Master of Love Read Online Free Page A

his own intent argument. Callista allowed herself an inward sigh of relief. Gentlemen-scholars! Such as they, she knew how to handle. Lady Barrington moved graciously from group to group, playing hostess. Determined to avoid her, Callista caught the eye of Mr. Claremont and started toward him with a polite nod.
    Before she could cross the room, however, Lord Rexton took leave of the woman he’d been greeting, swept two crystal glasses of sherry off a footman’s tray, and intercepted Callista in her path.
    His opening volley took her by surprise. “I’m having Danvers amend our contract.” He handed her the sherry before she could decline.
    Distracted, she took the outstretched glass. “Why is that? Is there a problem?” Please, let there not be a problem .
    â€œIt’s come to my attention your footboy isn’t receiving compensation from me for his work here.”
    â€œI wasn’t expecting a separate payment for Billy. He’s my servant and I’m responsible for his wages.”
    â€œI pay my employees, Miss Higginbotham.” He arched a dark-golden winged brow and made it sound a point of honor.
    â€œI’m not suggesting otherwise, my lord. It’s simply that I consider Billy’s payment included within the fees we’ve already negotiated in my contract.”
    â€œWell, I don’t,” he answered shortly. “Danvers will show you the new contract and have you add your initials. Graves will pay him along with the other footboys.”
    She thought it a somewhat unusual arrangement and not at all necessary. However, if his lordship chose to make this generous gesture in Billy’s favor, it wasn’t for her to refuse the boon.
    â€œAs you wish.” She inclined her head and took a small sip from her glass. It was even smoother than the stock she kept in Bloomsbury, some of the last remnants of her father’s once-excellent cellar. “A fine sherry, my lord. Thank you.”
    â€œI’m glad you approve.” Another one of those annoyingly amused smiles began to curl the corners of his full lips.
    Surely he didn’t rouge them, did he? How on earth could a man’s lips be so red and lush and—and inviting? The word popped into her thoughts before she tamped it down with a calming breath. Yes, his teasing grin was definitely back, and his dark gaze was settling intent and smiling and focused—on her.
    With a little fluster of panic, she frowned and took a fortifying sip of the sherry as she cast about for a safe topic. “Lord Rexton, we should discuss how you want the collection organized. Do you have a preference?”
    If anything, his grin widened. “You are the expert, Miss Higginbotham. What do you recommend?”
    Was he mocking her? She drew herself up and launched into a brisk lecture. “From what I can tell, your present library system seems a combination of arranging the books by general topic, sometimes alphabetically by author, and often haphazardly, perhaps according to when they entered your possession. Of course, collections often have no organizing principle at all. Do you realize many aristocrats’ libraries are arranged simply by color and size of volume, so they may all look pretty lined up on the shelf?”
    He widened his eyes in mock horror. “My word, how shocking!”
    She set her glass stiffly on a nearby table, casting her eyes down at her worn but polished boot tips. “I see it amuses you to make fun of me, but I make no apologies for taking my work seriously.”
    â€œCome now, you sounded so scandalized, I couldn’t resist teasing a little.” He refilled her glass from a nearby decanter and handed it back to her, forcing her to look up. “It’s just my shallow, pleasure-driven way of being, I’m afraid,” he said, waving a hand airily.
    She cocked her head, trying hard to figure him out. “Books are a very serious matter, and you