The Devil Who Tamed Her by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online

of snow he came across, and the more biting the wind became.
    There were no other inns. He’d known there wouldn’t be. The Nest really was in a secluded area of the uplands, far removed from any other habitations. But he finally reached it by late afternoon, and smoke was coming from at least one chimney to assure him his caretaker was in residence and there would soon be a nice fire where he could thaw the cold from his bones. But before he could reach that warmth, he was going to have to deal with Ophelia’s outrage, which, for once, would be warranted.
    Steeling himself for an unpleasant confrontation, he opened the coach door. “You might want to hurry into the house, ladies,” he warned. “It’s more than just chilly out here.”
    “It’s been overly warm in the coach,” Ophelia complained. “The heat put me to sleep when I wasn’t the least bit tired.”
    She was the first to step down with his assistance. She didn’t hurry off as he’d hoped. She stared at the large manor house in front of her and demanded crossly, “ Now where are we? Another aunt’s house?”
    “No, this one belongs to me.”
    “But why have we stopped here? Surely we’re close enough to London now that you can get us there before nightfall.”
    “We’re a long way from London, m’dear. Welcome to Alder’s Nest.”
    While she digested that with a confused frown, her frown deepened as she looked beyond the coach at the barren moors, which stretched as far as the eye could see. When he’d come here in the summer, the view had been magnificent with the heather in full bloom. But right now the scene was rather desolate.
    “I hope you have some servants retained here,” Esmerelda said as he helped her down from the coach, then she warned him, “I don’t cook.”
    “Rest easy, Aunt Esme. There’s a caretaker who’s taken good care of the place for many years, previously employed by your father. His wife acts as my housekeeper and cook when I am in residence. I believe he has a few daughters, too. I’m sure we’ll have a nice staff by tonight or tomorrow at the latest.”
    Esmerelda nodded and hurried to the door that Bartholomew Grimshod, the middle-aged caretaker, was holding open. Her pretty young maid followed, giving Raphael an appreciative smile as she passed him. He barely noticed, his mind too much on Ophelia at the moment.
    The London beauty stood her ground, looking quite incredulous now.
    “Why does it sound like we’re staying here for an extended visit?” she demanded.
    “Because we are.”
    “The devil we are. I demand you take me to London as you said you would.”
    “You can demand all you like. I’m staying here. And I never said I was taking you to London, merely that we were going in the same direction, which we were. That direction was here.”
    He helped Sadie down from the coach. Wiping sleep from her eyes, the maid gave them both confused looks, having heard some of what was said. Ophelia grabbed her arm. “Don’t go in there. We’re leaving.”
    Raphael ignored Ophelia’s announcement and actually walked away from her. She probably wasn’t used to men doing that, and he heard her outraged gasp. But he wasn’t about to stand outside in the cold to answer her questions.
    “Lord Locke,” she called after him, then in a louder voice, “Raphael!” Then even louder: “Dammit, Rafe, stop this minute!”
    He didn’t, but he did pause at the door long enough to greet Bartholomew and tell him, “Just leave all the baggage out front here before you put the horses—actually, take the horses away from here, to your house for now. I’ll help you carry the trunks in after I warm up a little.”
    “Certainly, my lord,” the man replied. “And how long will you be staying?”
    “To be honest, I have no idea, but I’ll need some household staff for the duration. See what you can do in that regard. Oh, and the lady making all that noise behind me—it’s a complicated situation, but just