A Lady at Last Read Free

been a Hapsburg princess, acclaimed to be the greatest beauty on the Continent. His daughter’s mother, who was deceased, had been an exotic and beautiful concubine, enslaved in the harem of a Barbary prince. Rachel had been a Jewess, highly educated and one of the most intelligent women he had ever met. He was very discriminating when it came to the ladies who shared his bed. He could not be interested in a wild-eyed waif brandishing a pistol the way other women carried parasols.
    She was regarding him with a very neutral expression now. His instincts sharpened. “You will behave.” It wasn’t a question.
    Her mouth formed a small, unenthusiastic smile.
    Now he was alarmed. Was she hiding another weapon, perhaps beneath that voluminous shirt? While she was not a lady, he did not feel comfortable searching her. “Miss Carre, give me your word that you will behave in a courteous and respectful manner while in the governor’s house.”
    She gave him a puzzled look, as if she did not understand a word he had said, but she nodded.
    He briefly touched her arm, in the hopes of guiding her toward the salon, but she flinched and he did not attempt to touch her again. “Thomas? Would you mind stepping out? I should like to introduce you to Miss Carre.”
    Woods strode forward to the threshold of the salon. He was grim, his color now high. “A mere waif got by my guards?” He was disbelieving.
    Cliff recognized his rising temper. “She is worried about her father, and rightly so. I promised her you would allow her to speak.”
    Woods seemed about to refuse. “She assaulted my men! Robards, are you harmed in any manner?”
    The British soldier remained alert and stiffly at attention in the foyer, his fellow officer inside the house by the front door. He was flushed. “No, sir. Governor, I apologize for the terrible intrusion.”
    â€œHow did she manage to get past you?” Woods was incredulous.
    Robards’s high color increased. “Sir, I don’t know—”
    â€œI asked them to help me find my little lost puppy dog,” La Sauvage said, her tone absurdly coy, and she batted her lashes at Governor Woods. Then she swung her hips from side to side and shed a tear. “They were soo concerned!”
    Cliff stared, quickly reassessing La Sauvage. She had known how to use her considerable female allure to entrap the soldiers. She wasn’t as innocent, then, as she appeared.
    Woods turned a cold regard on her. “Arrest her.”
    She gasped, and whirled to gaze at Cliff with shock. The surprise became accusation as the soldiers stepped toward her. “You promised!”
    He stepped in front of her, blocking the two soldiers and preventing them from seizing her. “Do not,” he warned very softly. His tone was one he only used when he intended to follow it up with a very dire consequence.
    Both soldiers froze.
    â€œCliff! She assaulted my men!” Woods objected.
    She turned to face the governor. “And you are hanging my father!” she shouted furiously.
    Cliff took her arm, intending to restrain her if need be, but also aware of the urge to protect her. “Thomas, you owe me more than one favor, if I recall. I am collecting now. Hear her out.”
    Woods stared, dismayed. “Damn it, de Warenne,” he said, very low. “Why are you doing this?”
    â€œHear her out,” Cliff said even more softly. It was a command.
    Woods’s expression filled with distaste. He gestured for La Sauvage to precede him into the salon.
    She shook her head, her beautiful green eyes narrowing shrewdly. “You first.” She smiled coldly. “I never walk ahead of my enemies.”
    Silently, Cliff applauded her. He worried again, however, that she might be concealing more weapons.
    Woods sighed. “Robards, you may wait where you are. Johns, please return to your post outside of the front door.” As both soldiers