Read Rexanne Becnel for Free Online Page B

you’d wanted to.”
    “That is none of your concern,” he cut in coldly.
    “No? Well, your presence here now is my concern. And I assume that, like a jackal, you’ve come to fight over the remains!”
    It was a horrid thing to say, and she regretted it at once. But once said, it would not go away. To her dismay, his lean face lifted in a sardonic grin.
    “My, my! The proper schoolmistress certainly has become hot-headed. And with no provocation at all, I might add. Could there be something—unknown to me, of course—that has you so unsettled?”
    Lacie was saved from having to respond to that baiting question by the abrupt entrance of young Nina.
    “Miss Lacie, Miss Lacie. Dinner is to be served—”
    She stopped and stared when she saw the strange man. Then she appeared to recall the manners she’d been taught, and she curtsied with a great show of dignity.
    “Excuse me, Miss Lacie. I didn’t know you were entertaining a caller,” she said very seriously.
    If it had not been so awkward, it might have been funny. But Lacie did not see it that way. “He’s not a caller,” she replied crossly. Then she forced a smile to her lips. “Thank you for coming, Nina. We shall adjourn to the dining room directly.”
    Nina disappeared at once. As the quick patter of her footsteps faded, Lacie eyed her tormentor with renewed dismay. However would she survive this meal?
    But if she dreaded the coming ordeal, he seemed almost to relish it, for he smiled broadly.
    “May I escort you to the dining room—Lacie?” He laughed when she bristled. “Somehow I doubt you would want me to call you ‘sister.’ And ‘Mrs. Kimbell’ doesn’t seem…appropriate. And as for Miss Lacie—well, that’s suitable for a child to call you. But I’m no child,” he added in a low, resonant voice.
    He was no child. She knew that logically. And yet it was not logic that caused her stomach to tighten at his words. When he crossed to her, she tried not to notice the way he moved so easily, as if he were in complete control of the situation. When he put his arm out to her, she tried hard to disregard the challenge in his mocking green eyes. And when she finally took up the challenge, she had to force herself to ignore the firm muscles and unexpected warmth beneath her hand.
    They had settled nothing, so why then did she feel he’d already won? she fretted as he led her across the hall.
    Because he was acting as if he had. He was acting the proprietor, and she was reacting like a guilty child. Well, no more! she vowed to herself.
    Before they entered the dining room, she removed her hand swiftly from his arm, ignoring the warmth lingering on her fingertips. She turned to face him, a haughty expression painted on her face. But he was too tall and too near. She took a step back, feeling her composure slipping already.
    “I trust you will not bring up anything pertaining to the school—or any personal matters involving Frederick—before the dinner company.”
    He pondered her words a moment, then nodded his head. “If you prefer that our discussion continue later, in private, I’ll be happy to oblige you.”
    That was exactly what she wanted, and yet the way he had said “in private” sent an unexpected tremor through her. Still, there was no help for it. With a curt nod at him, she moved peremptorily to the head of the long polished table, then sent him her most patronizing look.
    “Please be seated, Mr. Lockwood.” She indicated a chair to the left of Nina’s and gestured for Ada to sit to her own right.
    But he was not to be outdone. To her absolute frustration he insisted on holding her chair until she was seated. Then he did the same for Ada, not allowing Lacie to introduce him but performing the honors himself. Last, he seated Nina, to the child’s sheer delight. Her little face glowed, and her eyes followed him adoringly as he sat down next to her.
    Lacie met Ada’s worried gaze briefly. They’d not been able to plot their