Thea's Marquis by Carola Dunn Read Free Book Online Page A

slipped from his lips with practised facility. He cursed himself as she coloured and her gaze fell to the next button down. Commonplace courtesies were not the way to set her at ease, but he knew what would. “May I enquire after Lady Kilmore’s health?”
    “My mother will be down shortly, sir.”
    “I shall be glad to renew the acquaintance, but I was actually referring to your sister-in-law,” he teased gently.
    “Oh, Penny, of course. How silly of me.” She risked an upward peek. His expression must have reassured her, for her dark, apprehensive eyes met his and she went on, “Poor Penny suffers dreadfully every morning. She is quite well in the afternoons, though—fortunately. I do not know how we should go on without her.”
    “No?” he asked, curious.
    “She has lived in London all her life. She knows where to find furniture-makers and servants and the best modistes, and how to deal with them. We have new gowns already, and abigails, and she replaced the cook Jason hired, who even managed to make eggs inedible. The new butler starts tomorrow, the housekeeper is on probation...but you cannot be interested in such petty domestic details.”
    “On the contrary, ma’am.” He cast a quizzical glance about the room. “Lady Kilmore’s taste in modistes is irreproachable, but I dare to question her choice of furniture-makers.”
    Like a candle in a Chinese paper lantern, her smile lit her face with a soft glow. “Is it not horrid? Penny is not to blame. Jason bought a few necessary pieces to last until she could refurnish her house.”
    “It must have been badly furnished indeed if it was worse than what you have now.”
    “Oh no, everything was of the best,” she assured him earnestly. “Penny’s father was very rich. You see, her uncle was excessively angry when she married Jason, because he lost control of her fortune. He stole everything in the house and then set about wrecking it. Jason has spent weeks in rendering it habitable.”
    Rod frowned. “Both greedy and vengeful. Has your brother called in a magistrate?”
    “No. He says it would be difficult to prove, and Penny is afraid of Mr. Vaughn. Jason does not wish to distress her in her delicate condition.”
    “Understandable.” He wondered why her attention had suddenly returned to his waistcoat buttons, her cheeks now scarlet.
    “I beg your pardon, sir,” she said in a low voice. “I vowed I would not mention that subject again. My wits have gone a-begging.”
    “Fustian!” he said roundly, sternly controlling his twitching lips. “You mean Lady Kilmore’s condition, I collect? My dear Miss Kilmore, I hope you will always say to me exactly what you please, though observing discretion when others are about, to be sure. I promise never to be shocked.”
    To his surprised delight, her smile glimmered again. “Never?”
    With a grin, he admitted, “Perhaps it would be safer to say hardly ever.”
    Megan, standing by the window with Will, called to her sister. “Thea, do you think Mama would let me go with Mr. DeVine to Kew Gardens to see the flowers?”
    “I don’t know. Is it not some distance out of London?”
    “Only ten miles or so. Miss Kilmore,” Will assured her.
    “Not far enough to make you ill, Meg, but I expect Mama will insist that you have a chaperon.”
    “Naturally my invitation includes you, ma’am, if you care to go.”
    “Thea is more interested in growing fruits and vegetables than flowers,” Meg revealed, laughing.
    “Vegetables!” At Will’s astonished exclamation, Thea flinched, her hard-won composure shattered.
    Casting a minatory glance at his tactless cousin. Rod said with his usual calm, “I recall your knowledge of different kinds of pears, Miss Kilmore. Perhaps you would enjoy a visit to Covent Garden Market, to see the produce of the whole country and half the world.”
    “No, I say, Rod,” Will protested. “Not at all the thing.”
    “The crowds are far from genteel,” he conceded,