Betina Krahn by The Mermaid Read Free Book Online

promise, you’ll have plenty to write about, Professor … You have the advantage of me, sir,” Miss Ashton declared, with a look in her eyes that warned it would be the last time such a thing would happen. “My credibility as a researcher has just been placed in your hands, and I do not even know your name, much less your qualifications for judging my work.”
    “Oh—Thorne.” Sir Hillary hurriedly stepped in to make the introduction. “Professor Titus Thorne. The chair in ichthyology at Cardinal College, Oxford.”
    Her eyes glinted briefly, then she turned aside and began to collect her equipment. “Then you must be well acquainted with the sea. Do bring something to swim in, Professor Thorne.”
    S HE MANAGED TO WAIT until they were outside the hall, waiting for the carriage in the warmth of the early afternoon sun, before turning on Mr. Cherrybottom with fire in her eye.
    “The Lady Mermaid? Where on earth did they get such a ridiculous notion about me?” But her pointed glare said she had already guessed where the blame should lie. Cherrybottom’s fleshy face reddened and he fumbled with his watch.
    “I haven’t the faintest … except … there was some talk of using a mermaid instead of a dolphin on the cover of the book.” He pocketed his timepiece and resettled his haton his head. “Well, however it came about, it has generated a great deal of interest in your book.” His trademark grin reappeared. “I say, Miss Ashton, outstanding performance in there. Went toe to toe with that professor chap, and not even a blink. Most impressive. Bound to get a full column in the
Times.”
    Celeste was stunned, totally at a loss for words.
    “Now we have a marvelous excuse for another whole edition,” he rattled on as he waved to a cab waiting down the street. “People who bought and read the first book will want to see what the controversy is about—and to read the professor’s confirmation of your work.” His eyes glowed as they darted over unseen vistas of profitability. “Excellent. Just excellent.”
    The clearing of a throat behind Cherrybottom caused the publisher to turn abruptly. There stood a man of moderate height, dressed in an exquisite charcoal coat and pinstripe trousers and a silk top hat that glinted in the sun. He spoke to the publisher but his gaze was fastened on Celeste. And such a gaze … blue as the Aegean and quite as warm, set in a face that was as handsome as it was manly.
    “I do not wish to intrude,” the man said with a decided drawl. “But I was hoping, Mr. Cherrybottom, that I might persuade you to make good on your promise to introduce me to the celebrated Miss Ashton.”
    “Ah, Mr. Bentley.” Cherrybottom beamed and offered his hand to the fellow. “Miss Ashton, may I present a new acquaintance, a gentleman I met while waiting for your lecture to begin. An American, from Virginia, and a gentleman of great scientific curiosity. Mr. P. T. Bentley.”
    “At your service, miss.” He bowed with a hint of extravagance. “And may I say, my admiration of your work is now fully equaled by my admiration for your beauty and courage. I am enthralled by the thought of a living mermaid, swimming with those noble and fascinating creatures of the sea.”
    She scarcely knew how to respond. Total strangers now accosted her on the street expecting to see her garbed in finsand scales! “Th-thank you.” Unsettled by the way everything seemed to be spiraling out of her control, she retreated to the familiar support of the brigadier’s arm and turned a narrow look on her publisher. “I would greatly appreciate it if you would change our tickets so that we may return home on tomorrow’s train, Mr. Cherrybottom. Now, if you don’t mind, we really must get back to the hotel … before my
fins
dry out.”
    “ ’A TA BOY , T HORNY !”
    “Good work! Got her right where we want her, eh?”
    “She’ll be quakin’ in her scales, a’fore you’re through with her.”
    Titus strode