Amanda Scott - [Dangerous 03] by Dangerous Illusions Read Free Book Online

Used to be a damned fine hunter, old Ollie was, but now he just sits in a chair and mutters to himself about his gout. Puts him right out of temper, too, but I daresay he was pleased to see you. Only thing I’ve ever heard him complain of in you is a tendency to procrastinate, but he can’t have complained this time, can he?”
    “No, sir. Lady Tatt … that is, my aunt is well, too,” he added, wanting to change the subject and unable to resist discovering what his lordship thought of that formidable dame.
    St. Merryn grimaced. “Can’t stand the woman. She’s the one that’s turned poor Ollie into a petty tyrant, what with all her nagging, and what good is she? Only the one child did she give him and too old now he’s gone to mend the matter. If I’ve told him once, I’ve told him a million times to take a firmer hand on the reins, for it don’t do to let a female get the upper hand. You remember that, lad,” he added, turning to glare up at his daughter. “Give ’em an inch, and they’ll take an ell.”
    Stifling laughter, Gideon looked up to discover that her ladyship did not share his mirth. Her lovely mouth had hardened into a straight line, and the little chin had taken on a firmness that clearly bespoke a defiant nature. Finding himself more intrigued than ever, he smiled at her and turned back to St. Merryn, saying, “I am not so easily cowed, sir.”
    “Have to say you don’t look the sort to be ruled by a petticoat,” St. Merryn said. “Come now and meet the family, lad. Daintry, don’t stand like a stock, and take off that damned cloak. Can’t imagine where you thought you were going.”
    “I am going to the stables, Papa.”
    “Don’t be absurd. Make your curtsy to the man you are going to marry, and let me hear no more of stables.”
    “I promised Charley and Melissa I would take them riding when the rain stopped,” she said, “and I believe it has.”
    “Then send a footman with your message,” he snapped, moving toward the stairway as he spoke. “You’ve not the least need to go down there yourself. Whoever heard of such a thing?”
    He was working himself into a temper, but Gideon did not think Daintry seemed much disturbed. He watched her as he followed in the earl’s wake, feeling rather pleased when she stood her ground and made no effort to remove the offending cloak. Neither did she evade his own gaze, giving him back look for look until the earl reached the top step. Then, just at the moment when Gideon thought St. Merryn was about to explode, she swept a deep curtsy, still without looking away from Gideon.
    “Saucy chit,” St. Merryn growled, glancing over his shoulder as though to gauge Gideon’s reaction. “Might as well warn you from the outset, Penthorpe. She’s got her head stuffed with a lot of damn-fool notions. Daresay you’ll knock them out soon enough, but you might as well know what you’re up against.”
    “It certainly helps to know the opposition, sir,” Gideon murmured, watching her eyes. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Daintry.”
    “Is it, sir?” She rose. “You are taller than I’d expected. I have met Lord Tattersall, and as I recall, he is rather short of stature, so I’d expected you to be much the same.”
    “I hope you are not disappointed.”
    Her eyes widened, giving him that sudden urge to laugh again, but before she could reply, St. Merryn snapped, “Much good it would do her if she were. Where’s your mother, girl? Must make Penthorpe known to her, you know, if she ain’t laid down on her bed or some such thing.” He grimaced at Gideon. “It’s no secret that my Letty’s worse at quacking herself than old Ollie is, and she’s got a damned cousin of hers lurking about, whose sole use seems to be to encourage her to imagine her ills. I tell you, lad, if I had to look at Ethelinda’s ugly face every day, I’d let the undertakers have me and be glad of the change.”
    “Mama’s with Aunt Ophelia in