Read To Love a Lord for Free Online

on. He drummed his fingertips on the arms of his chair.
    “I mean you no disrespect,” he began. Because there really was no gentle or polite way to dismiss a woman from a position she’d not even fully stepped into. Time was of the essence.
    With an unexpected show of spirit, Mrs. Munroe leaned forward in her chair. “I beg your pardon, my lord?” A frown marred her lips.
    Gabriel opened his mouth to disabuse her of the notion that she’d be granted the position as companion but blinked instead. He fixed his gaze upon the too-full, bow-shaped lips. Odd a plain woman of her severity should possess such a tempting mouth that fairly begged to be kissed. Gabriel fisted his hands into tight balls. God help him, he was his depraved father’s son. “I am afraid you will not do,” he blurted. What madness was this, admiring the mouth of a servant who’d come to him seeking employment? He gave his head a disgusted shake.
    Confusion creased her brow. “I will not do what?”
    He was making a blasted mess of this. “You will not do as a companion.” With a sigh, he came to his feet. “You are, of course, welcome to stay the evening and I will send you back to Mrs. Belden’s with the use of my personal carriage.” He sketched a bow and made to turn toward his desk when he registered the crystalline blue of her eyes. The endless depths made a man think of summer skies and unexplored waters. For all that was plain about the woman, there was a staggering beauty in those fathomless irises.
    Mrs. Munroe met his stare with a staggering boldness. “Send me back?” For the lady’s bravado, a hint of panic underscored her words.
    The woman had a rather bothersome tendency of parroting back a man’s words. He nodded. “I will also send you with a letter informing Mrs. Belden of your suitability.” For anyone other than his minx of a sister. He strode over to the bell-pull, rang for a servant, and then stalked over to his desk.
    Gabriel claimed his seat and tugged open the drawer. He removed a sheet of velum and reached for his pen…when his skin pricked with awareness. With a frown, he picked his head up. The young woman stood at the center of the room, her hands planted akimbo in a move that was not at all polite, proper, or spiritless.
    “Did you just dismiss me?” A thread of steel underlined the lady’s softly spoken question.
    He opened his mouth to ask which manner of dismissal she spoke of, but considering he’d summarily dismissed her twice, wisely pressed his lips into a line. A faint muscle twitched at the corner of the lady’s eye, hinting at her annoyance.
    He set his pen down and leaned back in his chair.
    Interest stirred. Odd, he’d taken the colorless creature as the cowering sort. This woman with her fiery eyes and frowning lips demonstrated more bravado than he’d credited. Still, by her words and actions to this point, she’d proven herself unsuitable for the post. “You are upset, Mrs. Munroe,” he said patiently, adopting the tone he’d used on his injured mount when the creature had stepped on a burr during a ride through his country estates several months past.
    She narrowed her eyes and took a step forward. “Are you speaking to me as though I’m a wounded pup?”
    It had been his loyal mare, but by Mrs. Munroe’s thinly veiled fury, she’d little appreciate that slight distinction.
    The office door opened and they both looked as one to the entrance. His loyal butler, Joseph—who’d been with their miserable household since Gabriel had been a mere child, beaten and bloodied by his violent sire. “You rang, my lord?”
    “Would you—?”
    She planted her arms akimbo. “Are you dismissing me again?”
    The lady’s indignant tone cut into his orders. Had the insolent young woman challenged him—in the presence of his servant? He looked to his butler. By the smile pulling at Joseph’s lips, the other man was thoroughly enjoying Mrs. Munroe’s bold showing—at Gabriel’s expense.