My Lord Hercules by Ava Stone Read Free Book Online

quite anxious to meet
all of you.”
    Mr. Bartlett. Miranda swiped at a
silent tear. If only Simeon was still here. The world had gone to
shambles with her brother’s death, and it didn’t seem likely to
change anytime soon. Simeon’s death, then Papa’s death, Tessie’s
disappearance. A year ago, she hadn’t thought of the world as
bleak, but now…
    Hibbert strode into the parlor, a
heavy tea tray in his hands. Louisa gestured to nearest table.
“That will do. Thank you, Hibbert.”
    As the butler made his escape, Miranda
wished herself away with him. How would she ever get through tea
with Lady St. Austell?

 
     

    As soon as Pippa St. Austell returned
home, the butler directed her to her husband’s study when she
inquired after his whereabouts. She knocked on the door and then
pushed it open just as Jason called, “Yes?”
    Upon seeing her, her husband rose from
his spot, a frown marring his too handsome face. “What’s wrong,
sweetheart?”
    Pippa could only shake her head.
Nothing from that afternoon made any sense at all. “I’m not
sure.”
    Jason stepped around his desk, and
then crossed the floor to stand before her. “Something is troubling
you.” He caressed her cheek, and his light blue eyes filled with
concern. “Tell me.”
    Pippa heaved a sigh, smiling up at
him. No matter what Harry or anyone else thought, Jason truly was a
wonderful, devoted husband. “I just came from Marston
House.”
    “ And you met the object of
Harrison’s affections.”
    Pippa cringed. “That’s just it, Jason.
The girl is so strange. I can’t imagine what Harry sees in
her.”
    Jason’s brow rose slightly, as though
to say he thought Harry was fairly strange himself.
    She lightly smacked his chest. “Harry
is wonderful,” she protested.
    “ You are his
sister.”
    “ Jason!” There was still no
love lost between either of her brothers and her husband, but there
was no reason for him to be insulting.
    A roguish grin settled on his face.
“Sorry, sweetheart. You’re right. Harrison is wonderful,” he said,
in an obvious attempt to placate her. “Tell me what’s so strange
about the Bartlett chit.”
    Slightly appeased, Pippa explained,
“She’s more peculiar than strange, I suppose. She certainly isn’t
what I expected.” She heaved another sigh. “Jason, she barely met
my eye the entire time I was there. She said less than a dozen
words, and I’m fairly certain she swiped at tears more than once
during my stay.”
    “ She cried?” Jason frowned.
“Sweetheart, you have no idea how much I appreciate the fact that
you’re not a crier.”
    Pippa felt like crying now. Harry was
wonderful, and he deserved a girl who was equally wonderful. One
whose face lit up when she heard his name. One who would love him
the way he deserved to be loved. One who would gush over him. One
who seemed capable of happiness.
    “ What did you
expect?”
    Pippa wasn’t quite certain. “A girl
with some spirit, I suppose. An adventurous girl. A girl who is
capable of engendering the look I saw in his eyes today.” She
shrugged. “Jason, I’ve never known him to behave as he did this
morning. He seemed completely besotted.”
    “ Infatuated might be a
better word.”
    Why was he splitting hairs?
“Infatuated, besotted, what does it matter? I’ve never seem him
like he was this morning.”
    “ Certainly not with a proper
girl,” her husband added, almost under his breath.
    Pippa narrowed her eyes on him.
“You’re certainly not one to talk on that score, Jason York.” After
all, very few men had reputations as blackened as her husband’s had
been before their marriage.
    He chuckled in response. “But I found
my proper girl, and I’m all the happier for it.” Then he tipped her
chin upwards with a crooked finger and he pressed his lips to hers,
soothing her as only he could. “Don’t worry about Harrison, Pippa,”
he said softly. “I’m certain it’s just a lover’s quarrel and they
will work it out,