Unmistakable Rogue by Blair Annette

Author:Blair, Annette [Blair, Annette]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Annette Blair
Published: 2012-01-13T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Chastity could not help note that the children, for once, had been struck silent, not unlike Mr. Sennett.

Reed pulled up his pants on the instant, all of them trying to ignore the foul stench.

Above reproach at all times—Mr. Sennett’s warning on the day he gave her Sunnyledge—on a trial basis—echoed in her head as she realized that she had been caught with a red-faced man, pants around his ankles, in front of the children.

She stepped forward. “Mr. Sennett, please do not suppose that this kind of thing happens every day ... except when Reed was ill, and—”

Reed’s look warned her to stop. Now.

Afraid her home might already be lost, Chastity raised her chin. “How pleased I am to see you, Mr. Sennett.” Keeping her smile, she cleared her throat. “Mr. Gilbride is our new caretaker. Mr. Gilbride, Mr. Sennett is the solicitor who gave me the use of Sunnyledge.” Had she sufficiently conveyed the man’s importance?

Reed reached for something to wipe his hands, barely stopped his pants from falling, again, and bowed. “Your servant, Sennett.”

Mr. Sennett grimaced, or stifled a smile, cleared his throat, and returned Reed’s greeting in kind.

Chastity thought she might cry. What must her benefactor think of her disastrous stewardship? Sick children, unclothed retainers, chaos. If she did not lose Sunnyledge after this morning’s work, she never would.

Sennett narrowed his eyes upon Reed. “We’ve met.”

Reed nodded. “I apologize for not accepting your suppositions regarding my heritage, but I felt compelled to come and find out for myself.”

Mr. Sennett nodded at Reed and turned to her. “Is he a good caretaker at least?”

Chastity cursed her blush. “He has already fixed the front door, and the stairs, purchased a cow, and planted a garden.”

Mr. Sennett nodded thoughtfully.

Chastity told Mark to open the door to air the room and sent Matt and Reed to change their clothes. Then she ushered Mr. Sennett to a small salon. She introduced him to Luke, Mark and Bekah. “I’ll let these three entertain you while I make certain Matt is all right.”

After warning them with a raised brow, Chastity was reasonably certain the children would not rob and assault Mr. Sennett in the light of day. Still, she felt compelled to accomplish her tasks with due haste.

After guiding the conversation to safe ground, namely her accomplishments since arriving, Chastity reluctantly left her charges with the man who held their fate in his hands, and prayed that all would go well.

* * *

The Vindicator cursed. Only one of the children ate her cookies, and so little as to make no difference. But worse than that, she feared that Sennett would banish her puppet.

The solicitor seemed none too pleased to find Reed Gilbride in residence. How could she pit Edward’s sons against each other, if they did not remain at Sunnyledge?

After the woman they called Kitty finished cleaning the kitchen, and left, finally, the vindicator slipped from the scullery dumbwaiter and made her clandestine way through the house toward the room adjacent to the salon, where she could hear them talking.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.