Her Only Desire by Gaelen Foley Read Free Book Online

her delicate shoulders. “My brothers are two hundred miles north of here, with their regiment.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œShall I show you to your room? My servants have prepared a very pleasant bedchamber for your stay. I am sure you will be very comfortable there. If you’d like to relax for a—”
    â€œWait! Just—wait one moment.” He set his glass of lemonade aside and then rested his hands on his waist. “Are you telling me, Miss Knight, that your father’s not here, and your brothers aren’t here; that, in short, you’re here alone?”
    â€œWell, I wouldn’t say
that.
I have Purnima, of course, and Gita, and all my other servants—”
    His noisy exhalation cut her off as he turned away and raked his hand through his hair, striving for patience.
Damn and blast.
He should have known.
    It was lucky for her that he was not a man who lost his temper. He scratched his eyebrow for a second, took a deep breath, and said: “Very well, what are we going to do to rectify this situation?” Perhaps Lady Hastings would have a few suggestions.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Georgiana asked, furrowing her pretty brow. “There is nothing to rectify.”
    He scoffed none too tactfully. “You cannot stay here by yourself! What on earth your family was thinking, I do not know, but I will not hear of it. Especially now.”
    â€œI already told you Balaram’s clan is not a threat, and besides, I’m not alone.
You’re
here!” she said with a cheerful but rather forced smile.
    At least she was beginning to look nervous, he thought dryly, shaking his head at her. That meant at least she had some vague clue that what she was suggesting, his staying the night with her—alone—was beyond inappropriate.
    It was scandalous.
    Ah, but what else did he expect of the niece of the Hawkscliffe Harlot? He’d be a fool to trust this woman. For a moment, he even wondered if this was some devious trick to snare him in marriage. God knew it happened every time he set foot in London! Fortunately, he had become as wily as a Berkshire fox over the years in escaping the huntresses of the ton, from the tuft-chasing debutantes to their matchmaking mamas.
    Maybe she thought she’d be doing her family a favor, snaring him for the long-awaited alliance, but Ian was having none of it.
    He wanted a wife like he wanted a hole in his head.
    He folded his arms across his chest and fixed her with an exacting glare. “I did not come here to ruin a young lady, Miss Knight. Nor to play chaperon to one. I came to try to stop a war, if it’s quite all right with you. I cannot possibly stay here with you alone, as I’m sure you know quite well.”
And as much as I might relish the idea.
Good Lord, the temptation might be more than he could stand. “I realize we’ve only just met, so forgive me if I sound a bit unmannerly, but what in blazes are you up to?”
    â€œWhat? Whatever do you mean?”
    He arched a brow at her feigned innocence, some of his vexation giving way to intrigued amusement quite in spite of himself. “You’re playing games with me,” he said softly, “and I don’t recommend you continue.” He narrowed his eyes, watching her. “What’s going on?”
    â€œI have no idea what you’re talking about,” she replied, all big blue eyes and a hurt little pout. “On the contrary, sir, as you are my father’s friend, I am doing my best to make everything simple and convenient for you!”
    â€œReally?”
    She nodded. Such an earnest picture, the little hellion! “I sent my carriage to wait for you every day for a fortnight. Now that you’re here, I have a lovely day planned out for us. Once you’ve settled in, we’ll spend the afternoon relaxing in the garden, and you can make your preparations for your mission. Then we’ll have a good supper and a