Read The Baron Next Door (Prelude to a Kiss) for Free Online

rudeness of a moment ago, and it didn’t even begin to offset his atrocious behavior of earlier.
    “You must be here for the Potters’ little soiree,” Grandmama responded, her eyes sparkling with delight in the dancing lamplight. “How fortuitous that we should arrive together.”
    He cleared his throat, switching his weight from one foot to the other. “Actually, I was just leaving. But I do hope you and your granddaughter enjoy your evening.”
    “Oh, you must stay for a little while longer, my lord. We’ve only just arrived, and I would so love to learn more about you.” Without waiting for him to offer—indeed, without even giving him a chance, Grandmama slipped her arm from beneath her light wrap and snaked it around his elbow. “There, now. Shall we?”
    It was all Charity could do not to laugh out loud at the baron’s stricken expression. Though she held her tongue, she freely grinned at him with absolute satisfaction, positively
daring
him to extract himself from the situation.
    His narrowed gaze was as cold as the Thames in January.
    Charity only smiled that much more broadly. Never mind that she’d rather be escorted by Napoleon himself than the baron; it was worth the discomfort to know he was miserable. “Why, yes, Grandmama. I think we shall.”
    Was that grinding teeth she heard? One could hope
.
She waited, smile in place, until at last he nodded.
    “If you insist.”
    With shoulders stiff and jaw clenched, he led the way to the front door. He may have had an early lead in the encounter, but she was definitely the victor. Now all she had to do was figure out how to avoid the man for the rest of the evening.
    A prospect that proved much more difficult than she could have anticipated when Mrs. Potter imparted to her with whispered delight that Charity was to have the
honor
of sitting beside him at dinner. It was Charity’s turn to grind her teeth as she attempted to smile gracefully at her hostess. In hindsight, she should have realized they would likely be seated together, with him being a baron and she the daughter of a viscount.
    “Lord Cadgwith is family, Miss Effington,” the older woman confided, pride beaming from her apple cheeks to her sweetly pursed lips. “My cousin was married to the old baron, God rest his soul.” She glanced briefly heavenward before meeting Charity’s gaze again, concern clouding her coffee-colored eyes. “Such a shame, that was. A terrible shock, to be sure.” She shook her head gravely.
    Despite herself, curiosity tugged at Charity like an insistent child.
What
had happened to the old baron? Clearly something tragic. Had the man been the new Lord Cadgwith’s father? Brother? A cousin or uncle? She wasn’t normally the overly curious type, but, for some reason, she couldn’t suppress her interest. “Was the old baron’s death recent?”
    “Just over seven months past. Poor Felicity—Lady Cadgwith, that is—was in the family way. The whole estate was in limbo until the baby was born two months ago. Unfortunately for my cousin, the child was a girl, so the title and estate passed on to the new Lord Cadgwith.”
    The older woman smiled as if to reassure Charity, and patted her hand. “But the new baron will do beautifully, I haven’t a doubt. Quite the catch now, he is. Young and handsome despite the, well,
you know
,” she whispered, widening her eyes for emphasis.
    Yes, Charity knew exactly. She nodded absently as her gaze flicked to where he stood talking with Mr. Potter and Sir Anthony Harrison. The scar through his eyebrow was like a stark road carved through an otherwise perfect wheat field. The ones down his temple were less distinct, but still visible even from half a room away. Did the scars have something to do with the tragic end to the old earl? No—they looked too old for that.
    He nodded at whatever Sir Anthony was saying, but showed no real interest. His posture was stiff, and there wasn’t a hint of a smile that she could see.