Read Online Tempting a Devil by Samantha Kane - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Samantha Kane
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think about. What she ought to be thinking was that this affair was simply a means to an end and no more.
“I do not wish to go to Bath,” she stated quite firmly. The truth was that until Roger showed up she’d been considering it. She’d thought distance might cool Faircloth’s desire to marry her. But after the last few visits with him, she knew Bath wouldn’t be far enough to keep him away. She needed a permanent end to his suit, not a stay of execution. “I wish to stay in London for as long as I see fit.”
Roger’s lips thinned angrily as he put one hand on his hip and looked out the window. As he reined in his temper, she took the opportunity to sit down and pour herself some tea.
“Bath would be excellent for your health,” Lady Lockerby said yet again. Each time she brought up Bath, it began with Harry’s health. The lady had been married to an ailing husband too long.
“My health is excellent,” Harry said pleasantly. “Is that not so, Mr. Templeton? Don’t I look hale and hearty?” As Roger instinctively turned to her, she thrust out her chest and looked down at herself. “Everything appears to be working,” she murmured, glancing at Roger from under her lashes with a naughty smile.
It was Roger’s turn to glare. “I’m sure you are in excellent health, Lady Mercer,”he grudgingly offered, “although I’m not intimate enough with your habits to say so with absolute certainty.”
“I’m sure intimacy would reassure you, Mr. Templeton,” she said with a gracious nod, sipping her tea innocently.
“Oh, dear Harriet is indeed the picture of health, Mr. Templeton,” Lady Lockerby rushed to assure him, as if he was hesitating to buy a mare on the auction block. “I meant that she would continue to enjoy excellent health in Bath. London is not good for one’s health, Lockerby says.”
“Lord Lockerby is correct,” Roger said, taking his seat again. Harry had made sure to sit on the sofa right next to Roger, knowing he would never embarrass her by moving to another seat. He merely sat down as far away from Harry as possible, his back nestled in the corner of the sofa as he faced her in some sort of adversarial conversation gambit. “London is not good for one’s health, and there is little Mercy to think about.”
She’d been wondering how long it would take him to bring Mercy into it. That was quicker than she’d thought. He must be running out of excuses why they couldn’t or shouldn’t be lovers. “Mercy is perfectly all right. I’ll admit that I was unprepared today for the attack on him, but I am now prepared should there be any further incidents. I will not leave Mercy unguarded again. A footman or other escort will accompany us whenever we are out from now on.” And Faircloth would not receive another penny until she was sure he hadn’t been behind the kidnapping attempt. It was too coincidental that the attempt was made following her repeated refusals to see him after his threat to take Mercy from her. She turned and grabbed Roger’s arm, startling them both. “Thank God you were there today, Roger,” she said with earnest sincerity, all plans and posturingaside.
He looked uncomfortable as he patted her hand. “Yes, I’m glad I was, too. And I’m going to notify the authorities as well, and some acquaintances I have at Bow Street. Manchester Square is hardly a hub of criminal activity, and as such it should be free of incidents like today’s.” He frowned. “I don’t like the idea of you and the boy being attacked in the public garden right in the middle of the square.”
“Which is why I’m sure it was a one-time event and shan’t happen again,” Harry said, removing her hand and sweeping it up along the back of her neck as if checking her hair. She just wanted to make sure her hand wasn’t shaking. She’d been so frightened when she’d seen that man grab Mercy. She never would have caught him on her own, never.
“I’m sure you’re right,”
“I do not wish to go to Bath,” she stated quite firmly. The truth was that until Roger showed up she’d been considering it. She’d thought distance might cool Faircloth’s desire to marry her. But after the last few visits with him, she knew Bath wouldn’t be far enough to keep him away. She needed a permanent end to his suit, not a stay of execution. “I wish to stay in London for as long as I see fit.”
Roger’s lips thinned angrily as he put one hand on his hip and looked out the window. As he reined in his temper, she took the opportunity to sit down and pour herself some tea.
“Bath would be excellent for your health,” Lady Lockerby said yet again. Each time she brought up Bath, it began with Harry’s health. The lady had been married to an ailing husband too long.
“My health is excellent,” Harry said pleasantly. “Is that not so, Mr. Templeton? Don’t I look hale and hearty?” As Roger instinctively turned to her, she thrust out her chest and looked down at herself. “Everything appears to be working,” she murmured, glancing at Roger from under her lashes with a naughty smile.
It was Roger’s turn to glare. “I’m sure you are in excellent health, Lady Mercer,”he grudgingly offered, “although I’m not intimate enough with your habits to say so with absolute certainty.”
“I’m sure intimacy would reassure you, Mr. Templeton,” she said with a gracious nod, sipping her tea innocently.
“Oh, dear Harriet is indeed the picture of health, Mr. Templeton,” Lady Lockerby rushed to assure him, as if he was hesitating to buy a mare on the auction block. “I meant that she would continue to enjoy excellent health in Bath. London is not good for one’s health, Lockerby says.”
“Lord Lockerby is correct,” Roger said, taking his seat again. Harry had made sure to sit on the sofa right next to Roger, knowing he would never embarrass her by moving to another seat. He merely sat down as far away from Harry as possible, his back nestled in the corner of the sofa as he faced her in some sort of adversarial conversation gambit. “London is not good for one’s health, and there is little Mercy to think about.”
She’d been wondering how long it would take him to bring Mercy into it. That was quicker than she’d thought. He must be running out of excuses why they couldn’t or shouldn’t be lovers. “Mercy is perfectly all right. I’ll admit that I was unprepared today for the attack on him, but I am now prepared should there be any further incidents. I will not leave Mercy unguarded again. A footman or other escort will accompany us whenever we are out from now on.” And Faircloth would not receive another penny until she was sure he hadn’t been behind the kidnapping attempt. It was too coincidental that the attempt was made following her repeated refusals to see him after his threat to take Mercy from her. She turned and grabbed Roger’s arm, startling them both. “Thank God you were there today, Roger,” she said with earnest sincerity, all plans and posturingaside.
He looked uncomfortable as he patted her hand. “Yes, I’m glad I was, too. And I’m going to notify the authorities as well, and some acquaintances I have at Bow Street. Manchester Square is hardly a hub of criminal activity, and as such it should be free of incidents like today’s.” He frowned. “I don’t like the idea of you and the boy being attacked in the public garden right in the middle of the square.”
“Which is why I’m sure it was a one-time event and shan’t happen again,” Harry said, removing her hand and sweeping it up along the back of her neck as if checking her hair. She just wanted to make sure her hand wasn’t shaking. She’d been so frightened when she’d seen that man grab Mercy. She never would have caught him on her own, never.
“I’m sure you’re right,”
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