Anything but a Gentleman by Amanda Grange Read Free Book Online

take too great an interest in them.’
    ‘It must be difficult for you, running an estate of this size.’
    Marianne felt unexpectedly touched. She had done her best to look after the estate in Kit’s absence, but it had been a heavy burden, and she was surprised at how grateful she felt to him for his understanding. She did not want him to feel sorry for her, however, and said calmly, ‘I am happy to do what I can to help Papa.’
    At that moment the door opened, and Tom came in.
    ‘Tom, can you ask Henri to join us?’ she asked.
    Tom looked surprised, but saying, ‘Yes, Miss Marianne,’ went to fetch him.
    ‘Henri?’ queried Lord Ravensford, with a satisfied air that Marianne did not understand. ‘He is French?’
    ‘Yes. He was running away from the Revolution, trying to make his way to London. He’s a chef,’ she explained.
    ‘I must ask him if he has any tips for my Mrs Hill,’ said Lord Ravensford with a smile.
    A few minutes later Henri entered the room. He had made it clear he wanted to give as little trouble as possible, and once Tom had made him a makeshift crutch he had found he could get around quite easily, so that Marianne had called him to the drawing-room instead of taking Lord Ravensford to the kitchen. Lord Ravensford had already seen one example of her unconventionality, when she had visited him without a chaperon before she had been introduced to him, and she did not want him to think her behaviour was completely beyond the pale by taking him into the kitchen to talk to the servants.
    ‘You must be Henri,’ said Lord Ravensford, as Henri hobbled into the room.
    ‘Yes, milord,’ said Henri.
    For a moment Marianne had the curious feeling that the two men knew each other. But then she dismissed the notion as absurd.
    ‘Henri,’ she explained, ‘Lord Ravensford wants to ask you about the traps.’
    ‘Ah.’ Henri was grave.
    ‘He wants to have them removed, and so far has found five, but he wants to know if you saw any more that he might not have found.’
    ‘Ah! Yes. Mais oui ,’ said Henri. ‘At least, I have seen two traps, and maybe they have not yet been discovered.’
    Although the ground had been covered with snow he had noticed iron traps sticking out of  the soft white covering in two different places, he said. He described the places to Lord Ravensford as well as he could, and when Lord Ravensford had learnt everything Henri could tell him he thanked Marianne for her hospitality and took his leave. Saying, as he was about to go out of the door, ‘You are going to the Cosgroves’ ball are you not?’
    ‘Yes.’ She flushed, although why she should flush at the thought of the ball she did not know.
    ‘May I have the honour of the first dance?’
    She smiled with pleasure. ‘You may.’
    His eyes brightened. Then he bowed, and went out to his horse.
    ‘ Alors !’ exclaimed Henri, who had not yet returned to the kitchen. ‘I remember another one. Milord! Milord!’
    He hobbled over to Lord Ravensford, who turned to meet him half way.
    ‘Well done, Henri,’ said Lord Ravensford under his breath. ‘It was a stroke of good fortune to be able to place yourself in the house. You can help make Marianne’s life easier. Your leg isn’t too badly hurt, I hope? It was very bad luck, getting caught in a trap.’
    ‘I will not be dancing any time soon,’ shrugged Henri. ‘But you and I, Luke, we ’ave suffered worse.’
    ‘Keep an eye on her, Henri, and if she needs any help then send me word. I will do everything I can to lighten her load.'
    Henri looked at him with a twinkle in his eye. ‘She is delightful, Marianne, is she not?’
    ‘She is,’ said Luke with a twinkle of his own. ‘But she is also Kit’s sister, and I never mix business with pleasure.’
    Henri shrugged his shoulders in a typically Gallic gesture. ‘It is a pity, all the same. That hair, those eyes . .. they make the task of ’elping ’er a treat, non ?’
    Luke gave a wolfish smile. ‘Too