Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale Read Free Book Online

daughter behind my back?" he asked angrily.
    "I have not." The ice in Iveragh's voice would have frozen hot coals.
    "She said she liked you." Her father made it an accusation. "Did you put her up to it? If you've compromised her and then forced her to prate about some affection between you to gain my approval—"
    Say yes
, Roddy begged the earl silently.
Say you've compromised me
. Her father was certain to knuckle under to that, even if he were mad with rage. Calling Iveragh out would only ruin her publicly. Marriage would be the only answer.
    But Iveragh seemed to have lost the quick wit he'd displayed earlier. He said, quite gently, "I have forced her to nothing, Mr. Delamore. Nor will I ever."
    "Then why in God's name would she say she liked you?" her father sputtered. "M' daughter's no muttonhead. She must know full well what you are."
    "I confess," the earl said, "I am as much at a loss as yourself. Perhaps you should ask her."
    "Eh?" Mr. Delamore had subsided into a concentrated review of exactly what he remembered of Roddy's declaration concerning Iveragh. She lifted her chin in renewed hope at the conclusion that leaped into his head. "Good God, man," he exclaimed. "Are you in love with her?"
    Roddy bit her lip in the long pause that followed, afraid that Iveragh would miss another golden opportunity. But this time the earl took his cue. In a strangely subdued voice, he said, "It's quite possible that I am."
    Beautifully done, Roddy thought triumphantly. Just the right touch of self-doubt and conviction. Her father snapped up the bait. "Damme, if that ain't a leveler!" He chuckled. "The little vixen. She never told me."
    "I wouldn't have thought she knew," the earl said dryly. "I'm sure I've never discussed it with her."
    Roddy's father gave a hoot of laughter at that admission. She heard his chair scrape as he stood up. "Court her, then, by God!" he cried. "By all means, press your suit!" And for the rest of the brief visit, he continued to break into chortles of wicked amusement each time he thought of how this hardened rakehell was in love with his daughter, and didn't even think she knew it.

----
Chapter 3

     
    Roddy sat plucking at a seam on the green velvet couch in the music room while her parents poured out objections and warnings. Her father's impetuous permission to Iveragh had been instantly dismissed by her mother as an act of insanity. Under Mrs. Delamore's chilly stare, the joke had seemed not quite so amusing to Roddy's father either, and now both of them joined forces to instruct Roddy on how to repulse her unwanted suitor.
    "You must not let him single you out tonight before dinner, my dear," Mrs. Delamore said. "If he approaches you, you must draw someone else into conversation immediately. Your father or I will come to your aid as quickly as we can in that instance. Now—I've rearranged the seating at table, so that you will be between Lord Geoffrey and the vicar. Iveragh I shall keep at my side, since your father seems so ill equipped to deal with him."
    "Matty!" Mr. Delamore exclaimed in hurt accents. "My responsibility as head of this family—"
    Her mother turned a jaundiced eye upon him. "Your responsibility, my dear? Indeed yes, I would think that would include protecting your only daughter from ruin, but I see that it only extends as far as making bargain purchases of horseflesh."
    He flushed crimson. Roddy lifted her chin. "Don't blame Papa." She amazed herself with the calm decision she managed to put in her own voice. "I
want
Lord Iveragh to offer for me. I suggested it to him myself. If Papa had refused, I would have eloped."
    Two pairs of horrified eyes fixed on her as her parents absorbed this unexpected blow.
    "Eloped!" her mother said in strangled accents, and promptly burst into tears.
    Mr. Delamore looked as if he would have liked to do the same. Roddy bit her lip, dismayed at the hurt she had never meant to cause. She had thought they would be glad to have her gone. Her gift