A Rake Reformed (A Gentleman of Worth Book 6) by Shirley Marks Read Free Book Online

was a sigh.
    “I fink Mr. Trevor might be talkin’ ’bout a girl,” Drew whispered to Freddie. “Maybe Miss ’arris.”
    “I’m afraid of that, too.” He turned Drew away from Trevor and toward the door. “Why don’t you see if you can give your mother a hand with our refreshment, make sure it’s hot, now.”
    “Right enough, sir.” Drew headed off to the kitchen without hesitation.
    “And maybe a poultice for Trev,” he yelled after the boy. Turning back to Trevor, Freddie made his way in that direction and muttered, “I think he must be delirious.”
    “Fred, you’re here.” Trevor woke from his trance as if he’d just noticed his friend. “Did you see her?”
    “Uh . . . the lady with the brown hair? Would that be Miss Harris?” Freddie settled in a chair near Trevor. How could he feel so drawn to a lady who repulsed Freddie so?
    “Mrs. Morley brought in this angel wrapped in a plain brown cape and made proper introductions. ‘Miss Harris, this is Mr. Trevor. He came ta us last night feeling mighty poor. Is there summin’ you can do for him?’ And then she looked at me with those eyes .” Trevor glanced up at Freddie. “Those beautiful eyes, Fred.”
    “Yes, yes, I’m sure they were quite lovely.” Freddie would not disagree with his friend’s assessment, only when Miss Harris turned her gaze in his direction it was with contempt. No doubt that one man’s beauty was another man’s virago.
    “I wanted her to know ma -name, ma -true name, and proceeded to correct Mrs. Morley, ‘I am Trevor Rutherford, ma’am.’ I could not manage to get to ma -feet to properly make her acquaintance as I would have liked. ‘Pray remain seated, sir,’ Miss Harris said, and motioned for me to stay with her delicately gloved hand and she came to ma -side.” Trevor seemed to melt at the very recollection. “She told me, ‘It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am sure, but you must remain still. I have heard you are not well and they have asked me to have a look at you to offer ma- opinion. Do you have any objection, sir?’”
    Freddie thought Mr. Hamilton, the local animal healer, was to come, not a beauty who would mesmerize and bewitch Trevor.
    “She was absolutely delightful.” Trevor’s strange delivery and vacant gaze was most alarming. “Miss Harris, that is.”
    Miss Harris? Delightful was not the word Freddie would use in describing the wandering woman. Clearly she had just come from visiting Penshaw Manor when Freddie had met up with her. Under different circumstances he might have thought her amiable enough when he first set eyes on her, but after their exchange this morning in the far orchard, it was his opinion that neither one had cared for the other.
    “I wanted to impress her and put up a brave front, you understand?” Trevor need not have sought out Freddie’s approval. “Don’t want to appear weak in her eyes, but I can tell you it was dashed-difficult. I tried to explain that I had been in a carriage accident yesterday and although I did not seem to have broken any bones, I . . . Well, I wasn’t exactly certain how I had injured ma- self. She asked if she could examine me.” Trevor’s eyes slid shut. “Oh, her touch, her touch . . .”
    Freddie was not certain he wanted to hear any further details.
    “She was so very gentle. She tried not to cause me any further pain and her fingers were feather light but she managed to find exactly ma -problem.”
    Freddie kept silent, waiting to hear the results of said examination.
    “She speculates I have injured the muscles in ma -ribcage.” He ran his hand along his side with some dismay. “And here I sit in my shirtsleeves. It would not surprise me if I’ve given her a terrible disgust of me.”
    Trevor was smitten with Miss Harris. How could he find her so agreeable when Freddie thought . . . all he could do was shake his head.
    Mrs. Morley entered with the refreshment tray that Freddie had highly