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

without alluding to his trading company’s unsavory beginnings.
    “It’s too dull a tale for fine young ladies like you.”He glanced toward the door. “Speaking of young ladies, where’s your other sister this morning?”
    Rosalind wasn’t about to let him change the subject. “Oh, Helena is with Papa. Now, about the founding of your trading concern—”
    “Is she preparing him for visitors?” he broke in stubbornly. “Does that mean I’ll meet your father after breakfast?”
    That brought Rosalind up short. “You haven’t met Papa yet?” She turned to her sister. “Juliet, why hasn’t Mr. Knighton met Papa?”
    Juliet’s face turned a mottled shade of red. “Because Papa wasn’t feeling well last night, remember?”
    “He was no worse than usual when I was in—” Juliet’s kick under the table came at the same time as her memory. “Owwhh, yes. Right. Papa wasn’t feeling well.” Twice now her encounter with that blasted man of affairs had made her forget her imprisonment. That the scoundrel had such an effect on her was vastly annoying.
    Across from her, Juliet lifted the cover off a platter and sniffed. “Mr. Knighton, do you like shirred eggs? It’s our cook’s specialty, so you must try some. We have truly superior eggs here at Swan Park.”
    That launched them into a discussion of Cook and her talents, which led to a discussion of the kitchen’s capacity, which led them far afield into a discussion of where they got their coal. Rosalind bided the changes in subject impatiently, eager to return to the topic of Knighton Trading. Meanwhile, she used the opportunity to observe Mr. Knighton.
    He wasn’t at all what she’d expected. He lacked Mr. Brennan’s arrogance and annoying certitudeabout his own opinions. Mr. Knighton seemed as nervous as Juliet and as determined to be friendly. He was polite and charming. His table manners were a bit rough—he ate an enormous amount and had some trouble negotiating the cutlery—but otherwise he was quite amiable, not in the least the ogre she’d anticipated.
    Still, she wouldn’t let his apparent good nature lull her into complacency. She waited for an appropriate break in the conversation, then plunged in where she’d left off. Only this time she was more direct. “Mr. Knighton, is it true you once sold goods brought into England by smugglers?”
    “Rosalind!” Juliet exclaimed. “You promised—”
    “I’m merely making conversation.” Rosalind fixed their cousin with a challenging look. “You don’t mind talking about it, do you? It’s widely rumored that you gained your success in trade by selling French brandy and silks brought in illegally during the war, so I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn. It is true, isn’t it?”
    Mr. Knighton seemed at a loss for words, and Juliet was babbling a wild apology, when a rumbling voice sounded from the doorway.
    “Attacking your guests as usual, Lady Rosalind?”
    She swung her head around with a groan. She should have known bad timing would be one of that wretch’s many vices. “Good morning, Mr. Brennan. We were just discussing Knighton Trading’s origins.”
    “I heard.” Casual and devious as any Iago, he sauntered into the room. “I’m relieved to see it’s not only me you suspect of criminal activity, but my employer as well. Isn’t there enough drama in your life without your having to create some?”
    Juliet’s relieved laughter bubbled into the air.“You’ve taken her likeness exactly, Mr. Brennan! How did you know that Rosalind is so dramatic?”
    “That’s a secret, I’m afraid.” A wicked smile spread over his lips as he took the seat directly across from Rosalind. He gestured to the servant to bring him food as if ordering servants about was commonplace for him, then went on. “Your sister begged me not to discuss our first encounter, and as a gentleman, I must abide by her wishes.”
    “A gentleman wouldn’t even allude to it,” Rosalind snapped. “And