The Desires of a Countess Read Free Page B

guilt grew to a
full-blown ache. Perhaps she had made a hasty decision. “I only
need a bit of time to figure him out before I come up with a new
plan to get rid of him.”
    Harriet opened her mouth, then shut it with a shake
of her head. Ginny was just as happy. She was confused by this turn
of the situation already, she didn’t need her friend twisting it
even more.
    Harriet simply didn’t understand
how desperate she was. She couldn’t . After all, the two women
were completely different. Sometimes Ginny was amazed they could be
so close. Unlike her, Harriet wanted to believe the best in people.
Ginny knew better. Simon Webber was probably a devil under those
good looks and calm demeanor. He was waiting for his moment to
strike once she dropped her guard.
    “ Would you like my
advice?”
    Ginny shrugged. “Perhaps.”
    “ You should invite him back
up to the house for supper tonight.”
    She stood up with a gasp. “Do you not
remember the plan?”
    Harriet rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes.
Bread and water from the kitchen, preferably damp. The cottage.
Make him want to go back to London. But don’t you think that’s a
little obvious? Besides, it will do nothing to endear you to him,
and that’s what you’ll need to do if you want to find out what he’s
really about and what’s the best way to make him go
away.”
    Ginny had to admit the wisdom in both
her friend’s statements. “So you’re suggesting a truce just long
enough for me to find out his weaknesses.”
    Harriet nodded, though she looked
unsure. “I suppose that’s one way to look at it. Though I’m rather
hoping you’ll find out he’s not an inhuman monster and forget your
whole plan to keep him away.” When Ginny opened her mouth in
protest, she shrugged one shoulder. “Jack needs a male figure in
his life, and this man could even become a friend to you if you
needed one.”
    Ginny laughed. Simon Webber, a friend?
Now why didn’t that idea feel as ridiculous as she wanted it to
feel? She didn’t need another friend, and she certainly didn’t need
another man.
    “ I doubt that. But I do see
the value in your suggestion. Will you accept an invitation for
supper if I ask him to join us?”
    Harriet glanced at the little clock on
the mantle. “I’ll need to dash home for a few errands, but I’ll
come back for supper if you need me. I’m actually quite interested
to see this man whose presence has captured your attention
so.”
    Ginny sighed loudly. “I don’t want you
here to size him up! I want you here as a buffer in case he’s more
angry about the state of the cottage than I anticipated. And to
help me procure information from the man.”
    “ Very well.” A knowing
smile tilted Harriet’s mouth up at the corners. “I am your servant
for the evening.” She gave Ginny a brief hug then disappeared into
the hall.
    Ginny sat back down to stare into the
fire. Harriet was right, she needed more information. Even Simon
had said she should have investigated him. And that’s exactly what
she would do. Once she knew the man better than he knew himself,
she’d surely have enough ammunition to keep him from ever harming
her or her family.
    ***
    “ This is
ridiculous.”
    Simon let out a laugh of agreement
before he looked up from the gaping hole in the west wall of the
cottage to stare at his friend. Adam Scott was irate as he stalked
from one structural problem to another. He barely dodged a
waterfall of rain coming from the roof as he turned to
Simon.
    “ This is where she’s putting us for the duration
of our stay?” Adam sniffed. “It’s worse shelter than she’d give a
dog.”
    Simon smiled. It was just like his
best friend to be more upset by their current situation than he
was. His protectiveness had come from their years aboard ship
together. Sometimes he acted more like a father or older brother
than a friend, though Adam was only ten years older than Simon’s
own thirty years.
    “ Well, this explains that
little smirk