Stormy Persuasion Read Free Page B

chuckled. “Now why don’t I believe that?”
    “Relight the lantern and you’ll see.”
    “No, the dark suits us. I’ll call your warts and boils and raise you a lusty appetite.
     I think I’m going to win this hand.”
    Despite the warning, and warning it was, she still wasn’t expecting to be flipped
     around so fast and kissed before she could stop it from happening. She didn’t gag.
     His breath actually smelled of brandy. And for a first kiss it might not have been
     so bad if she’d wanted to explore it. But she didn’t. Her hand swung wildly in the
     dark but she got lucky with her aim. It cracked against his cheek and got her released.
    He merely laughed. “What? It was just one quick kiss I stole. Nothing for you to get
     violent over.”
    “I’m leaving now, and you will, too, if you know what’s good for you.”
    A sigh. “Yes, I’ve already figured that out. But let me get you out of here safely.
     I don’t want it on my conscience if you fall through the floor and break your neck.”
    “No! Wait!” she cried as he picked her up in his arms. “I know this house better than
     you do!”
    “I doubt that,” he muttered, and carried her out of the room and across the main room
     to the nearest window, which he shoved her through. “Say nothing about seeing me here
     and I’ll be gone before morning.”
    “I didn’t see you. You made sure of that.”
    And she still couldn’t. A little moonlight was on the porch, but he stepped away from
     the window as soon as he released her, disappearing into the blackness inside the
     house. She didn’t wait for a response if he’d even heard her, just ran all the way
     back to the ducal mansion and up to her room.
    She almost woke Jacqueline to tell her about her little misadventure but decided it
     could wait until morning. It still nagged at her, how a poor vagrant could afford
     French brandy. The tariff on it was so high, only the rich could afford it. That was
     why it was the prime cargo of smugglers. . . .

Chapter Three

    “W hy do you look like I’m in trouble?” Boyd Anderson wondered aloud as he entered the dining room to join his
     sister, Georgina, for lunch.
    His voice was teasing, his grin engaging, but he was quite serious given the frown
     he saw on her face. Brother and sister both had identical dark brown eyes, but his
     brown hair was shades lighter than hers. She was dressed today to receive company
     in a pretty coral gown, but she wore her hair down, as she often did when she only
     expected to entertain family.
    Boyd was the youngest of Georgina’s five brothers, and the only one who lived permanently
     in London. It had been his decision, and a good one since he was the third Anderson
     to marry into the Malory clan. His wife, Katey, was Anthony Malory’s illegitimate
     daughter, a daughter that Anthony hadn’t even known he had until Boyd began to pursue
     her. Newly discovered as Katey was, the Malorys, and there were many of them, would
     have been quite up in arms if Boyd had tried to sail off to America with her despite
     her having been raised there.
    Georgina tried to give Boyd a reassuring smile, but didn’t quite manage it. “Sit.”
     She pointed at the chair across from her. “I’ve asked the cook to prepare your favorite
     dish. It wasn’t easy to find white clams.”
    “Bribery? Never mind, don’t answer that. It’s Jacqueline’s trip, isn’t it? What’s
     wrong? Did something happen with the boys?”
    “No, they’re happy to stay at school. They’re not interested in their sister’s come-out.”
    “I thought you were in agreement that she could go?”
    “I am. I know you and our brothers only want the best for Jack. And this momentous
     trip has kept the peace in my family—even if it was forced down our throats.”
    Boyd winced. “Must you put it like that?”
    “Yes, I must, since it’s true.”
    He sighed. “I know we were rather emphatic when we insisted she have her come-out