A Dangerous Love Read Free Page B

nearly reached the carriage. Griff opened the door, then dropped his voice. “Just remember the hundred and fifty pounds.”
    Shooting a baleful glance over his shoulder, Daniel climbed down. Griff followed, wishing he’d instructed Daniel more thoroughly on how to act rich and powerful. The man usually had plenty of confidence, but these women seemed to drain his pride. Griff trod on his friend’s heel deliberately, and Daniel straightened his spine and clenched his jaw. That was more like it.
    Stepping forward, Daniel made a presentable bow to the taller woman. “Mr. Knighton at your service, madam.”
    “Welcome to Swan Park.” Her voice was cool andcultured. “I’m your cousin, Helena.” Bracing herself on her cane with one hand, she offered Daniel the other.
    Daniel held the woman’s hand too long, provoking her to jerk it free with a flustered look. Griff groaned.
    Gesturing to the girl at her side, Lady Helena added in a haughtier tone, “This is Juliet, my youngest sister.”
    The slip of woman gazed up at Daniel wide-eyed. “How do you do?”
    “I’m fine, thank you,” Daniel said, his accent credibly genteel if a bit coarse.
    An awkward silence ensued. Then Lady Helena glanced back to where Griff stood. “And who is your friend?”
    Daniel started. “Begging your pardon—this is Mr.…er…Daniel Brennan.”
    Griff bowed. “It’s a very great pleasure to meet you.”
    When the women looked to the real Daniel for an explanation, Griff ground his teeth. Playing the subordinate was damned inconvenient, especially when Daniel stood there like a witless bull. Griff prodded him in the foot with his walking stick.
    Daniel blurted out, “Mr. Brennan is my man of affairs. I hope my bringing him doesn’t give you any trouble, but with so many business matters to discuss…”
    “It’s no trouble at all,” Lady Helena put in evenly.
    As she ushered them to the house, Daniel asked, “Don’t you have another sister?”
    Inexplicably, the younger woman turned scarlet. “Yes, our middle sister. I-I don’t know where Rosalind’s gone, but she’ll be at dinner, I’m sure.”
    Lady Helena cast her sister a quizzical glance, and Lady Juliet ducked her head. Very strange , Griffthought. Why was the third sister hiding? Did she know of her father’s plans to blackmail him into marriage? Did they all know?
    At least they weren’t shrews, which should appease Daniel. Lady Helena was formal and cold, and Lady Juliet was a milk-and-water miss, but neither seemed disposed to cause trouble, thank God.
    At the doors, Lady Helena halted to point out the estate’s boundaries for Daniel. Griff found it disconcerting to play Daniel’s lackey. As a charity student at Eton, Griff had disliked being the target of condescension, and it was downright hateful to him now.
    Then they entered the house, and the awful sight that greeted Griff knocked the wind from him. Father had described a vision of old nobility—veined marble arches and ancient tapestries hung on elegant walls. This was a nightmare of hell at its busiest hour.
    Fiery red was the color of choice. The red-papered walls were punctuated by dark moldings and curtains in gold gauze with red-painted designs. Beside the staircase, a miniature pagoda sat atop a black-lacquer table. Indeed, Chinoiserie decorated the entire hall. Not to mention that a brilliant scarlet-and-blue Oriental carpet spanned the majestic room, covering up what his father had said was a floor of expensive Italian marble.
    Apparently catching his stunned look, Lady Juliet ventured, “Rosalind recently had our hall redone. It’s in the new Chinese style.”
    “I thought it was the old brothel style,” Griff bit out unthinkingly. In the weighty silence that followed, it dawned on him what he’d said, to whom he’d said it, and most importantly, that he’d said it with a boldness unthinkable for an employee.
    Daniel eyed him with something akin to glee.“Please forgive my man of