Rebecca Hagan Lee - [Borrowed Brides 01] by Golden Chances Read Free Book Online Page A

beneath his robe.
    David cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “Coffee, ma’am?” He indicated the pot and extra cup.
    Faith turned a deeper shade of pink. “Actually, I…um…”
    “Down the hall, last door on the right.”
    Faith managed a grateful nod and hurried out of the suite.
    The door had barely closed behind her before David began bombarding Reese with questions. “She’s your lady friend? Your companion for the evening? You spent the night with her?”
    “Not exactly. I spent the evening with her. But she spent the night here. With you,” Reese explained.
    “And where were you?” David wanted to know.
    “Downstairs at the bar. Drinking.”
    “You left her here? Alone? With me in the next room?”
    Reese nodded. “She was asleep. I figured she was safer alone with you than with me.”
    David glared at his cousin. “Did you ever think your confidence in me might be misplaced?”
    “You’re a gentleman, David.”
    “That doesn’t make me a eunuch.”
    “I know,” Reese told him. “That’s why I didn’t wake you when I brought her in. I thought she’d be a lot safer if you didn’t know she was here.”
    “What about her reputation? She was here yesterday. I saw her in line with the other women.”
    “I saw her, too, when I was standing in the doorway talking to you. She disappeared in the crowd.”
    “But you found her at the British embassy? And brought her here?” David speculated.
    “No, of course not,” Reese replied, then seeing David’s puzzled face, he began to elaborate. “I rescued her last night. She was walking to the train station when she was accosted by a thief. He knocked her to the ground and snatched her purse. I happen to see it on my way to the embassy. I jumped out to give chase.”
    “So you brought her back here before you left for the bar?” David asked, wondering how he had missed them.
    “I took her to dinner first. She hadn’t eaten all day. She was hungry and had no money. She missed the last train to Richmond and it was either bring her here or have her sleep on a bench at the train station.”
    “I’m surprised she allowed you to bring her here,” David said.
    “She didn’t have a choice. She fell asleep in the carriage after dinner.”
    “You could have awakened her,” David pointed out.
    “Not this one.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because, she’s a southern lady,” Reese replied, “and I don’t have a signed contract in my hands. Yet.”
    “Then you talked to her about the job?”
    Reese nodded.
    “And she agreed?”
    “She says she needs the job, but I get the feeling she doesn’t really understand what I want her to do.”
    “How could she not understand? The ad was pretty clear.”
    Reese stood up and began to pace. “Who knows what goes on in the mind of a lady?”
    “I thought you did.”
    Reese turned to look at his cousin. “What ever gave you that idea?”
    “You did,” David said quietly. “You’ve always been such a ladies’ man.”
    “I don’t deal with ladies, David. I deal with prostitutes, tarts, whores, and the occasional neglected mistress. I don’t deal with ladies anymore.”
    “Then, damn it, Reese, why advertise for one? Why not let one of your tarts have your child?”
    “Because, dammit, my son is going to have a heritage he can be proud of. He’s going to be respected.”
    “Then marry someone and do this the right way.”
    “Out of the question,” Reese said.
    “There are plenty of nice women—”
    “Yes, there are,” Reese agreed, “but not for us. We’re mixed bloods, David, and while we’re proud of our heritage, most nice women are horrified.”
    “All women aren’t like Boston society debutantes.”
    “Only the proper ladies,” Reese sneered.
    “I never realized your experience at Harvard had made you so bitter,” David said thoughtfully as he refilled Reese’s cup with coffee.
    “I’m not bitter,” Reese told him. “I’m realistic.”
    “You think this