To Wed A Viscount by Adrienne Basso Read Free Book Online Page B

stride and arrived just in time to see the back of Faith’s skirts as she scrambled out the front door. Barging rudely past his sister Elizabeth, Griffin gave chase.
    â€œMiss Linden, wait. Miss Linden!”
    She did not pause, nor turn her head. Instead, she lifted her skirts and quickened her gait, shooting forward like an arrow. A sudden gust of wind blew her bonnet askew. Griffin saw her reach up and steady it with one hand, but she did not slow her step. Griffin suspected that even if the hat had flown from her head she would not have stopped to retrieve it.
    Griffin’s lips curled in disgust. As much as he felt obligated to clear the air between them, he was not about to go chasing after Faith like some demented suitor. His earlier feelings of guilt dissolved into frustration. Now it appeared it would be necessary to call upon her in order to straighten out this misunderstanding.
    A strong hand grabbed his arm. Griffin looked down and realized his sister stood by his side.
    â€œWhat was she doing here?” Harriet demanded. She released her hold on Griffin and placed her hands on her hips. “I did not know she was planning to visit. Why did you receive her without a proper chaperon in attendance?”
    Griffin turned, then paused. “I assume you are referring to Miss Linden?” he countered, glaring down to give Harriet his full measure of attention, while hoping this powerful regard might temper her hostility.
    â€œNaturally I was referring to Miss Linden,” Harriet huffed. She shifted from one foot to the other. “What did she want?”
    Griffin grunted with a grudging respect. Many a hardened sailor had paled beneath a windblown tan when on the receiving end of his solid stare. But Harriet hadn’t even blinked. Instead, her chin had tipped higher in the air.
    â€œMiss Linden wanted to speak with me,” Griffin said.
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œA personal matter.”
    â€œWhat sort of personal matter?”
    Griffin almost laughed. Harriet’s tenacity was unmatched. A dimple appeared in his cheek. She wrinkled her nose at him, and Griffin broke into a chuckle. “This matter does not concern you, sister. Please, give it no further thought.”
    Thinking the matter closed, Griffin turned on his heel and strolled to the drawing room. The slight sound of footsteps behind him alerted Griffin to the fact that both Harriet and Elizabeth were dogging his steps.
    Clearly Harriet had not been mollified by his answer. He had barely set foot inside the drawing room when his sister spoke.
    â€œI would like to know the purpose of Miss Linden’s visit and precisely what she said to you,” Harriet demanded, throwing out her words like a challenge she intended to win.
    For the moment, Griffin ignored her. Crossing the drawing room’s faded carpet, he moved to the sideboard, his goal the large crystal whiskey decanter.
    Thanks to the open windows, the air smelled clean and fresh, despite the thin layer of dust that coated nearly every surface. For an instant, Griffin felt a sharp pang of longing for the tangy freshness of the open sea. How dreadfully he missed it!
    It seemed like everything in this wreck of a house was covered with dirt and mold and dust.
    He poured himself a full measure of whiskey and took a long swallow before turning to face Harriet. She had taken up a position near the unlit fireplace, with Elizabeth by her side.
    Griffin had trouble hiding his admiration. He had never before seen a female who could match her for sheer bravado. Except perhaps Faith. It had taken tremendous courage to come here today and lay her rash proposal before him. Once again, he chided himself for his unsympathetic response.
    But it appeared he had more pressing matters that needed attention. Griffin turned his most charming smile upon his sisters. Elizabeth’s eyes brightened with relief, and she responded immediately with a sweet grin. Harriet’s lips