To Tempt a Gentleman by Kate Huntington

Author:Kate Huntington [Huntington, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2014-12-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

When Michael went into the breakfast room the next morning dressed for the journey home, he found only Catriona waiting for him, when it had been agreed that his daughters, as well, would arise early so they could set forth early for Dumfries.

Catriona looked up at him with a look of mild inquiry in her big, blue eyes when he crossed the room to loom over her. She was wearing a dark blue traveling costume with a wide notched velvet collar and a stylish hat set at a rakish angle on her blond curls.

How could he not have known she had been bred to every privilege? There never had been anything the least subservient in her manner toward him or any other person. Her carriage was aristocratic and her speech was impeccable. She had worn her simple gowns with the assurance of a queen. Dressed in fashionable clothing, she was extraordinary.

She raised one well-shaped eyebrow.

“Good morning, Sir Michael. May I pour you a cup of tea?”

Irrationally, her civil greeting made him furious.

“What you may do, young woman, is tell me what sort of a game you are playing! Since you are living under my roof, I have every right to inquire into your motives.”

“I do not play games,” she said, looking straight up into his eyes. “You know me that well, I should hope.”

“I thought I did. That was before I learned that you gained entry to my house under false pretenses.”

“False pretenses? Hardly. As for my motives, they are exactly what they always have been—to honor Cousin Sophie’s wishes by putting your house in order. And to obtain gainful employment for myself. Nothing more.”

“Did she know the truth about you?”

“Cousin Sophie? She knew the only truth that mattered, that I was in disgrace with my father and needed a temporary roof over my head. I brought with me a letter from my father, who really is her distant cousin, and a modest purse to pay for my keep. She thought at first that I was with child and needed a bolt-hole, for why else would a young lady be sent by her father to a distant relative? She even fussed over me for a time because she thought I was in a delicate condition.” She gave a sad, reminiscent smile. “I believe she was disappointed when she learned the truth. Cousin Sophie was excessively fond of babies.”

“And how long did you expect this imposture to last? I do not understand what you meant to gain from it.”

“Perhaps, as your daughters suspected, I intended to trap you into marriage all the time,” she said.

“You mock me,” he said bitterly.

“I do not. Do stop looming over me in that threatening fashion. I am going to get an ache in my neck from looking up at you. You are not intimidating me in the least.”

“A mere baronet hardly has the power to do that, has he, Lady Catriona?”

She gave a short laugh.

“You would be surprised how much power you have over me,” she said.

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