Read Shirley Kerr for Free Online Page A

him,her lovely freckle hidden by her high-necked gown, he thought he might just enjoy being in her hands.
    Besides, it appeared they had no one willing to serve as peacemaker, unlike Father and Grandfather.
    “No harm done,” Blakeney said, striding forward. “Perhaps we should adjourn to the library so we can discuss practical matters?”
    Miss Parnell stepped forward and to the side, blocking Alistair’s exit, unless he wanted to knock her over. “Actually, we were discussing plans for Lord Moncreiffe to escort the three of us to Lady Bainbridge’s Venetian breakfast this afternoon.”
    “We were?” Alistair murmured.
    “Not what it looked like to me,” Blakeney said, folding his arms across his chest.
    Miss Parnell raised her chin. “He’s going to bring his carriage by at one o’clock.” She stepped aside and raised her hand, palm down. “Until then, my lord.”
    Alistair took the hint and dropped a kiss just above her bare knuckles. “Until then.”
    Just when he thought Blakeney was going to challenge him, he moved aside at the last second to let Alistair pass through the doorway.
    He reclaimed his hat and coat from the footman and walked home, deep in thought. With any luck, a false engagement to a pretty girl like Miss Parnell would keep away all but the most aggressive of the marriage-minded young women who’d been dogging his steps.
    Would she realize he knew of her real intentions? What was she really after, that she wanted to get without her brother’s cooperation?
    And more importantly, should he help her, or try to stop her?
    He needed to gather more information before drawing a conclusion. Miss Parnell, at the least, was worthy of further observation.
     
    Introductions to Miss Parnell’s aunt and then getting the foursome into the carriage prevented any private conversation with his temporary fiancée. He barely managed to be the one to assist her from the carriage when they arrived.
    The Bainbridges’ garden was decorated with paper lanterns swaying in the light afternoon breeze. An army of servants kept the dishes filled to overflowing with delicacies, feeding almost the same size crowd as had graced the ball at the Argyle Rooms last night.
    Alistair had almost decided to spirit Miss Parnell away so they could talk, when he realized they were now the only ones seated in the dappled sunlight beneath the elm tree in the corner of the garden.
    “I know what you’re up to,” he said softly to her as she bit into a pastry.
    She dropped the pastry onto her plate. She swallowed and patted her cherry-red lips with her napkin. “I know I shouldn’t have taken a second tart, but the first was so good.”
    He almost smiled. “Not that. In fact, it’s refreshing to see a woman who doesn’t pretend she eats like a bird. No, I meant I know why you want a fraudulent fiancé.”
    “You do?” She stared down at the pastry as though it had been the one to speak, not him.
    “You’re trying to do something without your brother’s knowledge—something that required breaking into someone else’s hotel room.”
    She held on to her plate with both hands and turned her blue gaze on him. “Do you see the half dozen or so daggers plunged into my back, my lord?”
    A lingering glance over her entire luscious figure, and Alistair assured himself she was speaking metaphorically.
    “Those are from the ladies who’ve congratulated me on my forthcoming marriage to you. Very determined ladies who had every intention of diligently pursuing a match with you for themselves. Let us not pretend that I am the only one who benefits from this arrangement.”
    He allowed a rueful grin. “I had noticed the sudden lack of handkerchiefs dropped in my path since the announcement appeared.” He rested his arm on the back of her chair and turned toward her, leaning over just far enough to catch a glimpse of her freckle. He barely resisted the impulse to twine one of her curls around his finger.
    Not only had she