Viscount Vagabond by Loretta Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

quiz of a dress. Not your mistress either, I’ll wager. Wild and unconventional as you like to appear, even you have your limits. Besides, if that girl ever had a depraved thought in her life, I’ll eat my new bonnet.”
    “What a lot of strong opinions you’ve acquired, considering you hardly let her open her mouth.”
    “I observed.” The countess settled herself comfortably upon the sofa. “I don’t think you’d have brought her here if you had not sensed that she is—how shall I phrase it? Out of the common way? Not what she appears or wishes to appear? Her curtsey was quite elegant. Her manners are refined—though that is not at all unusual in a governess or teacher. However, since I did not perceive the usual submissive attitude of the class, I concluded that she was gently bred. I may be mistaken, of course. She may be a radical. That is not impossible, though most unlikely.”
    There was relief in the countenance Lord Rand turned to his sister. “Then I did the right thing?”
    “Oh, Max, you never do the right thing. Only you would take up a stray female as though she were one of those abandoned kittens you were forever bringing me. This is a bit different, I’m afraid. One cannot banish her to the kitchen to make Cook’s life a misery.”
    “Don’t tell me you mean to send her back?”
    “I never know what I mean until Edgar explains it to me, dear, and he will not be home until just before dinner. I confess I am curious why you’re so set against her going back. You’re not in love with Miss Pettigrew, are you?”
    Her brother stared at her in horror. “Gad, Louisa—a scrawny little girl like that who sermons at the drop of a hat? You ain’t heard her yet. I daresay she was overawed by your magnificence, but give her half a chance and she’ll be preaching at you. It was all I could do to keep a straight face...” He trailed off, realising he could not very well repeat to his sister the lectures he’d heard in the brothel or his lodgings.
    “Then what is it to you if she returns to marry this person her papa has selected for her?”
    “It’s against my principles, and I won’t be a party to it, anymore than I was when the old man tried to shackle you to that birdwitted old troll. It’s against her principles as well. I know, because she gave me scold on that too before she ever admitted it was her own trouble.”
    “Principles,” her ladyship repeated. “I see. Still, I must consult with Edgar. If he feels we must return her to her family, we must.”
    “Now, Louisa—”
    “Surely you don’t doubt his judgement? Was it not Edgar persuaded Papa to allow you six months to finish sowing your wild oats? And was that not because Edgar convinced Papa that you are a far better horseman that Percy and therefore much less liable to get your neck broken in the interim? That Papa has not troubled you once in these six months is all Edgar’s doing, I can assure you. Between answering Prinny’s every petty summons and keeping Papa in temper, poor Edgar has had not a moment to himself.”
    “Don’t try to make me feel guilty. Andover’s only had to pamper the Old Man these six months. I’ll be doing that and everything else from now on. I suppose he’s got my bride picked out?”
    “Actually, he’s picked out half a dozen. Not, I’m sure, that you’ll want any of them, as Papa well knows, but he does like to feel he’s doing something, poor dear.”
    Max groaned. “Half a dozen. And the blasted house?”
    “I’ve taken care of that. Not a trace of Percy. I’m sure you’ll be pleased.”
    “Oh, I wasn’t afraid he’d haunt the place, if that’s what you mean. Old Percy hadn’t the gumption. Wouldn’t have gotten himself killed if he had. Curse him, that horse could have taken the stream.”
    “Yes, dear, and you’d told him often enough to put more trust in his beast. Poor Percy—he never had much spirit, did he? He should have been the younger son. He might have gone