Passion's Song (A Georgian Historical Romance) by Carolyn Jewel Read Free Book Online

face.
    “ Yes, sir?” Her voice was
soft.
    Edward thought it was odd that he should notice her
eyelashes made a dusty curve on her cheeks. Something about her
made him whip the hat off his head as he spoke. “Would you be so
kind as to tell me if I have found the relatives of Mr. Jonathon
Rowland?”
    “ His cousin, Mr. Carter Samuels,
lives here.”
    “ Mr. Carter Samuels,” he repeated,
looking at her more closely and deciding if she weren’t so thin she
might, almost, be considered handsome. She had high cheekbones and
a slender nose, and the hand that held the edge of the door had
long fingers. Because she was standing in the shadows, he couldn’t
see the color of her eyes.
    “ Mr. Samuels isn’t in. Perhaps you
might leave your card?”
    “ Perhaps, miss, you may be of
service,” he said, handing her his card with a little flourish. “Is
there, by any chance, a young girl by name of Isobel, seventeen or
so, living here?”
    “ Yes, Mr. St. James, there is,”
she said.
    He masked his surprise at her being able to read. “I
should be extremely grateful if I could speak with her.” He sighed
with relief. He could taste good English roast beef even now. All
he had to do was collect the girl and head for home.
    “ Why?”
    “ I’m afraid that’s confidential.”
He was nonplussed at the question, as if it were any business of
hers! He was of a mind to chastise her for her impertinence, but
instead, he forced a smile and said, “If you would tell her I am
here, I would be in your debt.”
    “ If she knew why you wanted to
speak with her, I’m sure she would consent to see you.”
    It was a shame she was relegated to a life of petty
labor. Poverty ruined women at a regrettably young age. She was no
older than sixteen or seventeen, and he was certain that inside of
ten years her looks would be entirely spoiled. He took out a coin
and pressed it into her hand. “Perhaps I might convince you to tell
her I am here?”
    “ I don’t want your money.” She
held out the coin until he took it back.
    “ As you wish.” He shrugged and
pocketed it, restraining himself from telling her she looked as
though she could ill afford to refuse any coin. “I am staying at
the DeWitt Hotel. If you would be so kind, please tell your
mistress where she might find me and that I wish to speak with her
on a matter of the utmost importance.” He was about to go when his
eye was caught by a flash of light off something around the girl’s
neck as she took a step toward him. He tried to hide his excitement
as he reached out to examine it. “What an unusual locket! May I see
it?” She quickly covered the locket with slim fingers. “I only want
to look at it,” Edward protested. She was silent while he examined
the motto engraved on its reverse side. “Where did you get this?”
It was no wonder she hadn’t wanted him to look at it; the little
thief had stolen it!
    She tucked the locket back into her shirt before
answering him in an offended tone. “It was given to me by my
father. Now, if you do not mind, my cousin will be upset if you
take up any more of my time, so unless you have a message for
him…?”
    “ Your cousin?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ You are a servant here?” He could
keep the incredulity from neither his voice nor his
face.
    “ Mr. Samuels is kind enough to
allow me to earn my keep,” she answered stiffly, looking him full
in the face. He saw then the unmistakable deep blue of her
eyes.
    “ You are Isobel?” She nodded.
“Then, I have the pleasure of telling you that I am your Uncle
Edward.” He bowed and, when he straightened up, continued: “I am
gratified to have found you at last.”
    She was looking at him with a stare unnervingly like
the one his brother had used on him just before ordering him to
America. “I don’t find your little joke at all amusing,” she said,
anger flashing in her eyes. “Philip put you up to this, didn’t he?
You will tell him, if you please, that it did not