A Dangerous Love by Sabrina Jeffries Read Free Book Online Page A

help noticing that she didn’t deny her fright. “You and Helena refuse to do it, so the task falls to me.”
    “Dearest—”
    “Enough!” Juliet hissed, though tears shimmered in her eyes. “I shan’t live out my days as a Swanlea Spinster, and if I don’t marry Mr. Knighton and we’re thrown from Swan Park, that is exactly what I’ll become!”
    Rosalind signed. The young could be such tragedians. “There’s still time for you to find another man to marry.”
    “You think so, do you? Helena missed her chance because of her illness, and you missed it because of your responsibilities and because Papa won’t take us to London. Well, I won’t miss mine. I won’t let goof my only chance because of silly qualms about Mr. Knighton’s size. I will adjust to it. I will .”
    Oh, what was the point of reasoning with the foolish girl when she was so blasted stubborn? But somehow Rosalind would make everything right. She owed it to Juliet to see her happily wed to a man of her choice, not an ox who terrified her.
    Mr. Knighton bowed as they reached him, an action that only accentuated his size, since when he brought his head down to three-quarters mast, it was still a good foot above Juliet’s. Quickly, her sister stammered through the introductions.
    He politely overlooked the girl’s nervousness. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, cousin,” he told Rosalind. “Your sisters have told me much of you.”
    “You mustn’t believe a word.” Extending her hand, she settled into the familiar role of mistress of the manor. “No one can exaggerate a person’s faults quite so effectively as a sister.”
    He took her hand briefly before releasing it. “Then I hope you’ll give me the privilege of learning your virtues so I can counter your sister’s exaggerations. If indeed they were exaggerations.”
    When coupled with a winning smile, his charming words almost disarmed her. Almost. “Why, Mr. Knighton, I am impressed. You’re far more talented at flattery than your man of affairs.”
    A thin blade of alarm sharpened his gray eyes to steel. “You met Griff?”
    Griff? Oh, yes, the scoundrel had said people called him that. “I did. Last night.” Without elaborating, Rosalind peered through the door into the empty dining room. “And where is Mr. Brennan this morning? Still abed, I take it?”
    “Er…. yes. He tends to keep town hours.”
    Precisely what Mr. Brennan himself had said.Had Mr. Knighton already spoken to him and heard of her attack last night?
    If so, he hid it well, for his expression showed only polite disinterest. “I’m sure he’ll be along soon. Shall we go in to breakfast?” His smile included Juliet, who watched him doggedly, as if that might help to dissolve her fear of his great bulk.
    “Of course.” Rosalind stepped between him and Juliet to take the arm he offered, and her sister sighed with relief.
    Yet it wasn’t Mr. Knighton occupying her thoughts as they entered the sun-drenched dining room. Mr. Brennan had outslept the coming morn—ha! And after all his veiled threats to reveal their embarrassing encounter, too. Who had the upper hand now?
    Better yet, this would allow her to question Mr. Knighton without Mr. Brennan’s interference. Or Papa’s, for that matter. She waited until the three of them were seated, with Mr. Knighton beside her and Juliet opposite him. While the servants set platters of scones and sausages and shirred eggs on the table, she took up the teapot and began her inquisition. “I suppose your company is a rather large one, Mr. Knighton?”
    “Yes, very large.” He leaned back to allow her to pour him some tea. “The London office of Knighton Trading alone employs thirty people.”
    “Thirty!” She poured a cup for herself, adding a generous dollop of cream. “That’s a great many indeed. You must tell us how you came to establish such an impressive concern.”
    She sipped her tea and awaited his reply, eager to see if the man could answer