The Devil's Own Luck (Once a Spy) by Diana Douglas Read Free Book Online Page B

kind to point out, I’m a rake and a rogue, not a gentleman. And that said, it isn’t very wise of you to be here with me. I’m thinking of your reputation as well as your safety.”
    “Oh, for pity’s sake,” she groaned. “Who’s to see us? Besides. You invited me to cross the stream.”
    “I thought I was inviting you to cross the bridge.” He shrugged. He had to admit she was right. They were in an exceptionally isolated area. Other than fish, fowl or four-legged creatures, the prospect of anyone seeing them was highly unlikely. Her reputation might not be threatened, but her safety was a different matter altogether. He found her disturbingly attractive and secluded as they were, he wasn’t certain of his own self-restraint. But it wasn’t something he could very well explain to her so, he let it rest.
    She absently plucked a few daisies from the patch. “I’m running away,” she announced.
    He looked at her sharply. “You most certainly are not!”
    She burst into laughter. He thought it was a lovely sound. Light and melodious, far different from the disingenuous laughter he had grown so tired of hearing from most young ladies of the ton.
    “You look just like Eugene does when he gets exasperated with me. The two of you are far stricter than Papa ever thought of being.”
    “Only because you have the earl wrapped around your little finger,” he retorted. “You give him a woeful, doe-eyed look and he melts.”
    “That’s not it at all,” she protested. “He simply appreciates having a daughter who isn’t histrionic and demanding and he has given me a little extra leeway because I’m very level headed. You know as well as I, that had Arabella tried to cross the stream, the moment water touched her boots she would have screamed and fainted dead into the water. And then someone would have had to save her because even though the water isn’t more than waist deep, she would think she was drowning. She has never even learned to swim! Had I been Papa I would have tossed her in the lake and made her learn. She may be three years my elder, but I handle myself far better than she does. Her husband has the patience of Job.”
    Rand chuckled at the picture she painted then realized she had successfully veered him away from their original topic. “Arabella would have crossed at the bridge and you’re still not running away.”
    “Only for the afternoon. I just had to get away from the house a bit. I spent most of the morning reading a horrid gothic novel to Aunt Mirabella. Thank goodness, she finally dropped off to sleep. My jaw was beginning to ache. It’s just so deadly dull around here without Priscilla. I miss having her about. Most of my friends are in Brighton. I wouldn’t be in this fix if Eugene hadn’t insisted we come back to Surrey, rather than spend the month in Brighton with everyone else.”
    “That doesn’t explain why you found it necessary to ride this far north without an escort.”
    Her eyes widened. “It doesn’t?”
    He gritted his teeth. "I’m fairly close to boxing your ears, Cecelia. No, it doesn’t.”
    “I’m bored.”
    “You’re bored,” he said. “And if you get found out, you’re also in big trouble.”
    She frowned as if the thought had never occurred to her. “You won’t tell on me, will you?”
    “No, but I won’t lie if I’m asked.”
    She nodded her head and said, “That seems fair enough.” She picked a few more daisies began looping the stems and interlocking the stems to create a chain. Several moments passed before she broke their silence. “Tell me something… Why have you stayed away? I can’t remember the last time you were at Bryony Hall.”
    “My business keeps me in London.”
    “But we’re not terribly far from London.”
    “I’ve been here,” he said shortly. “You weren’t here at