Less Than a Gentleman by Kerrelyn Sparks Read Free Book Online

wolf down your food like last night.”
    “We were hungry,” Edward spoke in their defense.
    Virginia smiled. “I know, sweeting. You’ve both been wonderfully brave. I’m very proud of you.”
    “Ah, there you are,” Jane called to them from across the hall. “Come this way. I thought the morning parlor would be more cozy.”
    They filed into a smaller room. Its windows gave a cheerful view of the garden. An upholstered settee rested between two windows. A sideboard and armchairs lined another wall. In the center of the room, a round table was surrounded by five chairs.
    Betsy was setting the table.
    “I cannot tell you how happy I am to have company.” Jane smiled at them, then turned to the servant. “Betsy, you may bring the food now.”
    The young woman nodded and passed by them, her eyes downcast.
    “Good morning, Betsy,” Caroline whispered.
    Betsy glanced at her, then hurried from the room.
    “Come and sit.” Jane took a seat at the table.
    Virginia sat to her left. “Thank you for loaning us these gowns. ’Tis fortunate you kept your lying-in clothes, or I fear I would be dressed in a bedsheet.”
    “I’m delighted to see them put to use after all these years.” Jane motioned for Edward to sit at her right. “But it was such a shame you were robbed.”
    “I threw a stick at him, the scurvy bas—” Edward noticed his mother’s piercing glare. “Uh, bufflehead.”
    Caroline sat next to Edward so she could kick him if needed. It would be difficult, she realized, for the children to maintain her falsehood. Too many lies would confuse them, so the truth should be told whenever possible. Besides, Jane didn’t appear to know Agatha Ludlow very well. She certainly didn’t know what the woman looked like.
    “We didn’t lose a great deal to the thief,” Caroline explained. “Most of our belongings were already lost. The British set fire to our house. In fact, as far as we could tell, they were burning all the homes along the Pee Dee River.”
    Jane shook her head, frowning. “How dreadful.”
    “They burned our house in Charles Town, too,” Edward said.
    Jane touched his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
    Caroline unfolded her napkin. “We decided the best course of action was to flee.”
    Charlotte, seated between her mother and aunt, frowned at Caroline. “I don’t want any fleas.”
    Edward made a face at her.
    Jane smiled. “Of course not, dear.”
    Betsy entered with a large covered platter in her hands. She set it on the sideboard and slowly approached Jane.
    “Where is the coffee?” Jane asked.
    “Begging your pardon, ma’am, but the coffee is coming.” Betsy shoved a strand of brown hair back from her face and glanced nervously toward the door. “The . . . the butler is bringing it.”
    Jane sat back. “Butler? But we haven’t had a butler since—”
    “Haversham,” Betsy interrupted. “ ’Tis Haversham, ma’am. He’s back.”
    Jane’s eyes widened. “From the dead?”
    A tall man strode into the room bearing a tray with a silver coffee service. “I’m feeling much better, thank you.”
    Jane gasped. Her hand fluttered at her throat. “Good Lord, what are you doing?”
    “Serving you as always, madam.” He set the tray on the sideboard with a clunk.
    Caroline wondered why Jane was so obviously agitated with the manservant. All she could see was his back, a straight back with broad shoulders. A white wig on his head made it difficult to estimate his age, but his bearing and determined stride suggested a young man. A very healthy young man.
    Jane pressed her hand to her chest. “This is outrageous.”
    “I agree, madam.” The butler advanced toward the table, the silver coffeepot clutched in his hand. “I was not informed that we have guests.”
    Not too young, Caroline thought. Close to thirty years, and not privileged ones at that. He had the tanned, stern features of a man who had dealt with hardship and survived. A strong man with a keen intelligence.