Read Online The Mistress of His Manor by Catherine George - Free Book Online

scowling.
    ‘Jo needs to go home to her house and rest tonight,’ said Jack firmly.
    ‘But I want her to read a story!’
    ‘I can do that,’ said Tom promptly, and Kitty stared at him in astonishment.
    ‘Can you read, Grandpa?’
    ‘Oh, yes. Even the big words,’ he assured her, ignoring the smothered mirth from the others.
    ‘In that case,’ said Jo, grinning, ‘I’ll take off and get some ironing done before supper.’
    When she got home a message was waiting on her answermachine.
    ‘Joanna, it’s March. I haven’t rung today in case you needed your line free for emergencies, but I’m anxious for news of your mother. I doubt that you’ll ring me back, so I’ll try again later.’
    Jo eyed the machine coldly and got on with the ironing. She was putting the iron away when March rang again. She clenched her teeth as his deep, drawling tones left more or less the same message as before, then turned her back on the telephone and went up to have a bath. She was in her dressing gown, wet hair swathed in a towel, when the doorbell rang. Her heart leapt, then righted itself again as she ran downstairs to the hall. March—or Lord Arnborough, to give him his proper title, she thoughtviciously—was tall enough to be seen through the fanlight. It wasn’t him. And it wasn’t Jack, either, for the same reason.
    Jo opened the door very cautiously, then grinned as she saw familiar sandy curls and hefty shoulders. ‘Hi, Leo. Long time no see.’
    ‘No have time off,’ he groaned. ‘Are you going to let me in?’
    Jo opened the door wide. ‘Are you hungry?’
    Leo’s open, friendly face looked hurt. ‘I come here for reasons other than mere food, Jo Logan.’
    She made a mental note to ask people to call her Joanna from now on. ‘My apologies, Doctor.’
    ‘Actually, I’m on my way out to dine with the parents before I fall into bed for a day or three.’ He grinned. ‘I called in to congratulate you. Josh’s squeeze in Maternity told him your mother delivered a baby boy yesterday. How about coffee to celebrate, so I keep awake at the wheel on my way to Chez Carey?’
    ‘Come with me to the kitchen, my friend. Coffee you shall have.’
    ‘So your father has a son at last,’ said Leo, as they sat down at the kitchen table.
    ‘All he wanted in life was Kate safe through the birth and a healthy baby,’ said Jo severely. ‘The sex didn’t matter to him.’
    ‘Sex doesn’t matter to me any more, either,’ said Leo morosely, and yawned. ‘If I ever get a girl into bed again I’ll have forgotten what to do.’
    Jo gave a snort of laughter. ‘Don’t worry. It’s supposed to be like riding a bike—you never forget.’
    ‘Glad to hear it.’ He eyed her in a professional manner. ‘You look a bit frazzled. Too much socializing, or just not sleeping well?’
    ‘Sunday left its mark on me. On top of worrying about Kate I had the job of keeping Miss Katherine Logan entertained!’ Jo got rid of the towel and ran her fingers through her hair.
    Leo whistled in sympathy. ‘No wonder you look fragile. What does our Kitty-cat think of her baby brother?’
    ‘Wrong sex, but cute. Are you sure you won’t have a sandwich or something?’
    ‘Better not. Mother’s roasting the fatted calf as we speak, so the prodigal had better be on his way to eat it.’ Leo drained his mug and got to his feet, rubbing a hand over his tired young face. On the way to the door he gave her a hug. ‘Great to see you, Jo. As soon as I can I’ll take you out to supper for a change.’
    ‘I’ll hold you to that.’ Jo looked up as the doorbell rang, and saw the top of a dark head through the fanlight. ‘That’ll be Jack on his way home.’ She opened the door, then wished she hadn’t. Her second visitor of the night was Lord Arnborough.

Chapter Five
    M ARCH looked at her in silence for a moment, then said, ‘Good evening, Joanna,’ in a tone so forbidding it raised her hackles. What right had he to be angry? ‘I left two