Read Online The Countess' Lucky Charm by A. M. Westerling - Free Book Online Page B

threw yourself at Mr Dixon for all to see.”
    “So what if I did,” she snapped. “For the first time in me life, a man looked at me, really looked at me.”
    “After such an exhibition, you want me to believe your virtue is intact?” His voice dripped with disgust.
    “Believe it or no, it’s true,” she retorted. “Besides, where’s the harm in talking to Mr Dixon?”
    “Dinner chit chat is one thing, monopolizing the man is another.” Temple shook his head. “What was I thinking? You can take the girl from the street but you can’t take the street from the girl.” He meant the nasty remark to wound her.
    Simone felt it as purely as if he had slipped a blade between her ribs. She stared at him, speechless. This unpleasant side to Temple she had not seen before. Moisture began to gather on her lashes and she swallowed hard, not wanting to dissolve into tears in front of him. She looked down at the beautiful dress, sick at heart.
    It seemed as if she would never get it right.
    Only one thing gave her a glimmer of hope. Temple’s jealousy had to mean something. She peeped up at him but he had turned back to the porthole and all she could see was his back, stiff with disapproval.
    “I am sorry if I disappointed you,” she whispered, hoping he noticed how proper she sounded.
    He didn’t respond.
    Temple ’s anger surprised her. He never got angry with her, no matter how many mistakes or mispronunciations she made. Perhaps he had a point. Perhaps her behaviour had been unacceptable. She would ask Mrs Featherstone about it later.
    In the meantime, she would try and smooth things over.
    “I’ll do better, really I will.” She vowed to try harder for she wanted his praise not the derisive words he had just flung at her.
    He turned around, still glowering, eyes full of misgiving. He ran both hands through his hair, leaving it tousled and unkempt, and heaved a sigh before speaking. “Perhaps we should cancel the wager. The captain has asked me to join him for an after dinner brandy. I shall discuss it.”
    “No!” Her cry pierced the heavy wooden beams. She plucked at his sleeve. “We can’t cancel it. I can do it, my lord.”
    He brushed past her again and lifted the latch on the door before turning to her. “If you would excuse me,” he said, resignation heavy in his voice.
    Dismayed, Simone watched him leave. Her heart splintered at the regret etched in his face. Plainly, she had failed him.
     
    * * *
     
    Temple strode down the corridor toward the dining room, baffled by his reaction. Aye, he had been angry when Petey had accosted Simone but it had been nothing compared to the rage flooding through him when watching her play the coquette with the smitten Gordon Dixon earlier this evening.
    At the door to the dining room, he poked his head in to discover the captain had gone, doubtless not expecting Temple’s return. Ah well, that suited him just fine, he needed air to sort his thoughts. He made his way above board and proceeded to pace the deck, from bow to stern.
    He paused to chat to the first mate whose knobby hands deftly manned the wheel.
    “Petey has complained to the captain regarding Miss Dougherty. He’s accused her of unwarranted fisticuffs.” Allan McCabe’s voice was apologetic. “I find Miss Dougherty charming and I don’t believe him.”
    Temple ’s mind reeled with the news and he tightened his fists. “It’s not true. He was fit to be tied for she rebuffed his advances.”
    “Aye, Petey’s a vengeful one.” McCabe leaned against the wheel, holding course into the wind. “I thought to warn you so perhaps you could smooth things with the captain.”
    “I do thank you. I’ll meet with Captain Featherstone tomorrow as I have another item to discuss with him.” He bowed slightly and paced anew, weaving figure eights between the masts. Petey’s allegation didn’t concern him—one word from Temple as witness and that would be put to rights.
    Nevertheless, there was still