The Housemaid's Scandalous Secret by Helen Dickson

Author:Helen Dickson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781426876721
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-09-01T22:05:35+00:00

Chapter Six

When Ross had finally regained some of his composure, retrieving his jacket from where he’d tossed it, shrugging himself back into it he turned to his horse and swung himself up into the saddle.

Stupefied, Giles stared at him, thoroughly amused. It was unbelievable that Ross, who always had absolute control over his emotions, who treated women with a combination of indifference, amused tolerance and indulgence, could have been driven to such an uncharacteristic outburst of feelings by a mere maid. It was clear that Miss Napier’s behaviour and imminent drowning had both alarmed and terrified him.

In stark contrast, instead of the haughty disdain one would expect to see on Giles’s face, he had regarded Miss Napier from atop his horse with laughing admiration. In his opinion Ross’s reaction had been a bit over the top. The water beneath the cascade wasn’t deep and Giles didn’t believe Miss Napier had been in any danger of drowning. Noting that Ross’s eyes were still fixed on the young maid, rather than wait for an explanation he plunged right in.

‘At the risk of intruding into your thoughts, Cousin, might I ask why you came down so hard on Miss Napier? As you tore yourself away from your horse, your thoughts appeared to be damnably unpleasant—in fact, the look on your face told me you were going for blood, no less.’

‘I was,’ he ground out in an attempt to conceal the terror that had almost consumed him when he feared she was in danger of being swept away. ‘What a damned reckless and irresponsible thing to do—to go wading into the lake like that—after a bonnet!’

Giles gave him a laughing, sidelong look. ‘Come now, Ross. When we were boys, did we not throw ourselves from that very bridge—times too numerous to count—into the cascade? We came to no harm—and I have to say that Miss Napier looked more than capable of taking care of herself.’

Ross threw him a black look. ‘It can be hazardous. Even when the water looks calm there are eddies there. But I didn’t realise you were being so observant, Giles,’ he growled with a hint of mockery.

Giles’s chuckling merriment could not be restrained and he laughed out loud. ‘No more than you, Coz. After all, Araminta tells me that when she mentioned she was seeking a maid of her own, you were the one to recommend Miss Napier. I have to say that she has been blessed with the most incredible looks. With your reputation for the ladies—the dark and dusky maidens of India in particular, Ross—I can see perfectly well why you are attracted to her.’

Ross’s frown was formidable. ‘It depends on one’s taste—which is something we never did agree upon—although,’ he said with a reluctant smile, his mood returning to normal, ‘I do agree that your Lily is quite perfect.’

Giles’s features softened, as they never failed to do when his beloved Lily was mentioned. ‘I agree with you absolutely.’

They rode on in companionable silence, following Araminta and Miss Napier at a steady pace.

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