AN Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson

Author:Alissa Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group, Inc.
Published: 2011-12-05T16:00:00+00:00

Upon stepping out her front door, Adelaide noticed three things in quick succession. First, that the weather was unseasonably cool, quite perfect for a summer picnic. Second, that the carriage and four sitting in her drive looked as new as most everything else Connor owned, and finally—and most notably—that there were two men sitting atop the vehicle . . . one of whom she recognized.

“Good heavens.”

She grabbed hold of Connor’s arm and pulled on it until he bent down to give her his ear.

“What—?”

“That man,” she whispered in a rush. “On your carriage next to your driver. He came to my door. He came to my door and then left without saying a word. The day Sir Robert was here. He knocked, looked in, and—”

“Ah. Yes, I know.”

She pulled back to gape at him. “How could you possibly—?”

Green eyes sparkled mischievously in the sunlight. “I told you I had men watching.”

“Yes, but . . . You meant that literally?” She dropped his arm and glanced over her shoulder to where she and Isobel had watched the man disappear into the woods. “He was literally watching us?”

“Settle your feathers, wren.” He laughed and ushered her toward the carriage. “Graham was watching the house and grounds, not peeking into windows.” He glanced sideways at her bruised cheek, and a hardness flashed over his features. “I should have let him peek in the—”

“No,” she cut in with a severe look. “You most certainly should not have.”

She settled into the forward-facing seat and took a moment to appreciate the vehicle’s interior of plush leather and richly grained wood. It wasn’t proper for her to be riding in a closed carriage, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. In a few weeks, they would be married, and it was unlikely anyone would be about to see her, at any rate.

Connor took the bench across from her and gave the roof a quick rap with his knuckles. The carriage started with a soft jolt.

“Are you angry?” Connor asked. He didn’t look worried by the idea, merely curious.

“No, I’m not angry.” She thought about that. “Exactly. I am little perturbed. Was it necessary to leave a man, that man, creeping about my woods?”

“Yes.”

She looked out the window, a disturbing thought occurring to her. “Are there still men creeping about my woods?”

“No one at present.”

That was not a full answer. “Do you trust him? This Graham—?”

“Sefton. I trust he wants the considerable amount of coin I pay.”

She slumped in her seat. “You’re not going to give a direct answer to any of my questions, are you?”

Connor reached over and tipped her chin up with his finger. “I mean to keep you safe. If that requires hiring a man or two to keep an eye on you when I can’t, so be it. Are you going to fight me on this?”

Strictly speaking, that wasn’t a direct answer to her question either, but it was hard to take offense at the sentiment.

“I don’t wish to fight with you,” she replied, choosing her words carefully.

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