Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) by Maureen Driscoll Read Free Book Online Page A

morning’s memories of her,
were having the predicted effect on him.  While he could not afford to become
entangled with her until the danger had passed, he looked forward to the day he
could make her his mistress.
    He was staying by her side to keep her safe.  But he was
also there because he was increasingly fascinated by her.  He’d never met a
woman who worked for the Home Office.  Moreover, she loved what she did,
despite the danger.  She hadn’t spoken much about her previous assignments, but
there was a vitality about her that grew even more pronounced as she anticipated
catching up to Mortimer and Cassidy and recovering the chest.
    She was a fascinating woman with the body of a goddess.
    He was seated across from her at the table.  She was blowing
on a spoonful of soup.  He watched with rapt attention as she slid the spoon
between her full lips.  She closed her eyes, as if savoring the soup – which
was too salty by half – then slowly swallowed.  Arthur was, once again, hard. 
In all honesty, he’d been that way most of the day. 
    He was about to engage in yet another fantasy when she asked
him, “Are you going to eat the rest of your pie?”
    Arthur looked at his half-eaten kidney pie.  Even if he were
hungry for more of the mediocre fare, he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to
watch Vanessa savor her food, regardless of how much torment it would cause
him.  If she enjoyed lovemaking only a pittance as much as she liked food, he’d
be a happy man indeed.
    “May I” she asked, breaking into his reverie.
    It took him a moment to recall the subject of her inquiry,
then he pushed his plate toward her.  “Enjoy,” he said. 
    “You have an odd look about you,” she said.
    “Do I?” he asked, with a voice too husky by half.  He pulled
his jacket closer about him to conceal his erection as he rose.  He cleared his
throat.  “I’ll settle the bill and have our horses readied.”
    The blinding smile she gave him strengthened his resolve to
leave her side before he embarrassed them both.

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
     
     
     
     
    They finally reached Cambridge in late afternoon.  Arthur had
spent little time in the university town, having followed generations of Kellingtons
to Oxford.  And at the moment, all he really looked forward to was getting off
his horse and spending the night on an actual bed indoors.  He didn’t like to
think of himself as spoiled in any way.  Or, at least, no more spoiled than the
average nobleman.  But one night spent sleeping on the ground was an experience
he wasn’t looking forward to repeating.  Not that he’d ever admit as much to
Vanessa.  She seemed to positively thrive on primitive conditions and it rather
wounded his pride to think she was more cut out for this work than he.  The
very thought that he could be found wanting by the woman he very much desired
made a shiver go up his spine. 
    “Are you cold?” she asked.  “Professor Dumbarton’s home is
close.  We can have you by a fire in no time at all.”
    He distrusted the tone of her voice.  “Are you, by any
chance, implying I’m in need of coddling?”
    She fought to keep a straight face.  “Not at all, my lord. 
I’m sure there have been any number of instances where you’ve slept out of
doors and not had the services of a house full of retainers.”
    Arthur said nothing.  He couldn’t bluff, for fear the chit
would call him on it.  That’s what he got for being attracted to a female with
brains.
    After making their way through town, they came to a home in
the university district.  Attached to houses on either side, it was a
three-story building in a distinguished neighborhood.  After leaving their
horses at the nearby mews, they raised the knocker.
    The door was opened by a butler who looked like he’d been
with the house when it was built some two centuries earlier.   But far from the
impassive mien exhibited by butlers in London, this one looked like he’d