Read His Counterfeit Condesa (Historical Romance) for Free Online Page B

‘Yes. His wife is called Clarissa and they have two children.’
    It had been easier to say than he had imagined. It was said that time salved all wounds; it must have made more of a difference than he had ever envisaged.
    Sabrina smiled. ‘I find it hard to see you as an uncle.’
    He regarded her steadily. ‘Do you?’
    ‘Yes, the soldier in you seems to preclude it.’
    ‘In truth I have seen little of my nieces and nephews,’ he admitted, ‘but that is due to the demands of the army and not to any shortcomings of theirs. I happen to like children.’
    The statement was surprising and oddly pleasing. It was a side to him that she would never have suspected. They turned and began to walk back towards the inn.
    ‘How came you to be involved in army work?’ he continued. ‘It is an unusual occupation for a young woman.’
    ‘It was at my own request,’ she replied. ‘I wanted to do something towards the war effort.’
    ‘A noble aspiration, but not entirely without risk.’
    ‘The risk has been minimal, until now.’
    He regarded her steadily. ‘You’ve taken a dangerous gamble, my dear.’
    ‘So have you.’
    ‘True, though I think the odds are stacked more in my favour.’
    Sabrina was unable to decipher what lay behind that for the tone was compounded of several things.
    ‘The odds are always stacked in a man’s favour,’ she replied.
    ‘Doesn’t that worry you?’
    ‘Of course, but then much depends on the man, does it not?’
    ‘And I have done little to impress you thus far.’ He paused. ‘I admit that on the occasion of our first meeting my behaviour was abysmal. I suppose there’s no chance of my being forgiven?’
    ‘Not the least chance, sir.’
    He sighed. ‘No, I imagine not.’ There followed another brief pause. Then, ‘Did you deliver your fruit safely, by the way?’
    For a moment she stared at him, unable to believe her ears. Then she saw the gleam in his eyes and, unable to help herself, gave a gurgle of laughter.
    ‘Yes, I did deliver it, no thanks to you, you odious man.’
    His enjoyment grew. ‘I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me.’
    It was hard to know what to make of that either, but she had a strong suspicion he was quizzing her.
    ‘Anyway,’ she continued, ‘it wasn’t just fruit.’
    ‘What then?’
    ‘Guns for the army.’
    ‘Good lord! Did your godfather know?’
    ‘He sent me.’ Seeing his expression she lifted one finely arched brow. ‘Why should he not? The risk was small. Besides, I can take care of myself.’
    ‘No doubt,’ he replied, ‘but now that responsibility falls to me.’
    ‘A worrying thought, sir.’
    ‘Do you doubt my ability to protect you?’
    The green eyes gleamed in their turn. ‘Well, yes. Didyou not abandon me to spend a night in the open with five men and a broken wagon?’
    ‘Wretch! You’re not going to let me forget it, are you?’
    ‘Certainly not,’ she replied.
    At this point all his preconceived ideas had vanished; she was unlike anyone he had ever met. In his experience young women did not usually meet his eye in just that way, and certainly didn’t engage in verbal sparring. Beauty and wit were an attractive combination. She wasn’t afraid of him either. He wasn’t even sure if she liked him. On balance, he suspected not.
    They returned to the inn and paid their shot before resuming the journey in a more companionable silence. Sabrina’s gaze went to the window but in truth she saw little of the passing countryside. Her mind was focused on the man sitting opposite. Thus far she had not allowed herself to think too far ahead, but now the implications of their relationship crowded in. For the first time in her life she was thrown together with a man whom she knew hardly at all and in circumstances that required a certain amount of intimacy. Falconbridge was unlikely to do anything that might jeopardise the success of their mission, and he didn’t seem the type to force unwanted attentions on any woman.