Miss in a Man's World Read Free Page B

diverting, something he hadn’t experienced in many a long year. He was determined to discover who she was and, more importantly, just what she was!
    â€˜I am pleased to discover you are not garrulous by nature, Master Green. None the less, I believe a little conversation would be permissible, even between virtual strangers.’
    This succeeded in bringing to an end her intense study of the passing countryside. ‘I do beg your pardon, my lord—only, I’ve never visited the capital before, and am finding the landscape quite interesting.’
    â€˜I, on the other hand, have travelled this route on numerous occasions and find it faintly tedious,’ he countered, ‘and should much prefer to discover a little more about you.’
    There was no mistaking the guarded look that took possession of those enchanting features, but his lordship chose to disregard it. ‘Why, for instance, do I find you alone in what, by your own admission, is a foreign part of the land? And why are you not accompanied by a relative?’
    â€˜Both my parents are dead, my lord.’
    He found himself readily accepting the truth of this statement, possibly because her gaze had been so unwavering. Yes, already he was well on the way toknowing for sure when she was spinning him some yarn and when she was not.
    â€˜And is there no one else responsible for your well-being, child…? No distant relative or guardian?’
    â€˜No, my lord.’
    Now, that was most interesting, for if she had continued speaking the truth, and he was inclined to believe she had, it must surely mean that she was somewhat older than he had first imagined, at least one-and-twenty. It possibly meant, also, that she was not running away from some arranged marriage that was not to her taste. Which instantly begged the question of what lay behind the outrageous escapade? With every passing mile his lordship’s curiosity was increasing by leaps and bounds!
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    By the time the carriage had drawn to a halt before a certain much-admired residence in Berkeley Square his lordship had decided on his immediate course of action. His intriguing companion, on the other hand, did not betray any outward sign of being at all impressed by her surroundings when she alighted in his lordship’s wake. In fact, when she discovered it was none other than the Viscount’s town house they stood before, she appeared decidedly ill-at-ease, not to say a trifle annoyed.
    â€˜But I thought you said you would deposit me at some respectable hostelry, my lord?’
    â€˜I cannot recall agreeing to any such thing, child,’ he countered, favouring her with one of his haughtiest stares. ‘I can, in due course, arrange for one of my servants to direct you to just such an establishment, if it is what you wish. First, I have a proposition to put to you. But not here in the street, where the world and his neighbour are at liberty to view proceedings.’
    His lordship did not trouble to discover whether his youthful companion was prepared to follow him into the house. When the front door miraculously opened, even before he had made known his arrival by beating a tattoo using the highly polished brass knocker, he strolled languidly into the hall, handing his outdoor garments to the high-ranking retainer who had served him diligently from the moment his lordship had unexpectedly come into the title.
    â€˜Bring claret and two glasses into the library, Brindle, and inform Cook I shall not be going out again this evening,’ and so saying he led the way into the book-lined room, fully aware that he was being closely followed by his newest acquaintance.
    Choosing not to acknowledge her presence until he had closed the door so that they could enjoy privacy, he then turned to study her. Although she had removed her hat, she had chosen not to hand it over to the butler, and held it securely against the portmanteau in her right hand. Which instantly