The Belligerent Miss Boynton AND The Lurid Lady Lockport (Two Companion Full-Length Regency Novels) by Kasey Michaels Read Free Book Online Page B

rump. "How you do run on, my lord. I find Tom an exceptionally fine chaperon. But do be careful. I think the boy already feels some allegiance to me. Therefore, you might be wise not to be your usual insulting self in front of him. He may just make good his threat to, er, 'pop yer on yer noggin.'"
    Jared's mouth opened and closed several times as a variety of cutting responses flitted through his head, but he finally settled for no more than an abrupt Hrrumph before flinging himself up behind the dirty urchin who sat patting the stallion's neck and muttering unintelligible praises into his cocked ear.
    Amanda led the way down the road, feeling rather content with herself, with Jared's black horse dancing along under the slight extra weight. By late afternoon, the trio arrived at Fox Chase.
    They drew the horses up at the crest of the hill and gazed down at the view before them in the small valley. Jared, astounded at the rundown look of the manor and stables and the general neglected air of the surrounding fields, turned to Amanda with a question in his eyes.
    Her voice was bitter as she swept an arm across the scene. "Behold what Peregrine Denton has done to the finest estate in the district. Now do you question my running away from him and all he represents?"
    Jared shifted the sleeping Tom into a more comfortable position against his chest and urged his mount forward. "I'm sorry, Amanda. I didn't know."
    "No," she countered dully as she followed along. "Nobody knew. And nobody wanted to know. All of my father's friends melted away when he died and left Mama and me to the mercies of someone like Denton. He promised my mother he'd look after us if they married, and then proceeded to drain every cent he could out of the land and the house. You should take a tour of my home while you're here, my lord, and see how he stripped away anything he could sell in the markets. Even," her voice broke, "even my parent's portraits."
    Jared suddenly felt very ashamed about the plans he had for this young girl. But the special license he'd arranged for before going to meet Amanda was still in his pocket, and a wealthy husband such as he could do a lot to ease the burden she had been carrying these years.
    "How long did you live here alone with Denton?" It bothered him more than he cared to admit to himself that Amanda had ever resided under a roof with Denton, with only servants for protection.
    "Three years," Amanda answered quietly. "Nanny stayed for a while after Mama died, but Denton finally sent her away. She lives in Sussex now with her sister, and I'll join her there once I retrieve Tempest." Her head lifted with a jerk as she realized what she had revealed. Curse her blabbering tongue!
    Jared chose to ignore her disclosed plans since he had no thought of allowing her to pursue them, and motioned for her to precede him down the remainder of the hill to Fox Chase.
    As they neared the stables Amanda spurred her mount forward calling out, "Harrow! Harrow, you old reprobate, where are you? It's Miss Mandy come home again."
    She reined in and jumped down from the mare, skirts lifted high as she dashed toward the bent-over figure of an old man shuffling toward her, and flung herself into his arms. "Oh, Harrow! You can't know how glad I am to see you! "
    "It's glad I am to be seeing you, Missy, glad and happy. But what are you doing here and," he looked over her shoulder to the horse now coming into the yard, "who are these folks you have with you?"
    Amanda disengaged herself from the old man's embrace and turned a dazzling smile toward Jared as he dismounted and helped Tom down from the saddle. "Harrow, I introduce to you my rescuer, Lord Storm, and my new friend, Tom. Lord Storm accompanied me here from London and Tom, well, Tom we met on the way." She turned toward Harrow with a plea in her voice. "Tom is very hungry, Harrow, and so am I. Do you have something cooking on your fire?"
    "Aye, lass, as you knew I would," the old man said,