Rumors That Ruined a Lady by Marguerite Kaye

Author:Marguerite Kaye [Kaye, Marguerite]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Historical
ISBN: 9781460321508
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

Crag Hall—1830

‘So you see, it is imperative that, as landlords, we present a united front on this issue.’

Sir Timothy Innellan had been pontificating for over an hour now and showed little sign of flagging. How the man liked the sound of his own voice, Sebastian thought wearily. To listen to him, one would think he had been ploughing the fields himself for the last decade, when in fact he had inherited only two years ago, at about the same time as Sebastian himself had done.

‘If one of us starts paying over the odds for labour, then it will cause great unrest when others do not follow suit. Do you not agree, my lord?’

The question was purely rhetorical. Sir Timothy continued without a pause for breath. Patience, Sebastian told himself. He strolled over to his desk and selected a book at random. Contributions towards the Improvement of Agriculture with Practical Suggestions on the Management and Improvement of Livestock. As good a topic as any. He cleared his throat. ‘As a matter of fact, Sir Timothy...’

The parlour door was suddenly thrown wide open. ‘Sebastian, did you know...’ Caro stopped in her tracks. ‘Oh, I beg your pardon, I did not know you had a visitor. I will leave you to complete your business.’ She hurriedly made to withdraw from the room.

Sebastian dropped the worthy tome back on the desk and strode over to the door. ‘No, please join us, your presence is most welcome,’ he said, casting Caro a pleading look. ‘Sir Timothy, may I introduce...’

‘Lady Caroline.’ She filled the awkward gap herself, giving Sebastian an almost undetectable shrug before stepping forwards with a very fair imitation of polite diffidence. ‘How do you do?’

Sir Timothy, who had automatically begun to get to his feet, had now paused midway, his breeched behind hovering over the chair upon which he had been sitting. Lady Caroline? What would any respectable lady be doing in the home of a notorious bachelor? The question may as well have been writ large on the man’s forehead, so obviously was he thinking it, but Caro’s calculated assumption that manners would dictate that he would acknowledge her proved to be accurate. Sir Timothy made a small bow and briefly touched his fingers to hers. ‘My lady,’ he said, though his tone was frankly questioning.

‘Sir Timothy.’ Caro dropped a small curtsy. ‘I am pleased to make your acquaintance but if you will excuse me, I have interrupted your visit long enough.’

The look of relief on his visitor’s face as she began to back out of the room riled Sebastian. The man may already have drawn his own dubious conclusions, but allowing Caro to beat the polite retreat she so obviously desired would only reinforce them. Besides, he was damned if he’d allow her to be forced out of the room.

‘There is no need to leave us,’ Sebastian said, catching her at the door and ushering her into a chair, managing to give her hand a reassuring squeeze as he did so.

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