Loving a Lost Lord (LL 1) by Putney Mary Jo

Author:Putney, Mary Jo [Putney, Mary Jo]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781420128628
Publisher: Zebra
Published: 2012-03-02T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

A maid brought in a decanter of port and four goblets. Adam wasn’t surprised to see Mariah rise to her feet with unseemly swiftness. “I will leave you gentlemen to your port,” she said brightly.

As Adam poured a glass, Kirkland asked her, “Is it Ballard port? That would be from the firm run by the other old school friend we spoke of earlier. Very good it is, too.”

“I really don’t know.” Mariah edged toward the door. “Someone else filled the decanter.”

“I’m sure we’ll manage.” Adam slid the decanter to Kirkland. “We shall see you later in the drawing room.” He glanced at Mariah, trying to convey that he fully understood her desire to escape her guests for a while.

Unfortunately, Masterson also got to his feet. “The light lingers so long this far north. I’d like to see the grounds if you’re willing to guide me, Miss Clarke.”

She did not look enthralled but was too polite to refuse. “I would be happy to show you some of the property,” she said. “Just let me get a shawl.”

She returned wrapped in her grandmother’s shawl despite its shabbiness. She must have felt that she needed Granny Rose’s support. Masterson opened the door for her and they departed, Bhanu at their heels.

Adam hoped that Masterson was as benevolent as he seemed. Mariah had enough to endure with these strangers invading her house. He wasn’t sure how he felt about them himself. They were all honorable, intelligent men, even Randall, apart from his obvious suspicions of Mariah. But Adam didn’t feel any particular bond. He rubbed his aching temple, thinking that his old life was a source of regular headaches. After the door closed, he said, “In Hartley, people think Mariah and I are married. It seemed a way to remove the scandal from my living under her roof. I would ask that you maintain the pretense as long as you’re here.”

“Very well. That has the virtue of simplicity.” Kirkland frowned. “There is something we must discuss with you, Ash, and I’d rather not do it in front of Miss Clarke.”

“I do hope you aren’t going to try to convince me that she is not suitable to be my wife,” Adam replied, his voice edged. He might not be sure he could trust her, but he’d be damned if he’d see her criticized by men who had barely met her.

“Nothing like that. She is an attractive, intelligent young woman and you seem to care about each other, which is a good foundation for marriage. This is quite a different matter.” Kirkland exchanged a glance with Randall. “Do you remember anything at all about the accident that left you injured and lost at sea?”

Adam’s brows drew together as he thought back to his earliest, dimmest memories. “I vaguely recall hanging on to a beam and floating in cold water for what seemed to be forever. But I have no memory of the accident. Why would it matter?”

“Because we started looking for you by salvaging the wreckage of your ship, the Enterprise,” Randall replied.

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