Border Lord by Arnette Lamb Read Free Book Online Page A

Some called out greetings to the lord of the keep. Smiles wreathed their faces, except the tinker, who stared in awe.
    They like Duncan Kerr. She wondered how so eccentric a man had attained their respect and devotion. Could they truly admire his obsession with fishing lures and his blithe indifference to his son? Of course they could; when it came to raising children, the earl was no different from the rest of the nobility. They cared little for children, leaving them to cruel nannies and later, stern governesses for the girls and strict academies for the boys. When she had children, she'd love them, respect them, and be a part of their daily lives.
    As the earl approached, his spectacles glinted in the sun. Miriam tried to picture him conducting assizes and passing out harsh judgments. She failed.
    When the carriage reached her, he dropped the reins and climbed down. He wore unadorned shoes, on the proper feet, and a coat and long breeches
of
dark green wool. Over the wig, he wore a sheared beaver hat that sported a cluster of badly frayed peacock feathers. His longed-for birds had better arrive soon.
    He was two steps away when Verbatim bared her teeth and growled. Gasps sounded from the crowd. The earl stopped. He swallowed noisily. "Is she vicious?"
    Miriam pulled on the leash and ordered the hound to sit. Smiling, she spoke loud enough for all around them to hear. "Actually Verbatim is very gentle once she knows you. May I have one of your gloves, my lord?"
    Gingerly, he removed the right one. She remembered the blisters. "How is your hand today?"
    "What?"
    "The blisters on your hands, my lord. How are they?"
    The castlefolk closed in. The horses started to wander.
    The earl's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You remembered." Then he waved his hand." 'Tis nothing. Mrs. Elliott gave me a poultice."
    Miriam held the glove before the dog's nose. "Friend." Tail wagging, soulful eyes trained on the earl, Verbatim held up a huge paw.
    Ohs of surprise and ahs of approval spread through the crowd.
    Miriam returned the glove. "She wants to shake your hand, my lord."
    As if reaching into a roaring furnace, the earl extended his bare hand. Staring at Verbatim's mouth, and probably expecting the animal to bite off his fingers, he said, "She's… uh… quite an engaging beast, and lovely in a way."
    "To some, I suppose," Miriam said, patting the dog's head. "Good girl."
    Verbatim barked. The earl jumped back and fell against the carriage.
    The onlookers roared with laughter, yet none went to their master's aid.
    The earl righted himself and his spectacles. To the people he said, "Yes, well, carry on, everyone, and keep watch for that fellow with the peacocks. I expect him any day now. Shall we go, my lady?"
    "Of course, my lord. We can continue our discussion later."
    Duncan cursed himself for not expecting straightforwardness from her. The solicitous query about his silly blisters had caught him off guard.
    I never forget anything.
    Grumbling inwardly, he handed her into the carriage and was pleasantly surprised at how slight she was, how delightful she smelled. His pretty little diplomat wore an exotic fragrance that reminded him of crisp winter days in the mountains. He climbed in beside her, remembering to stumble on the step. He could be thorough, too, when the situation demanded it.
    Verbatim leaped into the opposite seat and sat in ladylike elegance.
    Duncan shrank back. Making sure his hands trembled, he flicked the reins. As the crowd parted, he decided his people deserved a boon for their performance; none except the newly arrived tinker had expressed surprise at his appearance or his exhibition of cowardice. Angus had schooled them well. He'd also ridden out earlier to prepare the farmers for a visit from their laird. The excursion would proceed without a hitch.
    The instant the carriage passed through the outer curtain wall, Lady Miriam said, "Out, Verbatim."
    The sleuthhound bounded from the carriage, put her nose to the