Quick, Amanda by Ravished Read Free Book Online Page B

was so vividly conscious of his size and presence. It was, indeed,
    like having a great beast on her heels.
    "In addition to not pestering me with their young innocents," Gideon continued relentlessly, "not a single
    parent in recent memory has attempted to force me to make an offer by employing the old trick of
    accusing me of having compromised his daughter. Everyone knows such a ploy is highly unlikely to
    work."
    "My lord, if this is your unsubtle way of warning me not to get any such notions, you may rest assured
    you are quite safe."
    "I am well aware that I am safe enough, Miss Pomeroy. It is you who should exercise some caution."
    Harriet had had enough. She came to a sudden halt and whirled around to confront him. She discovered
    he was almost on top of her and she took a quick step back. She scowled up at him. "Is it true, then?
    Did you cast aside the previous rector's daughter after getting her with child?"
    Gideon studied her gravely. "You are very curious for someone who professes no interest in my past."
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    "You are the one who insisted on bringing it up."
    "So I did. I fear I could not resist. Not after it became obvious you had already heard the tale."
    "Well?" she challenged after a taut moment. "Did you?"
    Gideon quirked one heavy black brow and appeared to give the matter serious consideration. His eyes
    burned with a cold fire as he gazed down at Harriet. "The facts are exactly as they were no doubt related
    to you, Miss Pomeroy. My fiancée was with child. I knew it when I ended the engagement. She
    apparently went home and shot herself."
    Harriet gasped and recoiled another step. She forgot all about the cavern full of stolen goods. "I do not
    believe it."
    "Thank you, Miss Pomeroy." He inclined his head with mocking politeness. "But I assure you that
    everyone else certainly does."
    "Oh." Harriet recovered herself. "Yes. Well, as I said, it is no concern of mine." She spun about to
    hasten toward the cave entrance. Her face was flaming. She should have kept her mouth shut, she told
    herself furiously. The whole situation was unbelievably embarrassing.
    A few minutes later Harriet breathed a sigh of relief as she reached her goal. The dark opening in the cliff
    wall loomed dimly in the mist. If she had not known precisely where it was located she would have
    missed it in the fog.
    "This is the entrance, my lord." Harriet halted and turned once more to face him. "The cavern the thieves
    are using lies some distance inside this passageway."
    Gideon gazed at the opening in the cliff for a moment r and then set down the bag he had carried. "I
    believe we will need the lamps now."
    "Yes. One cannot see a thing once one is more than a few steps inside the entrance."
    Harriet watched Gideon light the lamps. For all their size and power, his hands moved with an
    unexpected grace and deftness. When he held one of the lamps out to her, his eyes caught hers studying
    him. He smiled without any sign of real warmth. The scar on his face twisted evilly.
    "Have you started to have a few second thoughts about going into the caves alone with me, Miss
    Pomeroy?"
    She glowered at him and practically snatched the lamp from his hand. "Of course not. Let us get on with
    it."
    Harriet stepped through the narrow entrance and held the lamp aloft. Tendrils of fog had drifted into the
    cave and caused the lamp to throw strange shadows against the damp rock walls. She shivered and
    wondered why this passage seemed so extraordinarily eerie and forbidding this morning. She reminded
    herself that this was certainly not the first time she had been alone in it.
    It was the viscount's presence that was making her nervous, she decided. She really must get a firm
    grasp on her imagination. Stick to the business at hand , she lectured herself silently.
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    Gideon came up behind her, moving