England's Perfect Hero by Suzanne Enoch Read Free Book Online Page A

make it more difficult for him to refuse," Lucinda returned, smiling. "Or to change his mind about this project of his."
    "I… All right. I'll risk making him angry with me. I… I want him to get better. I want to hear him laugh."
    With a small smile, Lucinda moved over to the couch and hugged her friend. "Being shot—what, five times—at Waterloo and seeing all of the horror there, Georgie. How could it not affect him?"
    Georgiana's expression faltered, then recovered again. "Of course," she said, averting her face from Lucinda's curious gaze. "I will appreciate anything you can provide that might help him."
    Her friend's reaction to her comment had been interesting. Now, though, wasn't the time to hesitate. She could try to figure out what Georgie wasn't telling her later. "I'll be by before luncheon."
    Only a moment after Georgiana left, the general entered the morning room. "It seems your idea may save my Salamanca chapter, my dear," he said, pocketing a letter. "Lord Geoffrey writes that he would be delighted to go over my journal with me and see what we can reconstruct."
    "That's splendid."
    "He'll be coming to call after luncheon. I would appreciate if you could be here to take notes."
    At least some things were working as they should be. "I'd be happy to help." She stood, kissing him on the cheek as she passed by. "I should be home by then."
    "Where are you off to?"
    "I'm going to take some rose cuttings to Robert Carroway. He wants to start a garden."
    The general clamped firm fingers over her shoulder, drawing her to a surprised halt. "Robert Carroway? He's not a suitor, is he?"
    "No. Just a friend." She frowned at the serious expression in his eyes. "Why?"
    "He's not my sort of soldier. Or my sort of man."
    "Papa, y—"
    "I know he's your Georgie's brother-in-law now, but keep as much distance as you can. Don't be too much of a 'friend'—his reputation will reflect on you. And on me."
    "What reputation? He's barely been seen in public for three years, and he was shot at Waterloo. He's a hero."
    Her father kept silent for a short moment. "So some say. Others were wounded there, however, and you don't see them hiding from their own shadows. Lord Geoffrey, for instance. Carroway's damaged goods, Luce. Keep that in mind, and keep your distance."
    She really didn't think either request would be much of a problem, but she nodded anyway. "I'll be cautious."
    "Thank you. You'll help an old man rest easier."
    Lucinda grinned, tucking her hands around his arm. "Which old man would that be? You'll have to introduce me."

    The Carroway family rarely breakfasted together. They all had their own schedules, meetings, planned excursions, and in Edward's case, lessons. Robert had none of those things, and a definite appreciation of solitude. At half past nine, when he entered the breakfast room, it didn't surprise him that he was alone but for a pair of footmen. He'd planned it that way.
    He liked mornings; the rising of the sun had come to seem like a daily miracle. A freshly ironed copy of The London Times lay beside the place setting at the head of the table waiting for Tristan, but he ignored it. He didn't care what happened in the rest of the world—or in London. At the sideboard he shoveled ham and toast onto his plate, then sat at the far end of the table. He sliced a piece of ham and brought it to his mouth just as the butler stepped into the breakfast room.
    "Master Robert, you have a caller," Dawkins said, looking uncomfortable. None of the servants liked to talk to him, though most of the time he made sure they didn't have a reason to do so.
    Ignoring the thud of his heart, Robert finished his bite. "I'm not here."
    The butler nodded. "Very good, sir."
    As Dawkins left, Robert went back to eating. No one called on him any longer; it must have been a miscommunication, someone looking for Shaw. The butler would straighten it out.
    Dawkins leaned into the breakfast room again. "Sir, Miss Barrett wishes to know whether