Less Than a Gentleman by Kerrelyn Sparks Read Free Book Online Page B

like it,” Charlotte explained. “I was named after Charles Town because I was born there. But I don’t like it now because the bad British men came and burned our house.”
    “I see.” Jane nodded. “Don’t worry, dear. We’ll chase them away soon enough.”
    Sugar bowl in hand, Haversham approached the table. He strode straight to Caroline and set the bowl beside her. “Sugar,” he whispered.
    His voice tickled the back of her neck. She refused to acknowledge him and spooned sugar into her coffee. Then she passed it on to Edward.
    Haversham returned to the sideboard.
    “All the ladies in my family are named after the place they were born,” Charlotte continued. “My mother was born in the conoly . . . colony of Virginia.”
    Caroline winced and nudged Charlotte with her foot.
    Her niece looked at her. “Didn’t I say it right?”
    Haversham paced straight toward her, a creamer in his hand. “And where, pray tell, is the colony of Agatha?”
    Caroline lifted her chin. “There is a small town that bears the name.”
    “Indeed?” He stopped next to her.
    “The town is in a very remote place. No one’s ever heard of it.”
    He remained standing there, close to her elbow. She considered elbowing him firmly in the groin, but decided not to give his body parts further thought. He leaned over and set the creamer beside her plate.
    She dared a glimpse at his face.
    He appeared to be focused on the low-cut bodice of her gown. Her cheeks heated up. The scoundrel! She should have elbowed him.
    His eyes met hers. “Cream,” he whispered.
    She sucked in a breath between clenched teeth. Blast the man! How could his eyes be such an angelic shade of blue when he was clearly far from innocent?
    Jane cleared her throat. “Haversham, will you get on with it, please?”
    “Yes, madam.” He returned to the sideboard.
    Betsy removed the cover from the tray she had brought in. Steam rose from a heap of scrambled eggs and bacon.
    “I’ll take it.” Haversham plunked a serving spoon on top of the food and brought the tray to the table.
    He set it next to Jane.
    She gave him a wry look. “How do you explain your remarkable recovery, Haversham? I could have sworn you were ready for the grave.”
    “A restorative, madam, from Miss Dottie.” He spooned eggs onto her plate.
    Standing at the sideboard, Betsy smothered a giggle with her hand.
    “Really?” Jane asked. “It must have been very powerful.”
    “Indeed. I daresay I feel like a new man.” Haversham hesitated with the spoon poised over the bacon. He set the spoon down, grasped some bacon in his hand, and tossed the slices onto Jane’s plate.
    Charlotte giggled, then stopped when her mother gave her an ominous look.
    Jane heaved a resigned sigh.
    The butler picked up the tray and proceeded to a smiling Edward.
    “Godsookers.” Edward peered at the man’s hand. “Did something bite you?”
    Caroline sank deeper into her chair. Would they notice if she completed her meal under the table?
    Using the spoon, Haversham piled eggs onto Edward’s plate. “I was attacked last night by a wild creature.”
    Edward’s eyes widened. “What kind of creature?”
    The butler tossed bacon onto the boy’s plate. “A vixen, the red-haired variety.”
    Caroline eased her fingers around her fork.
    “What’s a vixen?” Charlotte asked.
    “A female fox,” Edward answered. “How could you tell it was female?”
    With the hint of a smile, Haversham brought the tray to Caroline. “She wiggled like a female. In all the right places.”
    She raised the fork in her clenched fist and gave him a look of warning.
    The glint of amusement in his eyes told her he was unaffected by her threat. He spooned eggs onto her plate.
    “Oh, I love foxes,” Charlotte announced. “I like their bushy red tails.”
    His mouth twitched. “Indeed.”
    Caroline aimed close to his hand and stabbed a slice of bacon with her fork. He didn’t flinch, blast him. “As for myself, I can hardly