Read Online Tempted at Every Turn by Robyn DeHart - Free Book Online
Authors: Robyn DeHart
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making certain to cross all his t ’s and dot all his i ’s while in her presence. Sooner or later he’d slip, and she’d be there to notice.
“We’ll be in touch,” James said to Fenby, then turned to go.
It was annoying how he always decided when it was time to leave and then simply expected her to follow him as if she were some sort of trained dog. It was even more annoying that she had to follow him, as he was providing her ride back to her house.
James hated to have to ask for help, especially from his mother, but she would be particularly useful in this case. So he swallowed his pride and stepped into his family’s entryway. Craddock, the family butler, nodded when he saw James.
“They’re in the drawing room,” the butler said, sounding utterly bored.
How was it that the man never seemed to age? It was as if he’d been the very same since James was a child, which obviously couldn’t be the case. But he’d always been tall and slender, with lucid blue eyes and a head of thick, bright white hair. Very stately looking, which appealed greatly to his mother.
“You’re looking quite fit, Craddock,” James said as he handed off his coat.
Craddock gave him a wry smile and draped the coat over his arm. With a slight nod, he said, “And you as well, sir.”
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, James made his way to the drawing room, where he would no doubt find his mother worrying oversome needlepoint and his father reading one of many papers. He stepped into the room and they sat doing precisely as he’d imagined, as if they were on the set of a play rather than living an actual life.
“James,” her mother said excitedly, “what an excellent surprise.” She set her sewing aside and patted the cushion next to her. “Come and sit for a while.”
His father folded the paper just enough so he could see over the edge. “How kind of you to grace us with your presence. Your mother was just fretting about you only moments ago.”
“Harry, don’t be so dramatic. I was hardly fretting, merely wondering about your well-being,” she said, directing the last sentence to James.
He lowered himself onto the green and gold velvet sofa next to his mother. “My well-being is perfectly fine, Mother, I can assure you.”
She smiled brightly. “Yes, dear, but I do like to see you with my own eyes so that I might know that you’re eating and sleeping and the like. You know how your activities make me nervous.”
“I’m a detective, Mother, that’s not exactly an activity. It’s an actual paid position.”
She pursed her lips. “Your allowance is waiting for you whenever you choose to take it,” she said smartly.
His father rattled the paper a little too loudlyfor a simple turning of the page, then cleared his throat. It was a gentle nudge in the direction of his wife meant to cool her worried nature.
“I came here to ask for your assistance. With my current investigation,” James said.
His mother actually looked affronted. Her hand went to her breast and her eyes widened. “What help could I possibly provide in relation to a crime? You know what is a crime? The fact that you’re still a bachelor, and as looks would have it, perfectly content to stay that way. I would like grandchildren while I’m still alive.”
“Fiona, don’t pester the boy, he’ll marry in his own time,” James’ father said.
James had heard it all before, and it didn’t faze him. His mother had a flair for the dramatic; he’d have to be blind and deaf to have not recognized that by now.
“Might I remind you, Mother, that you are already a grandmother.” His brother, who had not yet taken his father’s place as earl, had already married and secured an heir. A long line of heirs, actually. “Are six grandsons not enough?”
“Well, there is always room for more,” his mother said. “I have hopes that you will find a match like Stephen has.”
“Yes, well, there’s still time,” James said, not
“We’ll be in touch,” James said to Fenby, then turned to go.
It was annoying how he always decided when it was time to leave and then simply expected her to follow him as if she were some sort of trained dog. It was even more annoying that she had to follow him, as he was providing her ride back to her house.
James hated to have to ask for help, especially from his mother, but she would be particularly useful in this case. So he swallowed his pride and stepped into his family’s entryway. Craddock, the family butler, nodded when he saw James.
“They’re in the drawing room,” the butler said, sounding utterly bored.
How was it that the man never seemed to age? It was as if he’d been the very same since James was a child, which obviously couldn’t be the case. But he’d always been tall and slender, with lucid blue eyes and a head of thick, bright white hair. Very stately looking, which appealed greatly to his mother.
“You’re looking quite fit, Craddock,” James said as he handed off his coat.
Craddock gave him a wry smile and draped the coat over his arm. With a slight nod, he said, “And you as well, sir.”
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, James made his way to the drawing room, where he would no doubt find his mother worrying oversome needlepoint and his father reading one of many papers. He stepped into the room and they sat doing precisely as he’d imagined, as if they were on the set of a play rather than living an actual life.
“James,” her mother said excitedly, “what an excellent surprise.” She set her sewing aside and patted the cushion next to her. “Come and sit for a while.”
His father folded the paper just enough so he could see over the edge. “How kind of you to grace us with your presence. Your mother was just fretting about you only moments ago.”
“Harry, don’t be so dramatic. I was hardly fretting, merely wondering about your well-being,” she said, directing the last sentence to James.
He lowered himself onto the green and gold velvet sofa next to his mother. “My well-being is perfectly fine, Mother, I can assure you.”
She smiled brightly. “Yes, dear, but I do like to see you with my own eyes so that I might know that you’re eating and sleeping and the like. You know how your activities make me nervous.”
“I’m a detective, Mother, that’s not exactly an activity. It’s an actual paid position.”
She pursed her lips. “Your allowance is waiting for you whenever you choose to take it,” she said smartly.
His father rattled the paper a little too loudlyfor a simple turning of the page, then cleared his throat. It was a gentle nudge in the direction of his wife meant to cool her worried nature.
“I came here to ask for your assistance. With my current investigation,” James said.
His mother actually looked affronted. Her hand went to her breast and her eyes widened. “What help could I possibly provide in relation to a crime? You know what is a crime? The fact that you’re still a bachelor, and as looks would have it, perfectly content to stay that way. I would like grandchildren while I’m still alive.”
“Fiona, don’t pester the boy, he’ll marry in his own time,” James’ father said.
James had heard it all before, and it didn’t faze him. His mother had a flair for the dramatic; he’d have to be blind and deaf to have not recognized that by now.
“Might I remind you, Mother, that you are already a grandmother.” His brother, who had not yet taken his father’s place as earl, had already married and secured an heir. A long line of heirs, actually. “Are six grandsons not enough?”
“Well, there is always room for more,” his mother said. “I have hopes that you will find a match like Stephen has.”
“Yes, well, there’s still time,” James said, not
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