Brighton Road Read Free Page B

you, Lord Ravenel," Belinda said,
dabbing at her eyes with the linen. She gave a brave little sniff.
"I am sure you understand now why I wish you to give me more
time."
    "But—" Ravenel began.
    "Pray don't distress me by saying more just
now. I will give you my answer in Brighton." Miss Carruthers
managed to skirt past him. She bolted through the parlor door,
fairly closing it in his face when he tried to follow.
    Gwenda waited tensely for Ravenel's reaction.
He did not look like the sort to slap his forehead or tear his hair
and lament. For a moment he stared at the closed door, looking
rather nonplussed. Then he scowled, his eyes seeming to grow darker
until Gwenda thought even the most black-hearted villain she had
ever created would have thought twice about trifling with his
lordship in his present mood. She half expected he would swear and
drive his fist against the door panel.
    But although his jaw set in a hard, angry
line, Ravenel merely snatched up his gloves and put them on again
with sharp, savage tugs. Gwenda held her breath for fear he might
yet take a notion to walk farther into the parlor. When he reached
for the door handle, she had to smother a sigh of relief. She sank
back, congratulating herself on escaping undetected, when she heard
a sharp bark. The next instant Bert jumped back through the window,
his muddied paws skidding on the wooden floor.
    With an inward groan, Gwenda flattened
herself against the settle as Bert galloped over to where she sat.
She shooed the dog frantically with her hand, hissing, "Go away,
Bertie." But Spotted Bert was entirely impervious to such hints. He
barked and wagged his tail as though he had not seen her for a
twelvemonth, then assaulted her hand with rough, affectionate
licks.
    "What the deuce!" Gwenda heard Ravenel
exclaim. With a sinking heart, she listened to sound of his boots
striding across the room. She had not a chance to move so much as a
muscle before his lordship was bending over the settle and peering
directly into her face.
    "Hullo," she said with forced brightness as
she struggled to fend off Bert.
    Never had she seen a man look more
thunderstruck. Ravenel's expression was exactly what she had been
trying to achieve in her last book for Count Armatello when he saw
the ghost of his murdered sister rise up before him.
    Ravenel's astonishment quickly evaporated,
his face suffusing with a dull, angry red. Gwenda could see the
storm brewing in those brilliant black eyes and hastily sought for
words of explanation and apology, but before she could say another
word, Bert began sniffing at Ravenel's sleeve.
    Ever a sociable creature, her dog took a
sudden, violent fancy to his lordship. His tongue lolling out, Bert
leaped up, trying to lick Ravenel's chin. With a muttered oath,
Ravenel tried to thrust aside the eager, panting animal.
    "Oh, no! Bad dog. Heel, Bertie!" Gwenda
cried.
    But Bert never heeled. He continued to leap
up as though determined to scale Ravenel, scraping his muddy paws
clean upon the length of his lordship's immaculate cream-colored
breeches.
    "Down!" Ravenel said sternly, collaring Bert
and forcing the animal back upon all fours. The dog whined and
fidgeted while looking adoringly up at Ravenel.
    Gwenda saw in Bert's intrusion a chance for
her to escape from what promised to be a most unpleasant
confrontation. She stood up, reaching for Bert's collar and said,
"I do apologize for Bertie's behavior, sir. If you will permit me,
I'll just be taking him—"
    "Sit!" Ravenel. thundered.
    To Gwenda's mortification, she obeyed the
command with more alacrity than the dog did. She plopped back down
upon the bench. Spotted Bert gave in reluctantly, lowering his
hindquarters to sit on her feet. To her astonishment, he remained
seated even after Ravenel released his collar.
    "That's absolutely amazing," Gwenda could not
help exclaiming. "Bertie never listens to anyone."
    "A trait that his mistress apparently doesn't
share." With a look of disgust at his