The Proud Viscount by Laura Matthews Read Free Book Online

something that had occurred to him within minutes of meeting the young jackanapes again.
    “I never see you there anymore,” Parnham mentioned. Because he had lost the thread of their discussion, Rossmere had to think a moment before replying. “I  haven't been to London in two years."
    “Lost your taste for it, have you?”
    The question, so lightly asked, seemed to Rossmere to contain a barb. The viscount very much feared it had either to do with women (and with Mrs. Madeline Fulton in particular) or to do with his own lack of financial resources (and being unable to afford the expensive capital). In either case, Parnham had only managed to raise his hackles higher. Rossmere chose not to answer the question.
    Parnham didn’t appear to notice. He spoke of his new carriage and the likelihood of a spectacular harvest. After Parnham’s wink, Rossmere was surprised to see the fellow actually pull a book about antiquities from his pocket and hand it to Lord Barlow. “I understand Thorson touches on some interesting elements of the baths,” he said, sounding almost knowledgeable. “Thought you might like to see it.”
    “I was about to send for it!” the earl exclaimed. “Good of you to go to the trouble, Parnham. Very good indeed.”
    The young dandy obviously knew how to please his father-in-law, Rossmere decided. He tried, for a moment, to believe that it really was good of Parnham to go to the bother of searching out the right book for the older man. But it struck him more as toadying and he dismissed Parnham as an apple-polisher. Rossmere felt sure no one would find him trying to win the earl’s approval by such means if he were married to one of Barlow’s daughters.
    Irritated beyond reason, Rossmere dropped a little behind the other two men, hoping it would not be necessary for him to spend the whole day with John Parnham.
    * * * *
    In the sitting room off Jane’s bedroom Nancy had the nursemaid put the child down on a blanket. The corner room caught a good cross-breeze and stayed relatively cool in the warm weather. Nancy dismissed the girl, sending her down to the kitchen for a glass of lemonade and saying she would send for her when she needed her. Then she turned to Jane with a smile.
    “I was so afraid something would arise to prevent our coming. How I would have hated not seeing you! It’s been too long.” She gave her sister a hug and seated herself in a chair beside little William. “The baby’s beginning to creep now. See how he gets on his hands and knees and rocks like that? I think it’s the most amusing thing.”
    Jane seated herself on the floor beside her nephew.
    “What a clever lad he is. Do you think he has John’s nose?”
    “Absolutely. And his hair and his eyes. I think perhaps he’ll have John’s disposition, too. He’s very cheerful and ready to try a new adventure at the drop of a pin.”
    The baby gurgled and rocked so hard that he tumbled over on the blanket. He looked surprised and his little mouth puckered up in preparation for a wail of protest, but Jane distracted him with her pocket watch. His eyes shone with interest and he reached for the swinging gold timepiece. When he had it safely in hand, he carried it to his mouth to taste.
    “No, no,” Jane protested. “This one is only for looking at. Have you something he can gum?”
    Nancy withdrew a crust from her pocket. “I always carry something with me. John says I’ve begun to shed bread crumbs.” She handed the crust to William, saying, “Tell me about Lord Rossmere. Has he been good company for you?”
    Jane laughed. “Aunt Mabel is scheming to marry us off. It was her sole intent in inviting him here, I gather. But neither of us is interested.”
    “How ungallant of him to let you know that!”
    “Oh, he didn’t precisely say it, but it is very clear. Mabel believes he needs a rich wife, and she seems to think I’ll be a miserable spinster one day if I pass up this opportunity.”
    “And don’t you