An Inconvenient Wife by Constance Hussey Read Free Book Online Page A

Mr. Blackwell, please do so.” She folded her hands in her lap
and tilted her head in a false show of patience.
    He looked from her to
Maggie, appearing to understand that any discussion included both of them, and
asked in the mildest tone she had yet heard him use, “What are you doing here
in Portugal, Miss McKenzie?”
    Thrown by so unexpected a
question, Anne drew back and blinked. “That cannot be of interest to you, sir.
Indeed, I might ask the same of you, should I feel it my business, which it is
not, unless it relates to the explanation of why you have been following us
around.”
    Blackwell paused for so long
a time Anne thought he was not going to answer, but finally he leaned forward,
hands resting on his knees. “That was entirely incidental. My interest is in
the Meraux children but, for various reasons, I cannot approach them directly.
I want you to arrange for me to meet them.”
    “Why? What possible reason
could there be?” Anne frowned. “You must be more forthcoming, sir. My position
with the children is not so secure that it can survive having their stepfather
learn I introduced them to a strange man.” She looked straightly at him. “A
man, I might add, who does not even know that Danielle and Guy do not bear
Meraux’s name.”
    His expression guarded,
Blackwell waited several minutes before a sharp, “I see,” escaped him. He
leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “I admit I know very little
about this family, and know nothing of this boy. However, I came all the way
from England to give Miss Durant something—I do know her name—and do it
without Meraux’s knowledge. From what I have learned since my arrival, I have
the feeling it would not be to the girl’s advantage to have her stepfather
involved.” He gave her a mocking smile. “Isn’t that the case, Miss McKenzie?”
    For someone who professed to
know so little, the man was surprisingly accurate in the conclusion he’d drawn
from his observations, and Anne had no grounds to deny it. The less Meraux knew
the better for them all.
    She lowered her eyes and
clasped her hands together to keep from the nervous twisting she was prone to
when upset. She looked at Maggie, knowing already she could expect no help from
the older woman, and as surmised, had nothing but a shake of the head from her.
Anne peered at her guest from under her lashes and felt a surge of annoyance at
his look of barely veiled impatience. She did not like this man, or trust him,
but in all fairness, the decision was Danielle’s. And if the girl agreed, wiser
the meeting here, under Anne’s watchful eye, than in the street somewhere.
    Anne raised her head,
catching the barest hint of sympathy in Blackwell’s eyes. Perhaps he did have
some idea of how difficult this was for her. The thought, however untrue it
was, warmed her enough to produce a faint smile. “Very well, sir. If Danielle
agrees, you can speak to her here. Come tomorrow afternoon for your answer.”
She stood. “Now if you will excuse me, Mrs. Fenton will see you out.” Anne knew
it was rude, but she’d had enough of those intent eyes watching her every move,
and without another word, she fled.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    Blackwell—he had felt no
need to use his title— had no intention of waiting until the afternoon to meet
with Miss McKenzie again. He was still smarting from his expulsion yesterday,
and it was an expulsion, however politely he’d been ushered to the door.
He had found out nothing of value, about the girl, or Miss McKenzie and her
companions. What were they doing here, living in a gatehouse, instead of the
main house, where he knew they were welcome? How had she come to take those
children under her wing? And if she wasn’t prepared to go to the wall for
them, you have totally misread her character. He had a few questions for
the lady.
    Blackwell paced rapidly
along the street, ignoring the light rain as too commonplace to notice, and
when he