Jonathan and Amy Read Online Free PDF Page A

down and brushed his lips over her cheek.
    She didn’t pull immediately away. She sighed, the sound to Jonathan one of long-suffering, redolent of the trials of governessing a grown man on the dance floor.
    â€œYou’re supposed to kiss the lady’s hand, Mr. Dolan, or more precisely, to engage in gestures suggestive of that aim without actually putting your mouth to her person or her glove.”
    â€œMy mistake.” Except it wasn’t a mistake. Kissing Amy was the best move he’d made all week. He followed up by raising her bare hand in his, smoothing his fingers over her knuckles, and pressing his lips softly to the back of her hand.
    At which moment, the piano lid banged shut, and Miss Amy took a decisive step to the rear.
    ***
    â€œImagine my frustration when I find the damned woman has hared off to the country.” Nigel stormed into Bonham’s study, tossed a bouquet of daisies aside, and helped himself to a glass of whiskey.
    Bonham picked up the bunch of abused flowers. “I rather thought governesses were supposed to remain in the vicinity of their charges, not go ruralizing at will.”
    â€œShe’s in the employ of Dolan, the quarry nabob. He’s gone off to Surrey, taking the child with him, ergo, Amy is in Surrey as well.”
    â€œSurrey’s right across the river.” Bonham fished a penknife out of the desk drawer and began to trim the flower stems. “The Season’s mostly over, and I for one am not enthusiastic about remaining in Town for the balance of the summer.”
    Nigel paused in the contemplation of his drink—and his future—to peer at his friend. “What on earth are you doing?”
    â€œThe flowers last longer if you trim the ends up a bit. Nerissa was particular about her flowers.”
    â€œYou let that woman lead you around by a certain appendage, Bonny.” Nigel made this observation as much in commiseration as judgment, for the fair Nerissa was now enjoying the patronage of some duke. “I bloody hate the bloody countryside. Fresh air makes my nose run.”
    â€œWell, cheer up.” Bonham gathered the flowers and rummaged through the sideboard’s cabinets. “I’ve a little place out in Surrey, probably use it for a dower property for one of my sisters. If you need to track your prospective viscountess down, we can jaunt out there for a few weeks before I take the yacht North for the shooting.”
    â€œBonny, I should love you even if you didn’t have such excellent cellars.”
    Bonham stood back and surveyed the flowers he’d stuffed into a pitcher of water. “Doesn’t look quite right.”
    The daisies stood at various heights, pointing in all directions, with a couple poking up several inches above their confreres, and the whole thing listing badly to starboard.
    â€œWhen I marry, my wife will busy herself with arranging all the bouquets just so,” Nigel said. “Why can I take no solace from this sanguine eventuality?”
    Bonham ambled over to the sofa and plucked Nigel’s drink from his hand. “Take solace from being able to spend your wife’s fortune, Wooster. On Maria, at the tables, at Weston’s and Hoby’s establishments, at the races, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.”
    He took a sip of the whiskey and passed the glass back to his guest. “Surrey signifies a deal of countryside. Where exactly has the quarry nabob dragged your affianced wife to?”
    â€œYou recall that match race a few weeks back that had all the fellows aflutter?”
    Bonham came down on the sofa beside Nigel. “Fellows don’t flutter, but yes. Supposedly a friendly wager, but nobody believed it, except that’s apparently exactly what it was.”
    â€œDolan’s country place is not far from where the race was held.”
    Bonham appropriated the glass again and drained the contents. “Ergo, your cousin is off to Surrey, ergo,