Seducing Miss Lockwood. Helen Dickson

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ to the door, Dolly turned and looked at her with a grimace. ‘His Grace is better for knowing, miss. You’ll get the measure of him soon enough.’

       Chapter Two

      When Dolly had left, selecting a book at random Juliet took it to the table and opened the hard-back covers, releasing the scent of dust and old papers and antiquity. She lifted the lid on the pot of steaming coffee, releasing the delicious aroma, and settled down to begin her work.

      Thirty minutes later Dominic paused in the doorway. Miss Lockwood hadn’t heard him enter and he paused for a moment to look at her, pleasantly surprised. She was wearing a plain grey dress, its only relief a small white linen collar and cuffs.

      Sensing she was not alone, Juliet reluctantly pulled herself away from what she was reading and drew herself upright. Turning, she met the Duke’s hard, discerning stare. She noticed how he had a habit of staring right at a person with an unwavering gaze that seemed to blot out everything else. An inexplicable, lazy smile swept over his face as he surveyed her from head to toe, and Juliet had the staggering and impossible impression that he actually liked what he saw.

      She started to lower her gaze, then forced herself to return his appraisal with a measuring look of her own. Lounging in the doorway in his snug, buff-coloured breeches and polished brown knee boots and tan jacket, a strong, ruthless figure who made the room seem much smaller, he looked incredibly striking.

      ‘Good morning, your Grace,’ she greeted brusquely.

      ‘Good morning, Miss Lockwood. You may address me as Lord Lansdowne. I always consider your Grace as being too formal.’

      ‘Very well. I hope you don’t mind me coming to the library, but I wanted to see where I would be working.’

      ‘Why should I mind?’ he replied, sauntering towards her. ‘It shows you are keen to get on with the project. I like that. It is unfortunate your first few days have been blighted by your illness,’ he said lightly. ‘I am also sorry that your first impressions cannot have been favourable, but no matter. You are here now.’

      Juliet watched him, noting that the man who strode towards her bore little resemblance to the relaxed man she had seen on the night of her arrival and again on the terrace.

      Leaning over, he scanned the notes she had made, his face impassive. ‘I see you’ve started already,’ he comented, noticing the quill in the inkwell and the ink staining her fingers.

      ‘I’ve just been familiarising myself with where I am to work and making some notes.’

      He nodded. Her reply made no apparent impression on him and he raised his eyes and levelled his penetrating gaze on her, swiftly changing the subject. ‘I must apologise for my friends when you arrived. They were out of hand.’

      ‘Please do not think you have to apologise for their behaviour to me. If your friends choose to behave like that, then that is their affair.’

      ‘Indeed, but their manners were quite appalling.’

      ‘I quite agree. I am sure they’re all fine, honourable gentlemen—when they’re not in their cups, but it is not gentlemanly behaviour to make fun of defenceless females.’

      Dominic cocked a sleek black brow and smiled. ‘Oh, I think you are more than capable of defending yourself, Miss Lockwood.’

      She lifted her chin and gazed squarely at him. ‘Lord Lansdowne.’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘There is one thing I would like to say before I begin working for you.’

      ‘Really! And what is that, Miss Lockwood?’

      ‘I have not come here to provide some kind of entertainment for your friends. I am here to work.’

      ‘I see you speak your mind.’

      ‘That is my way. In doing so it is not my intention to give offence, but I think it is best if we know where we stand. Don’t you agree?’

      His lips twitched. ‘Oh, absolutely, and I shall endeavour to keep tight rein on my friends when you are around.’

      ‘Thank you. I would appreciate that.’ His grey eyes locked on to hers in such a penetrating way that she couldn’t look away.

      ‘You seem very sure of yourself, Miss Lockwood.’

      ‘I am independent. I make my own living. I like it that way.’

      Closer now, Dominic saw that her eyes were a curious colour, being large and limpid and a warm brown, but in them were flecks of gold, reminding him of a young doe. Her skin was white and as unblemished as bone china, and her mouth was rosy and full. He took a moment to note her severely drawn-back hair was thick and silken, shot through with tones of russet and copper and gleamed with the gloss of good health.

      His expression said he was astonished and that he liked what he saw. It was in his eyes and the curling expression of his well-cut lips, in the slight drooping of his eyelashes in admiration.

      Resentment at being stared at as if she were a mare that had drawn his fancy stirred in Juliet, but she did not show it. Still she was determined to be on her guard, mindful of Robby’s warning. She could now see for herself that he was terribly handsome, and his wealth and title only added to his desirability.

      She had also heard all about maids in many of the big houses having to leave in a hurry when they found themselves in a delicate condition, because they had caught the fancy of the master or one or more of his sons, who thought young domestic girls were there to be used for their personal convenience. It was a way of life with them. For all she knew the Duke of Hawksfield might be no different, in which case she would do her work and avoid him whenever possible.

      ‘You aren’t, by any chance, one of those women who are committed to women’s rights—equality and all that.’

      ‘Being a woman, naturally I support it, but I am not involved with any group. Men will continue to make the rules for a good many years, just as they have always done, but one day I do believe women will overcome adversity and have the same freedom as men.’

      Dominic was curious. ‘Where do you live? Where are your family?’

      ‘I live where I work.’

      ‘And do you have siblings, Miss Lockwood?’

      ‘I—have a brother—a half-brother.’

      ‘A half-brother?’ he queried.

      ‘His mother was my father’s first wife. She died. As did my own mother, Father’s second wife.’

      ‘And your brother? Where is he?’

      She looked down at the open book on the table. ‘We don’t see each other very often,’ she answered truthfully, having decided when she had accepted the position that she would withhold her brother’s temporary embarrassment from him.

      Sensing some kind of evasion, Dominic looked at her, but did not pursue the issue. ‘And I understand you were educated at Miss Millington’s СКАЧАТЬ