Read Online The Trouble With Moonlight by Donna MacMeans - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Donna MacMeans
Ads: Link
She hugged herself to further shield her body from his sight.
“I suppose you’d like to see where Pickering put your things,” he said, almost as if he could read her mind. She nodded and he offered his arm.
“I believe I’d like to follow behind you, if you don’t mind,” she replied. But he did mind, judging from a quirk in his lips.
“I’ve placed you in a room just down the hall.” He turned and led the way out of the room. She followed in step. “I hope you’ll find it to your liking. Lord Kensington had hot and cold plumbing installed in the dressing room, so you should find it amenable. I’ve asked for clean towels, and the room has been aired in anticipation of your arrival.”
“The housekeeper and servants know that I’m here?” She almost stumbled in her sudden panic.
He stopped to offer a steadying hand at her elbow. “I’ve told them that you are my sister late arriving from the country. ”
“Thank you,” she said, relieved at his consideration. At least she would not have to worry about gossiping servants. She glanced up at his rich dark hair and intense brown eyes and realized that the ruse would be up the moment they were seen together.
He left her at the doorway to the bedroom, not very far from his own. “Good night, Miss Havershaw. I pray you a pleasant rest. I’m afraid I shan’t be here for breakfast as I have an early call in the morning. However, there was much left unsaid from our earlier conversation. Shall we begin again tomorrow afternoon in the library?”
She turned just inside her room and had begun to close the door when an internal alarm pulled at some fringe of consciousness. She opened the door just enough that her head could peek around the door edge. “Does this morning call concern me, sir?”
He didn’t manage to hide his surprise. “Why do you ask?”
“I must remind you that my presence here as well as my unique abilities must be kept secret from everyone.”
“I understand that you harbor a concern that—”
“Everyone, Mr. Locke,” she insisted.
He stood so close. She could see the soft dimple on his chin, the gentle swell of his lips, and the narrowed scrutiny of his gaze. He held her gaze even as he nodded.
She wanted to believe him. It would make the soft melting occurring in her innermost private areas a bit more acceptable. But she willed herself not to yield. She had her family to protect and no one to rely on but herself for that purpose. Uneasy, she bit her lower lip, then glanced at him. “I shall see you tomorrow then, in the library, sir.”
He waited until the door fully closed, and even a moment or two longer until he heard the click of the lock. He smiled, not that a simple door lock would stop him if he was determined to get into the room.
A moment later, he heard a heavy object slide in front of the door and he swallowed his smile. She obviously recognized his capabilities as well.
Five
LONDON WAS FULLY AWAKE BY MIDMORNING. UNfortunately, he was not.
The overcast skies enhanced the general grayness of the city. Men and a few women bustled along the sidewalks while wagons and hacks pulled by weary horses jingled past on busy streets. It all blurred together into an indistinguishable backdrop for Locke’s thoughts. Fortunately, his feet knew the turns to make while his mind dallied on the prior evening with Lusinda.
The woman bedeviled him so. How was he to remain aloof and detached when the woman seemed determined to present herself naked at the most unpredictable of times? Did she imagine he was less than a man, like a Persian eunuch? Of course not, he dismissed the thought. Miss Havershaw didn’t know enough about that culture to assume such a thing. Besides, had she observed him hiding behind the wooden globe, or listened to Marcus’s playful banter, she knew that he was a virile male.
Then why wasn’t she afraid? Why would she choose to hide in his bedroom, of all places, naked as a newborn babe, and as
“I suppose you’d like to see where Pickering put your things,” he said, almost as if he could read her mind. She nodded and he offered his arm.
“I believe I’d like to follow behind you, if you don’t mind,” she replied. But he did mind, judging from a quirk in his lips.
“I’ve placed you in a room just down the hall.” He turned and led the way out of the room. She followed in step. “I hope you’ll find it to your liking. Lord Kensington had hot and cold plumbing installed in the dressing room, so you should find it amenable. I’ve asked for clean towels, and the room has been aired in anticipation of your arrival.”
“The housekeeper and servants know that I’m here?” She almost stumbled in her sudden panic.
He stopped to offer a steadying hand at her elbow. “I’ve told them that you are my sister late arriving from the country. ”
“Thank you,” she said, relieved at his consideration. At least she would not have to worry about gossiping servants. She glanced up at his rich dark hair and intense brown eyes and realized that the ruse would be up the moment they were seen together.
He left her at the doorway to the bedroom, not very far from his own. “Good night, Miss Havershaw. I pray you a pleasant rest. I’m afraid I shan’t be here for breakfast as I have an early call in the morning. However, there was much left unsaid from our earlier conversation. Shall we begin again tomorrow afternoon in the library?”
She turned just inside her room and had begun to close the door when an internal alarm pulled at some fringe of consciousness. She opened the door just enough that her head could peek around the door edge. “Does this morning call concern me, sir?”
He didn’t manage to hide his surprise. “Why do you ask?”
“I must remind you that my presence here as well as my unique abilities must be kept secret from everyone.”
“I understand that you harbor a concern that—”
“Everyone, Mr. Locke,” she insisted.
He stood so close. She could see the soft dimple on his chin, the gentle swell of his lips, and the narrowed scrutiny of his gaze. He held her gaze even as he nodded.
She wanted to believe him. It would make the soft melting occurring in her innermost private areas a bit more acceptable. But she willed herself not to yield. She had her family to protect and no one to rely on but herself for that purpose. Uneasy, she bit her lower lip, then glanced at him. “I shall see you tomorrow then, in the library, sir.”
He waited until the door fully closed, and even a moment or two longer until he heard the click of the lock. He smiled, not that a simple door lock would stop him if he was determined to get into the room.
A moment later, he heard a heavy object slide in front of the door and he swallowed his smile. She obviously recognized his capabilities as well.
Five
LONDON WAS FULLY AWAKE BY MIDMORNING. UNfortunately, he was not.
The overcast skies enhanced the general grayness of the city. Men and a few women bustled along the sidewalks while wagons and hacks pulled by weary horses jingled past on busy streets. It all blurred together into an indistinguishable backdrop for Locke’s thoughts. Fortunately, his feet knew the turns to make while his mind dallied on the prior evening with Lusinda.
The woman bedeviled him so. How was he to remain aloof and detached when the woman seemed determined to present herself naked at the most unpredictable of times? Did she imagine he was less than a man, like a Persian eunuch? Of course not, he dismissed the thought. Miss Havershaw didn’t know enough about that culture to assume such a thing. Besides, had she observed him hiding behind the wooden globe, or listened to Marcus’s playful banter, she knew that he was a virile male.
Then why wasn’t she afraid? Why would she choose to hide in his bedroom, of all places, naked as a newborn babe, and as
Similar Books
