her, Lord Nicholas glared first at the impeccable livened footman, who stood at rigid attention on his rear perch, then at the coachman, who nervously bobbed his cockaded hat. “Greaves, I trust you have an explanation for why the top has been folded down?”
    “‘Er ladyship asked me to, m’lord,” said the coachman, his tone subdued.
    “I see,” the earl said in his most chilling voice. “And if she asked you to let her roam the neighborhood unescorted I suppose you’d have agreed to that, as well.”
    “No, m’lord,” the coachman said hastily. “I’ll set it to rights immediately.”
    He started to clamber down, but Lord Nicholas stopped the servant with an imperious wave. “Never mind. The purpose was to protect my sister in my absence. Since we’re about to depart, that hardly matters now.”
    “Oh, Nick, please don’t be angry,” Cicely said, her smile cajoling. “I threatened to put down the top myself if Greaves refused. It was growing ever so dark and stuffy inside.”
    “Aye, an’ she wanted to talk to me,” said Kipp, thrusting out his thin chest. “‘Er and me’s the best o’ mates.”
    “Indeed.” Lifting haughty eyebrows, Lord Nicholas surveyed the unkempt boy, from his misshapen bowler hat to his filthy bare toes. “And who, might I ask, are you?”
    Kipp squared his scrawny shoulders and jabbed a thumb at his ragged shirt. “Me name’s Kipp Gullidge, yer lordship, sir. ‘Er ladyship’s been makin’ a likeness o’ me.”
    “Kipp is a friend of mine,” Elizabeth said. “He sometimes poses for me.”
    “He’s a good boy,” her father added with a touch of antagonism. “I wouldn’t allow my daughter to associate with just anyone.”
    The earl’s gaze swung to her, his flawless features set into a familiar forbidding expression. It seemed suddenly difficult for her to catch a breath. Despite the lamplight she could not read his thoughts. Unexpectedly he turned away and offered a hand to the boy.
    “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Master Gullidge.”
    Surprise stabbed Elizabeth as Lord Nicholas shook the urchin’s grubby hand. The earl looked as grave as if he were greeting Gladstone himself. Kipp’s chest puffed out even more, and he glanced around as if to make sure the onlookers had noticed a person of quality singling him out.
    Elizabeth’s heart went liquid. Lord Nicholas might easily have snubbed the boy, but instead had given him something to swagger about for days to come.
    “I was just telling Kipp about the break in,” said Cicely.
    “Aye, an’ the bugger ‘oo done it I ‘ave the devil to pay when I nab ‘im!”
    Lord Nicholas aimed a stem look at the lad. “I forbid you to involve yourself. You’re to leave this matter to the police, do you hear?”
    “But ‘e tore up Miss Libby’s —”
    “I’ll have your word on this, Master Gullidge.”
    Abashed, Kipp hung his head; with a grimy toe he traced a crack in the pavement. “Aye, yer lordship, sir.”
    “We’ve a gentleman’s agreement, then. And a gentleman never breaks his word.”
    Kipp straightened his drooping shoulders. “Aye, sir.”
    “Very good.” Ignoring the avid eyed bystanders, Lord Nicholas addressed Elizabeth and her father. “Shall we go, then?”
    The footman leapt down to open the door. He extended an impeccable, white gloved hand. Unused to such deference, Elizabeth felt awkward as she accepted his assistance into the landau and sat down opposite Cicely.
    “You’re coming with us?” the girl asked. Her puzzled eyes fastened on the straw case and artist’s satchel that Owen brought into the carriage and propped at his feet.
    Elizabeth smiled. “Your brother has engaged me as your art instructor. Papa and I will be staying