Read Online To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series) by Patricia; Grasso - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia; Grasso
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body, angel,” he said in a husky whisper.
“I want you to leave now,” Angelica said, though her heart ached for him to stay.
“I was married briefly,” Robert said, ignoring her words. “Louisa was carrying my child when she—” He hesitated. “—when she died.”
His revelation surprised Angelica, her heart wrenching at his obvious pain. No wonder the man was reluctant to marry.
“I am sorry for your loss,” she said.
“Thank you, angel.” Robert gave her a sad smile. “Shall I leave now, or would you like to sit at the table and teach me how to cheat?”
“Let’s sit at the table,” Angelica answered, trying to cheer him.
Together, Robert and Angelica returned to the table. When he helped her into her chair, Angelica felt like a Park Lane lady.
Again, Robert sat in the chair opposite hers. He lifted the cards and started to shuffle them.
“Cheating at dice is easier,” Angelica said, reaching out to stay his hands. “Besides, hazard is played for high stakes at Crockford and White’s.”
Angelica stood and disappeared into her chamber. When she returned a moment later, she carried a small wooden box and set it down on the table between them.
With a mischievous smile, Angelica lifted the top off the box to reveal two-dozen pairs of dice. “Loaded dice have heavy metal inserted into the dots, while crooked dice land on certain faces more often.”
Angelica knew from his expression that she had surprised him. “I prefer loaded dice,” she said, and lifted several pairs out of the box. “Dice can be made from ivory, wood, stone, glass, amber, or metal. I always carry several different kinds so I’ll be prepared, no matter what.”
Robert grinned at her. “Angel, you amaze me.”
“Thank you.”
“How do you introduce these into the game?” he asked.
“Sleight of hand.”
“How does one cheat at cards?”
“Ah, that is a bit more difficult,” Angelica told him. “You must remember what cards have been played and always keep extra cards on your person. Sleight of hand is also useful.”
“How unfortunate that you were born female,” Robert said, laughing. “If you’d been born male, you’d be the richest man in London.”
“Or England,” she added.
The door crashed open. Her father staggered into the cottage, muttering, “Great grunting shit, I need a drink.”
Angelica bolted out of her chair. “Papa, where have you been?” she asked, hurrying to his side.
“Looking for peace,” Graham Douglas answered.
“Let me help you to your room,” Angelica said, taking hold of his arm.
Her father paused at the table and looked at Robert, who’d stood when the older man had entered. “You haven’t aged a day, Magnus,” the earl said.
“My lord, you mistake me for another,” Robert replied.
“Ah, Magnus, you can’t fool me,” Graham said, and then turned to Angelica. “I’m tired, little girl.”
“I’ll help you to bed.” She put her arm around him and guided him to the bedroom.
“I’ve a mighty thirst,” he told her. “Is there anything to drink?”
“Later.”
“Great grunting shit.” Her father lay on his bed and then called out to her, “Child, leave the door open. Magnus has an eye for the ladies, and I don’t want him dishonoring you.”
Angelica left the door open. When she looked at Robert, she was startled by his forbidding expression. Was he angry with her? She couldn’t help the fact that her father had returned. He did live here.
“What is wrong?” she asked.
“It’s a little late for the earl to think about protecting your virtue,” Robert answered, his cold gaze fixed on the doorway to his room. “Your father had an obligation to protect you. His neglect of his duty has left you and your sisters vulnerable.”
“That’s unfair,” Angelica protested, coming to her father’s defense. “My father has troubles.”
“Everyone has troubles,” Robert replied. “I didn’t drown myself in alcohol when my wife
“I want you to leave now,” Angelica said, though her heart ached for him to stay.
“I was married briefly,” Robert said, ignoring her words. “Louisa was carrying my child when she—” He hesitated. “—when she died.”
His revelation surprised Angelica, her heart wrenching at his obvious pain. No wonder the man was reluctant to marry.
“I am sorry for your loss,” she said.
“Thank you, angel.” Robert gave her a sad smile. “Shall I leave now, or would you like to sit at the table and teach me how to cheat?”
“Let’s sit at the table,” Angelica answered, trying to cheer him.
Together, Robert and Angelica returned to the table. When he helped her into her chair, Angelica felt like a Park Lane lady.
Again, Robert sat in the chair opposite hers. He lifted the cards and started to shuffle them.
“Cheating at dice is easier,” Angelica said, reaching out to stay his hands. “Besides, hazard is played for high stakes at Crockford and White’s.”
Angelica stood and disappeared into her chamber. When she returned a moment later, she carried a small wooden box and set it down on the table between them.
With a mischievous smile, Angelica lifted the top off the box to reveal two-dozen pairs of dice. “Loaded dice have heavy metal inserted into the dots, while crooked dice land on certain faces more often.”
Angelica knew from his expression that she had surprised him. “I prefer loaded dice,” she said, and lifted several pairs out of the box. “Dice can be made from ivory, wood, stone, glass, amber, or metal. I always carry several different kinds so I’ll be prepared, no matter what.”
Robert grinned at her. “Angel, you amaze me.”
“Thank you.”
“How do you introduce these into the game?” he asked.
“Sleight of hand.”
“How does one cheat at cards?”
“Ah, that is a bit more difficult,” Angelica told him. “You must remember what cards have been played and always keep extra cards on your person. Sleight of hand is also useful.”
“How unfortunate that you were born female,” Robert said, laughing. “If you’d been born male, you’d be the richest man in London.”
“Or England,” she added.
The door crashed open. Her father staggered into the cottage, muttering, “Great grunting shit, I need a drink.”
Angelica bolted out of her chair. “Papa, where have you been?” she asked, hurrying to his side.
“Looking for peace,” Graham Douglas answered.
“Let me help you to your room,” Angelica said, taking hold of his arm.
Her father paused at the table and looked at Robert, who’d stood when the older man had entered. “You haven’t aged a day, Magnus,” the earl said.
“My lord, you mistake me for another,” Robert replied.
“Ah, Magnus, you can’t fool me,” Graham said, and then turned to Angelica. “I’m tired, little girl.”
“I’ll help you to bed.” She put her arm around him and guided him to the bedroom.
“I’ve a mighty thirst,” he told her. “Is there anything to drink?”
“Later.”
“Great grunting shit.” Her father lay on his bed and then called out to her, “Child, leave the door open. Magnus has an eye for the ladies, and I don’t want him dishonoring you.”
Angelica left the door open. When she looked at Robert, she was startled by his forbidding expression. Was he angry with her? She couldn’t help the fact that her father had returned. He did live here.
“What is wrong?” she asked.
“It’s a little late for the earl to think about protecting your virtue,” Robert answered, his cold gaze fixed on the doorway to his room. “Your father had an obligation to protect you. His neglect of his duty has left you and your sisters vulnerable.”
“That’s unfair,” Angelica protested, coming to her father’s defense. “My father has troubles.”
“Everyone has troubles,” Robert replied. “I didn’t drown myself in alcohol when my wife
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