Love in Disguise by Nina Coombs Pykare Read Free Book Online Page B

you, Henry. Please show him in.”
    As Lord Castleford entered the room, Fancy put the script on a table and turned. “Lord Castleford, how kind of you to call.”
    The big blond man advanced swiftly and took her hands in his. “Miss Harper, how kind of you to receive me.”
    Hercules opened one eye, perceived that all was well, and shut it again.
    Castleford kept Fancy’s hands in his for a long moment while he scanned her face. “You do not appear any the worse for the ordeal of last night.”
    Fancy managed to pull her hands free. “Thanks to you I am not,” she declared, turning toward a chair and inviting him to do likewise.
    Castleford pulled his chair close to hers. “You give me too much credit,” he said warmly. “It was Morgane that moved first, not I. And it was he who stared the mob down.”
    The big man laughed, a hearty sound that fell pleasantly on Fancy’s ears. “It was the scar that did it, I collect. He can look sinister, can Morgane, but he has a heart of gold.”
    Fancy’s amazement must have been revealed on her face for Castleford laughed again. “I know Morgane doesn’t look like he has a heart at all, but he does. I should know, for we grew up together, we did. And he always looked out for me. I was a bumbling boy. Always in the suds. But he fished me out every time. A man never had a better friend.”
    Fancy, listening to this eulogy in surprise, could only suppose that the Earl’s relationships with men were conducted on a very different level than those with women. But she supposed that that was possible. She was about to say so when Castleford made a motion of regret.
    “Here I came to inquire about your health after last night’s ordeal and instead I go meandering on about nothing. You must excuse me. I believe your beauty has gone to my head and damaged my brains.”
    Fancy laughed. The Marquis was at least entertaining and he was the first visitor she had had. Besides, it was kind of him to inquire about her health.
    “I am really quite well,” she returned. “The theater is my life, you see, and I will not let one little incident mar my pleasure in it.”
    Castleford looked around him. “Have you never thought of giving up the theater?”
    Fancy scowled. “I have not,” she said sharply. “And if your friend sent you here to suggest such a thing, you can just tell him that he’s wasting his time.”
    The Marquis looked at her with the bewildered blue eyes of a baby whose fingers have been slapped for some reason unknown to him. “Morgane doesn’t even know I’m here,” he said, smiling somewhat sheepishly. “I doubt he would much like it.”
    “Does the Earl have the right to order your calls?” inquired Fancy curiously.
    “Of course not.” Castleford looked slightly uncomfortable. “The only thing is - well, he may not like my poaching on his preserves.”
    For a moment Fancy did not understand. “Poaching?”
    “Well -” The Marquis’s face turned rosy. “He seems to have pretty well staked out his territory and I wouldn’t want to interfere.”
    Fancy raised an eyebrow. “I believe you are laboring under a misapprehension, milord. The Earl has absolutely no claim on me - now or ever. I am a free agent.”
    Castleford smiled sheepishly. “I’m very glad to hear that. So now I have a clear field.”
    “I have no interest in men,” said Fancy bluntly. “Not in being kept.”
    Castleford flushed again. “Afraid I’m most inept at these things. Never went after a dasher like you before. That is -”
    Fancy’s gay laughter rang out. “I am not a dasher,” she said. “But let us forget that. Tell me some more about your childhood.”
    Castleford grinned. “It was all as I told you. Me constantly in the suds and Morgane pulling me out. We did the Grand Tour together. Only eighteen we were. That’s when he got the scar.”
    “I suppose it was the fault of his horrible temper,” observed Fancy with just a touch of smugness.
    Castleford stared at