Read Online [Victoria Alexander] The Virgin's Secret (Harringt(BookZZ.org) by Mom - Free Book Online Page B

“I suspect the footman I send with this might well arrive before he does.”
    She smiled in a pleasant manner. “Oh?”
    “Come now, Miss Montini, you strike me as an intelligent woman. And an intelligent woman
    would not roam the streets of London alone late at night.” He waved the envelope. “Therefore it is logical to assume the trustworthy, discreet Mr. Muldoon accompanied you.”
    “I assure you, Mr. Harrington,” she said smoothly, “I am quite alone.”
    He raised a brow. “Are you?”
    “I have never been more alone in my life than I am at this very minute.” She rose to her feet and continued as if she had just said nothing of significance, rather than made a comment as
    enigmatic as it was perhaps revealing. There was a great deal more to Gabriella Montini than met the eye. “If you have no objections, I should like to retire now.” But what met the eye was most desirable. “It has been an eventful evening.”
    He raised a brow. “Then I take it you do not attempt to rob houses every night?”
    “Not every night,” she said in a casual manner. “No.”
    “Or ever before?”
    “Or ever before.” She sighed. “There now, are you reassured that robbing houses is not my
    chosen profession?”
    “I never imagined for a moment that you were a skilled burglar. A professional would not have been caught by a mere girl.”
    “A random act of circumstance.” She met his gaze directly. “You may be confident, the next time I attempt to rob a house I shall take additional precautions against discovery.”
    Was that a slight hint of amusement in her eye or was she mocking him? He bit back a smile of his own. “That is good to know, since the next time we might well be working together.”
    “Do you foresee our breaking into houses?”
    “I suspect making any prediction regarding you and I would be a mistake.” He stepped to the door and opened it. “Now, I would be happy to escort you to your rooms.”
    “I thought the earl said the butler would show me to my rooms?” She swept past him into the corridor with the same aplomb as if she wore a ball gown rather than somewhat shabby men‟s attire. He had never before considered just how enticing men‟s clothing might be on the right woman. While not an improper inch of skin was revealed anywhere—although the mere nature
    of the trousers themselves were improper—there was something about the vague suggestion of what the loosely fitting clothing concealed that was distinctly…exciting.
    “We thought it would be best if I accompanied you rather than a servant.” He started off, confident she would stay by his side.
    “So that you may keep an eye on me?”
    He paused for a moment, then nodded. “Exactly.”
    She smiled in a superior manner, as though somehow this had been her plan all along, but said nothing. He could well imagine what she might be thinking. Miss Montini did not appear to be the kind of woman to take well to anything less than total victory.
    He led her up the stairs to the next floor. While his mother had told Andrews to prepare a room in the wing where she and Regina and Sterling had their rooms, Nate and his older brother had thought it better to put her into the unoccupied rooms next to Quint and across the hall from Nate. It was an excellent idea, he thought now, in so many ways.
    He stopped at the door to her rooms and opened it. “I hope this will be satisfactory.”
    She glanced inside. “It‟s lovely.”
    “A footman will be here in the morning to escort you to breakfast.”
    Miss Montini slanted him an annoyed look. “Will a servant be stationed at my door all night as well?”
    He raised a brow. “Is that necessary?”
    “I wouldn‟t think so.” Her tone was sharp. “Unless I am to be considered a prisoner.”
    “Not at all, Miss Montini. You are our guest.” He narrowed his eyes. “And I fully expect you to behave like one.”
    “I do know how to behave properly, Mr. Harrington.”
    “Oh, so these