Smitten by the Spinster by Cassidy Cayman Read Free Book Online

isn’t agreeable at all.”
    Lizzie looked at Lady Amberly. Was she out of her mind? Now he was family? Quinn frowned, unsure of how to proceed, but Catriona clapped her hands.
    “Oh, that would be so lovely to have him near, Auntie,” she said, causing a fresh welling of tears to rise in Lady Amberly’s eyes.
    “We’re so happy to have Catriona with us at last,” she gushed. “You must stay, for her.”
    “Verra well, and I thank ye,” he said.
    “Erm, Quinn,” Catriona said, leaning on his arm and gazing up at him with sisterly pride. “Can ye please let them know it’s all right to call me Catie? Miss Burnet insists it’s proper to call me by my whole name, but it’s quite tiring. Can ye tell her ye always call me Catie?”
    Quinn looked over his sister’s head and caught her eye, a knowing twinkle in his. Once again she pressed her lips together, hoping she’d get used to the dazzle of his presence before she fainted from lack of oxygen.
    Well, Catriona ,” he said, still looking at Lizzie, his rich voice going straight through her. “Ye must do whatever your chaperone says, as she is in charge of ye while we’re in London.” He winked at her, nearly knocking her back a step, before turning to Lady Amberly. “And your auntie as well, of course. What they say goes, lass.”
    Catriona lost her look of sisterly pride and humphed. Lizzie didn’t want her glowing image of the girl ruined by a tantrum, and suggested they be on their way. With Quinn accompanying them, they needn’t wait for the carriage, but could enjoy the crisp morning air. Really, the thought of being pressed up against him in the carriage, or sitting across from him, with the chance that their knees might touch, was too much for her senses at the moment. She and Catriona could walk ahead of him and he could follow, unseen and unable to turn her into a babbling puddle of goo.

    ***

    Quinn followed behind his sister and her chaperone, glad to be left alone with his thoughts. He tried to keep his eyes on the sights of London, the dirty streets and loud, brash vendors standing outside their stalls and shops. But they kept resting on the trim, curvy backside of Miss Lizzie Burnet. He had to admit he’d pictured someone skeletal, with thin wisps of tangled hair and claw-like hands, a permanent scowl etched into her gaunt face. He laughed at himself, having pictured the description of a banshee from Catie’s nurse’s stories when they were younger.
    Skeletal and gaunt were not ways he’d ever describe the wee spinster who now sashayed distractingly in front of him. No, he liked her proportions just fine. And her face was friendly and rosy, not a hint of a scowl, though, if he wasn’t mistaken, he thought he saw a hint of mischief in her smile. She’d certainly saved him from spending the morning visiting with Catie’s aunt, who looked like she wanted to eat him up with a spoon.
    Catie kept turning around to point things out to him and he nodded indulgently at her, letting her excited chatter wash over him like a waterfall. So, this was London. Did she belong here? Only time would tell, but so far, it didn’t seem so terribly evil to him, rude English and all.
    Just as he was about to say so to her, a miniature ruffian ran across his path, being chased by a portly man with a cane. The man stopped in front of Quinn, puffing for breath.
    “That urchin stole from me,” he yelled, tossing his cane at the lad. It bounced off his head, causing a yelp of pain but not slowing his steps.
    Seeing Catie and Miss Burnet looking wide eyed at the scene, he decided to show his heroic nature and took four long strides, grabbing the wee thief by the scruff of his neck and dragging him back to the old man.
    The man hurried to retrieve his cane, then took the boy roughly by the arm, wrenching him from Quinn’s grasp and hauling him away with barely a backward glance, let alone any thanks. As he was dragged past, the lad kicked him hard in the shin,