Playing to Win by Diane Farr Read Free Book Online Page A

Whitlatch, with one of his
swift, peremptory movements, had crossed toward her and offered his
hand. Bemused, she took it. Her own was at once enveloped in a
strong clasp and heartily shaken. "Thank you! We will forget our
earlier conversations," he said.
    "Certainly," she murmured, feeling a
little dazed.
    He was still holding her hand. "I am
leaving immediately for Morecroft Cottage," he told her. "It is
near Islington Spa, but never mind that! I will take you wherever
you wish to go. Where is your home?"
    A frisson of alarm shot through
Clarissa. Of all the questions he might have asked, he had
unerringly hit on the most unanswerable! She hesitated, at a loss,
and pulled her hand back. Mr. Whitlatch's mind apparently traveled
at breakneck speed; caught in that extraordinarily piercing gaze
she could think of nothing to say in reply. Nothing other than the
truth. Hating the necessity to answer at all, she tried to speak
lightly.
    "I have no home."
    Mr. Whitlatch's already keen gaze
sharpened. "Nonsense. Everyone has a home. Where are your parents?
Are you an orphan?"
    Heavens, he was direct! Had the man no
manners at all? She tried looking down her nose at him. "I am of
age, Mr. Whitlatch," she said haughtily.
    He shrugged impatiently. "Of age! What
is that to the purpose? I daresay your family will still be glad to
have you safely back. You are not married."
    Clarissa stiffened. "Sir, you
presume!"
    He uttered a short bark of laughter.
"On the contrary; I state the obvious! But you must have relatives
of some sort, even if your father is dead."
    Her eyes flew to his, startled anew.
"How do you know my father is dead?"
    Mr. Whitlatch strode restlessly back
across the room, tossing words over his shoulder. Movement seemed
to be his natural mode.
    "No man whose business it was to take
care of you could let you come to such straits. Had you a father, a
husband, or even, I daresay, a brother, I would not have found you
under La Gianetta's roof. Come! We can't keep the horses waiting.
Where do I take you?"
    Clarissa clasped her hands tightly in
her lap. She managed to achieve a pleasant, off-hand tone. She
hoped it would convince him that his prying was as unnecessary as
it was unwelcome. "There is nowhere to take me, so I must decline
your obliging offer."
    "Decline it?" He halted, frowning. "Do
you expect me to leave you here?"
    "Of course I do. My affairs are no
concern of yours."
    "Talk sense, if you please!" demanded
Mr. Whitlatch. His eyes bored into hers with unnerving effect. She
could no longer meet them; they made her feel utterly transparent.
"I am the one who brought you here, apparently against your will.
Why do you wish to be left at Grisham's? You seemed eager enough to
be gone awhile ago."
    Eyes downcast, she tried desperately to
think of an answer. His booted feet crossed the floor and she saw
his fist out of the corner of her eye as it appeared on the table
beside her. He leaned on the fist, and spoke in a voice silky with
menace. "Or were you, in fact, brought to Grisham's against your
will? Why did you return here after you had made good your
escape?"
    Clarissa gasped. It had not occurred to
her that such a construction might be placed upon her behavior! She
felt her cheeks flush scarlet. "I did not intend to return
here, if that is what you think!" she stammered.
    "Well? What else am I to
think?"
    The blush deepened, but she lifted her
head and met his eyes again defiantly. "If you must know, I—I lost
my way!"
    Mr. Whitlatch stared at her for a
pregnant moment. Then, to Clarissa's discomfiture, he threw back
his head and gave a roar of delighted laughter.
    "Lost your way! And walked right back
to the lion's den!"
    Clarissa eyed him resentfully. "I
daresay it is very funny to you, but to me it is not at all
humorous, I assure you!"
    "No, I can see that! Good God, what a
comedy of errors!" To her secret relief, he removed his looming
presence and tossed himself into the chair across from her. "But if
you lost