The Kiss by Sophia Nash Read Free Book Online Page A

and sort it all out."
    Quinn sat across from John Wilde in the old spindle chair he remembered from long ago. "You've great faith in my abilities, and I'm honored. But"—he paused—"I fear it will be some time before we can settle every matter. Most importantly, however, I've come to see to your immediate future."
    John Wilde tried to sit up straighter in his chair. His expression, a combination of hope and thinly disguised despair, brought pain to Quinn's chest.
    "You've served Penrose for what? Nearly four decades, have you not? I fear my uncle and Anthony were remiss in not arranging for the day you might eventually wish to retire your post as steward here."
    He heard the door crack open behind him and assumed it was Mrs. Wilde with a tea tray. He continued, "The Fortesque family owes you a comfortable pension. It is your due for so many extraordinary years of excellent service."
    "And here I was feeling grateful to you for your kindness to the dowager duchess." Georgiana's words were dangerously soft. She came in to stand at her father's side. "Little did I know it was probably done to distract me while you finessed my family's removal."
    "Georgiana!" her father admonished. "Your manners!"
    "No, Father. I, for one, desire to know the charges being leveled at us. Penrose is being kept in prime form. I would know what fault he finds with the stewardship."
    "Georgiana," Quinn said softly, looking at her dark, flashing eyes. "There's no doubt in my mind that Penrose has been overseen with the greatest of care. This is a matter between your father and me." If she didn't let this go, he might not forgive her. He wanted to preserve Mr. Wilde's dignity. "Sir, I would be grateful if you would consider accepting a pension in the amount of four hundred pounds per annum as well as a deed to the cottage of your choosing. I would offer you this one, but Little Roses is entailed as you know."
    "That is far too much," Mr. Wilde said quietly yet firmly. "There's not a steward in all the land who would receive a cottage and a pension such as the one you're offering."
    "There is not a steward in the land with a daughter who has married the heir's predecessor, necessitating a quick removal to lessen the connection." Georgiana's words were so baldly honest that not one of them knew what to say in response.
    Well, Quinn had to give credit where it was due. She'd never shrunk from the truth in her life. There were few who could make the same claim. But now, in front of her father, was not the time to—
    "You'll forgive me for my lack of tact, but I will not play the passive, wilting female and let you wrest the stewardship—"
    And then he did something he'd not known he was capable of doing. He grasped her arm and wordlessly forced her from the study, calling out to her father his promise of a return on the morrow, and a "Please consider my offer." He dragged Georgiana from the house, past the open-mouthed stare of her mother, and into the little bit of wilderness behind the hedgerow. He stopped when he realized with horror that she was limping slightly.
    "Good God, Georgiana," he said regaining control of his emotions, something he never, ever, ever, lost. "Allow your father the peace he deserves and has earned at this point in his life. Perhaps since you see him every day, you've not realized how very altered he is."
    Her eyes became turbulent with emotion. "You're not to bring his illness into this. We've done very well despite everything. And I'll not let you take the stewardship away from him. You can take the stupid Ellesmere title my mother loves so much, Lord knows I never use it, nor want it. But I will not—"
    He roughly grabbed her into his embrace and held her so tightly he could have sworn that he could feel the fast beat of her heart against his own. She was deceptively smaller than he. Why, her head only reached the bottom of his chin. She had such a strong character that she appeared a half foot taller at arm's length. But