Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman Read Online Free PDF

wise.”
    Satisfaction glittered in his gaze making the urge to fling herself down on the floor and drum her heels in frustrated rage nearly overwhelming.
    Adron leisurely deposited the quill he’d been rolling between his hands aside and laced his fingers together. He continued to regard her from beneath lowered lids, his gaze trained on her tightly clasped hands and his expression became more guarded.
    “You do fully understand your duties?”
    She continued to meet his stare, but she remained silent.
    “A maid will clean the nursery and serve the meals. You are only required to do what any loving mother would. Supervise baths and tuck the little ones in bed each night.”
    His voice grew a trifle wistful. “Hugs and kisses all around. That sort of thing.”
    “Certainly.”
    “Naturally you will continue to take meals with the family and to attend any engagement I deem necessary—however late.”
    Still she remained quiet, saying nothing to fill the expectant pause. She couldn’t utter a word else she might break down or lose her grip and do something ill advised—like shoot the sorry sod. Would this day never end?
    “Do you understand?”
    Laurel gave a tight little smile. “I understand. All this is absurd.”
    “I hold that I’m doing nothing more than safeguarding my ward.” He frowned. “Certainly this situation is not what one would wish. However, I feel sure we shall arrive at some mutual agreement.” He paused as if to gather his thoughts. “Consider yourself free to pursue marriage to whichever gentleman you can snare, and there should be several.”
    Laurel narrowed her lids. “I take it I’m to marry and leave my son with you.”
    Adron dipped his head in a nod, his gaze never leaving her face. “The boy stays here.”
    Shocked beyond belief at his ludicrous suggestion, she could scarcely contain her temper much less rise from her chair, but finally she managed to stand and curtsy.
    Every word that flowed from his mouth strengthened her resolve not to weaken. “I won’t leave here without my son.
    Vaulting to his feet with nostrils flared, he glared at her. “Soon, you’ll want to leave, to gad about, to remarry, to live a life as any young, attractive woman would want to do, but you’ll do so without my ward. He is mine to protect. Your devotion won’t last forever.”
    “I won’t leave my son,” she repeated between her teeth.
    “We’ll soon see—won’t we?”
    She squared her shoulders and faced him. “We shall indeed.”

Chapter 3
    Laurel surveyed the room that would be her future home in the glow of a lamp and grimaced. The light was more substantial than the single candle she had been allotted earlier, but a closer inspection of the small space did nothing to improve the chamber. Three strides in any direction would find her nose pressed against a wall. She was alone at last, no longer under the earl’s fierce scrutiny with his dissecting stare that stripped her to the soul. Heaving a sigh of relief, she sank onto the narrow bed.
    Lord Gladrey’s accusations concerning Robert were untrue and wounding, possibly as he’d hoped. His proposition was another matter and a fresh blush of mortification scorched her cheeks. His conduct was unforgivable.
    She had landed in a quagmire of problems, but at least she was with her son. Desperately weary, she surveyed the chamber. The room was adequate for her needs and well scrubbed—a servant’s quarters on the floor above the nursery. Certain this simple chamber was the first in a long line of slights and supposed hardships, she snorted. He had promised to create difficulties for her to overcome, but if this pokey little room was the best he had to offer, his plan would never work.
    Shoving those thoughts aside, she rose to her feet. She dared not be late for the first meal under his roof. Reaching for the additional garments draped over the back of the only chair in the room, she inspected the rest of the apparel. Selecting a