A Talent for Trouble Read Online Free PDF

little interest in you.”
    Once again he’d forgotten he was in the presence of a determined mother. “She hasn’t, as you very well know, and I must be up-front with you, Mrs. Murdock. I’m not looking for a wife.”
    â€œYou need a mother for your daughter.”
    â€œI employ several nannies who are more than capable of seeing to her needs.”
    â€œI’m certain they do an admirable job, but there’s nothing quite like a mother’s touch, is there?”
    Grayson laughed. “You are tenacious, aren’t you?”
    â€œI’ll take that as a compliment.”
    â€œIt was intended as such, but I don’t want to give you false hope. Your daughter obviously hopes to settle down with a respectable and faith-filled man, given her affection for Reverend Fraser. I readily admit I’m far from respectable and even further from faith-filled.”
    â€œI’m sure that’s not true.”
    â€œDo you think it will ever be possible, Mother, for you to not try and pawn me off on some poor, unsuspecting gentleman every time I leave a room?”
    Grayson looked up and found Felicia marching toward them, her hair, surprisingly enough, stuffed underneath a revolting hat of lime green, pieces of it sticking out here and there, and one of her hands was clutched around a parasol of brightest orange. Determined to avoid the subject of wardrobe choices, he stepped forward and smiled. “Your mother wasn’t really trying to pawn you off on me.”
    Felicia’s eyes turned stormy. “Oh fine, take her side.” She lifted her chin. “Perhaps I should simply drive myself over to Eliza’s.”
    â€œI’m afraid that’s not an option, because I promised Eliza and Agatha I’d do my very best to entertain you out of your doldrums while . . .”
    Pain had a way of making a gentleman forget what he’d been saying.
    â€œDid you just poke me with your parasol?”
    â€œWhy would Eliza and Agatha have you make any promises?”
    â€œAh, well . . .” He looked to Ruth for assistance, but she didn’t appear to be giving him the slightest bit of attention and was instead staring at the ceiling as if she’d never before noticed the cheerful cherubs frolicking above their heads.
    â€œWhat else did you promise Eliza and Agatha?” Felicia demanded.
    He summoned what he hoped was a pleasant smile. “I promised them I’d be charming.”
    Felicia drew in a sharp breath and rounded on her mother. “I thought you only told everyone I had a rash.”
    Ruth stopped looking at the ceiling and fixed her gaze on him. “Isn’t that exactly what I told you?”
    â€œIs it permissible for me to admit I have been privy to that type of personal information?”
    Felicia began to tap the parasol in a slightly menacing manneragainst the floor. “I don’t have a rash. Well, I have a small one, but I think it was brought on by the mere suggestion of . . . Oh, never mind.” She narrowed her eyes on Ruth. “Why would Eliza and Agatha send Grayson to charm me if they didn’t know, and if you didn’t tell them, how did they find out?”
    Grayson resisted the urge to bolt when Felicia stopped tapping the parasol against the floor and shook it in his direction. When it appeared Ruth was at a loss for words, he cleared his throat. “I expect Eliza and Agatha, being the nosy ladies I’m sure you realize them to be, simply figured it out.”
    Felicia’s eyes widened. “I thought I hid my feelings quite well.” Her shoulders slumped for a moment, but then she straightened her spine and nodded. “Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now. What’s done is done, and I’m just going to have to face everyone’s pity head on.”
    â€œI’m more than certain everyone is going to pity Grayson far more than you, my dear,