Carola Dunn Read Online Free Page B

explained.
    “Oh no, I did not jump in, I slipped.”
    John had never before met a female who would deny a story so much to her credit. It intrigued him. “And you did not stay in the water to hold him up, when you might have climbed out on your own?” he asked.
    “I...I doubt I am strong enough to have climbed out unaided.”
    “Then you did not even attempt it? That qualifies you as a heroine in my book, ma’am. You must accept the title.”
    “Of course she is a heroine,” said Muriel, “but pray do not bother her about it now, John. She is not yet quite recovered. Come and sit down, Beckie.”
    John had a distinct feeling that the girl was glad of an excuse to escape. Wealthy, titled and handsome, he was more used to being chased by hopeful maidens. He watched thoughtfully as she followed his sister-in-law across the room.
    Bev dug him in the ribs with his elbow and muttered in his ear, “Ten guineas.”
    John scowled at his inoffensive friend. He had completely forgotten their wager and now it struck him that if Miss Nuthall came to hear of it she might think he had questioned her with the ulterior motive of disproving her heroism. “Hush!” he hissed. “We’ll be going in to dinner at any moment. I’ll pay you tonight.”
    At that moment Lady Parr came in. With a regal nod to the young gentlemen, she sailed past them and plumped into a chair beside the sofa on which Miss Nuthall now reclined. Her piercing voice easily reached John’s ears.
    “Well, girl, where have you been hiding?”
    “Cousin Muriel would not allow me to rise from my bed, ma’am. I hope my absence has not been troublesome.”
    “Of course it has been troublesome,” said her ladyship testily. “I mislaid my spectacles and could neither read nor set a stitch without you to find them for me. What is this shocking tale I hear of you jumping into a river after a village urchin? I expect more decorum of my companion.”
    The girl seemed not in the least discomposed by the combined interrogation and tongue-lashing but John found it acutely irritating.
    “May I join you, ma’am?” He took a seat nearby before any objection could be voiced. “I think you cannot have heard that Miss Nuthall is something of a heroine.”
    Lady Parr raised a quizzing glass that had quelled many an impertinent jackanapes. Lord John was made of sterner stuff and withstood the scrutiny with scarcely a blink. However, to his dismay he saw that his taking up arms in her behalf, far from pleasing the girl, had brought back the look of alarm to her pale face.
    Why was she afraid of him? Surely she could not suppose him such a blackguard as to tell anyone how he had stripped her nearly naked on the bridge!
    “Heroines are best left between the pages of a novel, or on the stage,” Lady Parr was declaring. “It is, to say the least, indiscreet for a young woman to put herself forward in such a way.”
    John smiled at the girl, reassuringly he hoped. “They say discretion is the better part of valour, but since your valour saved a child from drowning, I cannot agree. Allow me to help you, Miss Nuthall,” he added as the butler appeared to announce that dinner was served.
    “Oh no, I can manage very well, my lord. Pray take in Cousin Adelaide.”
    He acquiesced, though with a bad grace. Doubtless had she accepted his aid it would have led to another scolding for putting herself forward and he wanted to spare her that.
    Tom escorted Miss Nuthall into the dining room, but she did not take his arm, John noted. While bearing his part in the general conversation, he watched her. She scarcely spoke, seldom raising her eyes from her plate though she ate very little. To be sure her position was awkward, both companion and relative, yet such reticence seemed excessive. And she was too pretty to waste her life away jumping at the bidding of the old tartar.
    John sensed a mystery.
         It might be amusing to try to fathom her secret before the duke sent him off to