Angelina by Janet Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

of food. He’s already admitted he was wrong, so why seek to exonerate him when the evidence is in front of your eyes?”
    Angrily, she jerked on a bell pull to summon a maid. That she sounded just like Lady Alexandra didn’t occur to Angelina.”Fetch some chicken broth and wafers of bread please,” she said to Agnes. Her glance was tender as she gazed down at Celine, her fingers smoothed across her brow in comfort when she showed signs of recovery. “Send Bessie up to help me get Lady Celine into bed. She needs food and rest.”  
    Angelina was right to put Celine’s welfare first, James mused, but she had reached the wrong conclusion. Besides the fact that his friend might not have had the price of a meal on him, she shouldn’t have disagreed with his own comment on the matter. It was not a woman’s prerogative to take a man to task, especially when the man was a guest in her home.
    He applauded Rafe’s forbearance on this occasion. Rafe could be proud to the point of arrogance sometimes and his laconic manner concealed a man of great passion. He had managed to avoid matrimony in the past, despite a surplus of suitable candidates and the need to restore Ravenswood. Women usually found Rafe attractive. His absolute discretion in matters of love ensured he was never without female companionship when the need arose.
       And that, thought James gazing at his sister’s delicate face, was the reason he couldn’t understand Angelina’s reaction to him. Nor for that matter Rafe’s reaction to her. Angelina seemed almost scornful of Rafe, and Rafe, far from retreating behind a barrier of hauteur, seemed to find her flashes of temper and lack of sophistication entertaining.
    James heard Rafe’s stomach growl when a tray of steaming broth was carried in. The sound must have reached Angelina’s ears, for her general demeanour softened when she glanced at them again.
    “James. Perhaps you’d send a maid to fetch some sustenance for Lord Lynnbury whilst Bessie and I administer to Celine’s needs. I doubt if he’s eaten either. Two invalids in one week are enough, and your friend does not look as though he’d make an agreeable patient.”
    “I’d be contented enough with you caring for me,” Rafe murmured. “Were I your patient, you might unbend enough to call me Rafe.”
    “It’s more likely I should not.” Angelina’s voice was tart despite the faint rush of colour that came to her cheeks. “I hardly know you, sir.”
    “But your brother and guardian does.” Rafe was gently teasing, extracting from Angelina a confusion of shyness and determination that was altogether charming.”Is that not recommendation enough?”
    “I hardly know James, either,” she reminded him, sending a glance both  apologetic and appealing his way. “You will not think too badly of me for saying that, James? It doesn’t mean - “  
    A groan from the bed brought Rafe in two strides to his sister’s side. “What is it, Celine, are you in pain?”
    James laughed when Celine said in a weak, but determined voice. “If you do not stop baiting our host I’ll disown you, Rafe. You’re a rogue, and I’m ashamed of you. Leave us this instant, and do not return until you’re sent for.”
    “As you say, my dear.” Rafe planted a kiss on Celine’s cheek, at the same time managing to slide a smile in Angelina’s direction. “I leave you in capable hands I think. Lady Angelina seems to be a paragon of feminine virtue.”  
    If Rafe’s grin was designed to disarm, it failed miserably. Angelina’s eyes became a tumult of provocation, her face flamed red, and her mouth opened as if she’d been about to answer. Then she thought better of it and turned away to busy herself at the bedside.
    Rafe’s expression was self-satisfied when he joined him. James gave him a steady glance. The shrug Rafe gave was almost imperceptible. James knew it was the only acknowledgement Rafe would give that his behaviour had left much to be