Snowbound With the Notorious Rake Read Free Page A

behave yourself.’
    Again that minatory tone.
    ‘I believe I can remember how to act as a gentleman.’
    ‘I do hope so. It will be much more comfortable for us all if you do.’ She treated him to a smile. ‘Perhaps you will be good enough to set the table? It will take me but a moment to cook the eggs.’
    ‘I take it you know how to cook?’ he challenged her.
    ‘But of course. My mother thought it very important that I should learn something of the art. I am going to make a pancake of the eggs and add a little ham. We will follow it with the soup.’
    ‘Excellent.’ Lawrence realised how hungry he was. ‘I will fetch out a bottle of good wine to enjoy with our feast!’
     
    Sir Lawrence said nothing untoward during dinner, but Rose could not forget his fearsome reputation. Since her husband’s death she had not dined alone with any man and sitting at the small dining table with Sir Lawrence seemed almost indecently intimate. She was disturbingly aware of her companion. With his tall, athletic form and darkly handsome features she could understand why he was so successful with women; even his informal dress and the dark shadow of a beard on his chin did not detract from his charm—if anything, it was enhanced by the element of danger. She sipped at her wine, determined to have no more than one glass: Sir Lawrence might be a model of propriety now, but there were many long hours to go before morning.
    As the evening wore on and his behaviour towards her remained perfectly correct, Rose began to relax and their conversation became more natural. He asked her about her life and she found herself telling him about the home she shared at Mersecombe with her mother and her young son.
    ‘Why did you not stay in Exford, if your husband is buried there?’
    She made no comment as he filled her glass again. Should she tell him the truth—that she had wanted to escape from the pitying looks and whispers? That she had found the memories just too painful?
    ‘I was obliged to sell up to pay his debts.’ That was also the truth. Suddenly it was a relief to talk to someone. ‘Harry was a dreamer. When we moved to Exford he thought the farm would provide a living, but hewould not listen to advice.’ She sighed. ‘He sacked his manager, who was a local man, and brought in another who knew nothing of the land. By the time Harry died there was nothing left but debts and the deeds to Hades Cove, a worthless mine. I sold the house and the farm, but by the time I had paid off the creditors there was precious little left. I took Samuel back to Mersecombe, where my mother has a neat little house. We manage very well and I supplement our income by running the church school.’
    ‘Ah.’ His eyes glinted as he smiled at her. ‘You are a schoolteacher. That explains your managing ways.’
    His smile robbed the words of offence and she found herself smiling back at him, fascinated by the way the candlelight gleamed in his blue eyes. It really was very attractive. A tiny wisp of desire stirred deep inside. She looked away, conscious of the need to maintain her defences.
    ‘You should be thankful for my managing ways,’ she replied crisply. ‘Heaven knows what would have happened if I had not taken charge of the kitchen this evening.’
    ‘I would not have been sent off like a lowly scullery boy to collect eggs!’
    ‘Oh dear, did you really object to that?’ She turned back to him, a laugh gurgling in her throat. ‘But you did it so well !’
    ‘Do not try to turn me up sweet with your flattery, madam.’
    The glinting smile in his eyes reassured her.
    ‘Well, if you had not been such a ninnyhammer as to send all your staff away…’
    He laughed at that, a real, full laugh, and Rose thought how much younger he looked. How carefree. Again she felt that little tingle of desire and quickly repressed it. The man was a rake; she must keep her distance.
     
    Their meal over, Evans came in to collect the dishes and carry them away