River of Fire (FA 6) by Putney Mary Jo

Author:Putney, Mary Jo [Putney, Mary Jo]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9780451214645
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2005-03-15T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Kenneth spent the evening and most of the night in his little studio, experimenting with dilute oil paints and burning a small fortune in candles. By the time he retired for a few hours of sleep, he had made a good beginning to the picture that had blossomed in his mind while talking to—and kissing—Rebecca.

The basic drawing was done and he'd laid in the underlying colors of the figure and background. The real challenge still lay ahead. He tried not to let himself hope too much. Nonetheless, he was beginning to feel a cautious optimism about his ability to become a real painter.

That morning it was hard to concentrate on secretarial work when his mind was buzzing with ideas and images, but he managed, eventually. He was working in the office in the early afternoon when Sir Anthony's friend Lord Frazier strolled in.

"Good day," Frazier drawled. "I saw in the newspaper that congratulations are in order." He raised his quizzing glass and examined Kenneth with exaggerated care. "So you're a viscount. Pray forgive me if I ever went through a door ahead of you. I didn't know you bear a title that has precedence over mine."

Though the remark was apparently intended as humor, there was a definite bite to the words. Kenneth suppressed a sigh; he had known that mentioning his rank would elicit this kind of response. It was the first time Frazier had ever addressed him as an equal rather than a menial. Kenneth would have preferred to stay a nonentity in the older man's eyes. "The title hasn't been mine for that long," he said peaceably. "Like a new pair of boots, it will take time to become comfortable."

Frazier tapped the quizzing glass against his palm. "So little Rebecca will become Lady Kimball. Have you introduced her to her future stepmother-in-law?"

Kenneth tensed inside. "We chanced to meet Hermione at the Candover ball. You know my stepmother?"

"Oh, yes." Frazier's knowing smile implied that he knew her very well indeed. "She has the most wonderfully wicked humor. Of course, you would know that."

"Absolutely," Kenneth said dryly. "Whenever I think of Hermione, I remember her wonderfully wicked humor."

Frazier lounged against the door frame. "You don't get along with your stepmother?"

Kenneth shrugged. "After so many years in the army, I don't really know her well. She was in good looks at the ball."

"Widowhood becomes her." Frazier's eyes narrowed. "You've done well to win Rebecca. She's quite a prize for a man who is down on his luck. A stroke of good fortune that you came to work for Anthony. Or was it chance? You never did reveal who sent you here."

Kenneth said coolly, "The next time someone hints that I am marrying Rebecca for her money, I will break him in half."

Frazier blinked, as if surprised to find that the tabby he had prodded was really a tiger. "Sorry, no insult intended. Rebecca is so quiet that I really don't know her, even though we first met when she was a babe in arms.

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