Carola Dunn Read Online Free Page A

not even a lively ‘un. Ah, well, daresay I ought to be on my way tomorrow.”
    “You can’t mean to desert me so soon! And don’t tell me the damp is bad for your rheumatism.”
    “My dear fellow, you can’t expect me to stay in the middle of a family row without even a flirtation to amuse me.”
    “There won’t be a row,” said John optimistically. “Tom may be six years my senior but he ain’t head of the family yet. At worst, he’ll sermonize.”
    “In that case,” Bev resolved, “I’ll be gone at first light!”
    When Tom cornered him later that afternoon, John’s optimism proved well-founded. The viscount tut-tutted at the story of the duel, but agreed that the outcome had been an unfortunate accident.
    “Rawley’s not likely to die, is he? Barring a fever or putrefaction of the wound? So that’s why his Grace has sent you to rusticate.”
    “Worse than that. He’s sending me abroad. I’ll be leaving as soon as he’s arranged a post for me in one of our embassies.”
    To John’s indignation, his staid brother roared with laughter. “You—a diplomat!” he spluttered. “This is too rich!”
    “I daresay I can be as good a diplomat as the next man.”
    “Where are you going? I suppose he will not reward you with Paris or Vienna.”
    “More likely some godforsaken hellhole like Calcutta or Cairo. The sort of place Teresa and Andrew would love to visit.”
    “They are off to far more civilized parts on their next posting. I heard from them only this morning. They will be coming to stay for a few days next week on their way to Hull to take ship for St Petersburg.”
    John brightened. “Coming here? Famous! I haven’t seen Teresa since they stayed with us in London in the autumn, just after they arrived back in England.”
    “Muriel hopes to persuade Teresa to leave the little girl with us.”
    “She’ll catch cold at that. The child was born in China, wasn’t she? She has already travelled half round the world. I’ll lay you a monkey Teresa will think nothing of taking her to Russia.”
    “That’s one wager I’ll not take you up on, though I don’t say I approve. Our cousin may be an intrepid traveller but it is the outside of enough to endanger her daughter unnecessarily.”
    “Russia’s not so very different from England. I met Prince Nikolai Volkov when the Tsar was here in ‘14, and I assure you he was up to every rig and row.”
    “That is hardly reassuring! However, it is certainly safer than China and I do not mean to pinch at Teresa about it. I beg you will not lead her into mischief while she is here.”
    “Come, Tom, she is a respectable matron now.”
    “If she has changed, you have not.”
    Foreseeing the expected lecture on his here-and-thereian ways, John made his escape.
     

Chapter 3
     
    “Is that Miss Nuthall? You had me expecting a muffin-faced drab!” Bev’s whispered indignation was just audible above the crackle of the drawing-room fire.
    John turned towards the door. He was pleasantly surprised by the slight figure poised there like a nervous doe. The hair he had seen in lank strands intertwined with duckweed turned out, when dry and wound in a coronet of braids about her head, to be a glossy bronze. Her brown eyes had a slight, attractive tilt, and her thinness was less obvious when her clothes were not damply revealing every inch of her figure.
    Muriel bustled forward and took her hand. “Beckie, dear, come and be introduced.”
    The gentlemen bowed and murmured, “Delighted,” as the girl curtsied, a flush mantling her delicate features.
    “Thank you, my lord, Mr. Bevan, for rescuing me.” Her soft voice was composed, but before she lowered her gaze John noted the look of apprehension she cast at him.
    “Our pleasure, Miss Nuthall.” Eager to put her at ease, he continued, “Bev tells us you are a heroine.”
    “Heroine?” She seemed bewildered.
    “The farmer’s lad told me how you jumped into the river to save him,” Mr. Bevan