Impulse by Candace Camp

Author:Candace Camp [Camp, Candace]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN
Published: 1997-12-27T23:00:00+00:00

Kate was standing in the kitchen when Cook clapped the warming lid on Mr. Pettigrew’s dinner and set it onto the tray. “There. Better get it up there before it gets cold.”

One of the maids started toward the tray, but Kate stepped in neatly, cutting her off, and lifted the tray from the counter. “It’s all right, Betsy, I will take it.”

The other girl looked at her in surprise, but shrugged, not displeased to escape the walk from the kitchens to the library.

“I’ve not much to do with Her Ladyship gone,” Kate said by way of explanation.

One of the footmen gave her a knowing grin and said, “Of course. It’s that you cannot bear to be without work. It wouldn’t have anything to do with it being Mr. Pettigrew’s dinner, now would it?”

Kate cast him a single flashing glance that would have quelled a less irrepressible man. “And that’s the thanks I get for helping out?”

With a toss of her head, she backed out the door and strode off toward the library. She fumed about the man’s comment all the way down the hall, pointing out to herself all the reasons she had offered to take the tray, as well as the many ways in which she was not interested in Jason Pettigrew. However, outside the library door, she set the tray down on a small table and checked her appearance in the mirror, straightening her skirts and tucking in an errant wisp of hair, before she knocked on the door.

At the sound of his muffled reply, Kate opened the door, then picked up the tray and edged in. Jason Pettigrew was seated at the large desk, scribbling furiously on a piece of paper. He glanced up from his work.

“Miss Harrison!” He sprang to his feet, the pen dropping from his fingers and rolling across his papers, leaving a trail of ink splotches. His chair, pushed back so abruptly, caught on the edge of the Persian rug and toppled over. The chair back caught the corner of a small table, sending it crashing to the floor, along with several books that had been stacked atop it.

Pettigrew blushed to the roots of his hair and glanced back, aghast, at the mess he had created. Kate pressed her lips together to keep from giggling.

“Oh, Lord.” He bent down and picked up the chair, then began to gather up the scattered books.

“Here, let me do that, sir.” Kate set the tray down on the desk and hurried to help him.

“You must think I am a perfect fool,” Jason said bitterly.

“Oh, no, sir!” Kate protested.

“I cannot imagine why you would not. It seems as if every time you see me, I am dropping something or… or I’m half-undressed…or in some other equally embarrassing situation.” He righted the table and reached out to take the books she offered him. His hand grazed hers, and his blush, which had faded considerably, renewed itself. “I promise you, I am usually not this clumsy.”

“It is quite all right, sir,” Kate responded politely.

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