The Deception by Catherine Coulter Read Free Book Online Page A

for it. Actually, he didn’t mind at all.
    “I know,” he said finally, not really remembering what she’d said, only that it had been pitiful. He turned back to her. He dashed his fingers through his thick hair, standing it on end. “Damnation.”
    “Goodness. I didn’t realize what I was about to say would upset you so much, your grace.”
    There was wit in her, when she wasn’t terrified that he would kick her out. No, that wasn’t precisely true. She’d used that tongue of hers to try to outdo himfrom the moment he’d stomped into his library. He said, “The proprieties, Madame. My mother is in London. There is no one here to be your chaperone, to protect your good name.”
    She smiled at that. “Oh, that’s not important. I’m a widow, your grace, not some young girl, pure and innocent of mind and person, with hopes of finding a rich husband. I’m also a relative, of sorts. No one would believe you would have your wicked way with me, surely.”
    “You must be remarkably ignorant of my reputation, Madame.”
    “Oh, no, I know many wicked stories about you. Again, I’m a widow, a mature woman, a woman who surely couldn’t be of any interest to anyone, a woman beyond the need for such observances.”
    “Not only are you appallingly ignorant, you are also obtuse.”
    “I’m a cousin. Relatives are a different matter entirely.”
    She couldn’t know his reputation or she wouldn’t be so flippant about the matter. But the fact remained that she was destitute. Where would she go? No, there was no choice. She had to remain here. He would try to prevent anyone knowing why she was here. The fact that she was related to him by marriage only made it worse. She didn’t realize that a simple unknown employee would be perfectly safe because, frankly, that simple unknown employee would have no reputation to protect. He would leave her in ignorance.
    “Doubtless you are right, Madame. You also forgot to mention your advanced years.”
    “No, I told you I was a mature woman. Maturity means advanced years.”
    “I’ve always hated the word. So does my beautiful mother.”
    Not a full minute passed before Mrs. Raleigh came to the library, her lustrous purple bombazine skirts rustling with every light fairy step she took. She was very small, beautiful white hair piled atop her head, framing an unaged face. She wore a thick key ring about her narrow waist. It was highly polished key ring, one that the duke’s mother had given her some years before.
    “Mrs. Raleigh,” the duke said, smiling down at her. On a good day when she was wearing slippers with heels, she came to his shoulder. This day he could easily fit her under his arm. “This is Madame de la Valette, my cousin. Actually, she was her ladyship’s cousin. She’s come to pay us a visit, to meet Lord Edmund. Perhaps, if I can convince her to remain, she will become Lord Edmund’s nanny. Unfortunately, all but one of Madame’s valises were lost in a Channel storm. Her traveling companion became very ill and insisted on returning to France. Thus we have her to ourselves for a time.”
    Evangeline wanted to applaud his tale. It was generous and fluent and well done of him. “Mrs. Raleigh,” she said, and nodded to the small woman with the large key ring. Mrs. Raleigh gave her a graceful curtsy. “Ah, you’re another tall one, just like his grace’s mama. We are glad you are here, Madame. Such a treat this will be for Lord Edmund. If you will come with me to your bedchamber. Do you wish to dine at six o’clock, your grace?”
    “Yes, Mrs. Raleigh. Do tell Mrs. Dent that she has a new convert, one who will doubtless eat every dish that’s placed in front of her, one who will likely kill the butcher if he displeases her.”
    “Mrs. Dent will be pleased. I will also tell her that Madame is too slight and needs to gain flesh. It will become a mission for her.”
    “Why not show Madame to the duchess’s bedchamber? Perhaps it will comfort her to be