His Lady Peregrine Read Online Free PDF Page A

strong arm around her
shoulders. And pulling her much too close.
    That’s it!
    Miriam could stage some
sort of accident while in Mr. Radcliff’s presence. Of course, she’d
have to tag along with her son and daughter-in-law once more, but
it would be worth it. Mr. Radcliff seemed the sort to come to
someone’s rescue. She’d just have to convince him that she wasn’t
as bad as others made her out to be. A bump on the head from a
faked fall and temporary amnesia just might do the trick. After
that, she’d make sure to get him in her clutches.
    And never let go.
     

Chapter Five
    Percy gave a pat to Georgiana’s hand that rested on his arm.
“I thought perhaps we could do some bird-watching here at Hyde
Park.”
    “ Wouldn’t a better place have been the Bird Sanctuary?” She arched one eyebrow.
    “ My dear
Lady Peregrine, that’s where everyone goes to see birds. This is
more original.”
    “ I must
agree about the original part. That is, you are certainly an
original.”
    He puffed out his chest.
“Why, thank you.”
    Georgiana laughed and
lightly smacked his shoulder. “Are you certain that was a
compliment?”
    He frowned. “How could it
have been otherwise intended?”
    “ I must
say, I’ve never met anyone quite like you.” She tilted her head and studied
him closely, her gaze roving over his face and
shoulders.
    “ Why thank—” Percy snapped
his mouth closed. Another questionable compliment? A man could get
a complex after too many of those.
    Georgiana squeezed his
arm, seeming not to notice his mental discomfort. “Hopefully we’ll
see some birds while we’re here.”
    “ That is the general
idea.” He stopped so abruptly they both nearly stumbled. “Do you
like secrets?”
    She raised one eyebrow and
smiled, looking every bit like a little girl who’d hidden something
special and wouldn’t share the details of where she’d put it.
“I live for
them.”
    He angled his head until
he was close to her ear. A few wisps of her hair tickled his lips.
“Another reason for not going to the Sanctuary was so a certain
attractive woman wouldn’t fall out of any trees.”
    She straightened. “But it
wasn’t so bad. If you hadn’t seen me in a lump beneath that tree,
we wouldn’t have met.”
    He nodded and drew his arm
across her shoulders, glancing around to make sure no one else was
nearby. “That would have been a terrible shame indeed.”
    “ Besides, there are trees
here.” She waved her hand vaguely to the side.
    Oh no … “But, Georgiana, you wouldn’t. Surely.”
    “ And why
not? Who’s to prevent me?” A light shushing sound came from below them
as she tapped her boot in the grass.
    Percy leaned down until
his forehead nearly brushed hers. “I believe I’m the man for that
position.”
    “ Do
you?” She poked his chest. “ That confident of your
qualifications, are you?”
    “ If I
must say so, yes.” If there was one attribute of which he could be
sure when it came to ladies, it was confidence. He pushed away the
dawning realization that with this woman it might be
different.
    She ran one finger coyly
down his chest. “I do like a confident man.”
    Percy stood up to his full
height and took a deep breath.
    “ Though… over confidence isn’t very becoming.”
    “ I see.” Deflating indeed.
His shoulders slumped.
    “ Oh, I
didn’t mean you .” Georgiana grabbed his arm and held it so tight to her side
that his sleeve brushed against her breast.
    Warmth caused perspiration
to form around his cravat. “I… that is… well now I’m not at all
sure what I’d intended to say…” He tugged at the piece of cloth to
try and breathe a little easier. Why did men have to wear the
blasted things anyway?
    Some geese flew overhead, honking and
flapping their wings in a steady beat.
    Georgiana shaded her eyes
as she tilted back her head. “Don’t you find geese
fascinating?”
    “ Quite.” But he wasn’t
watching the geese. With her head angled back, all he