Love Drives In Read Online Free PDF Page B

the woman's own intrinsic worth, and in that sense, you have much to offer.
    "I'm surprised that you don't seem to have thought of it. What is it about working for me that sent you flying to my house?"
    He was creeping too near the truth. Backed into a corner, Dorina responded with the first thing she could think of.
    "How dare you!" she said in tones of fury.
    The smile vanished from his face.
    "What – ?"
    "Do you have the unspeakable effrontery to suggest that I'm setting my cap at you? You think that's why I came to work for you? For shame, my Lord!"
    "No – please, I didn't mean – "
    "Or perhaps you think I'm hoping to be introduced to your society friends? Yes, that would be it. I could never aspire to an Earl, but he might have a banker or two among his acquaintances."
    "I didn't – "
    "Of course I shouldn't feel surprised that you feel free to pour scorn on me, alone and friendless as I am. What else can a poor girl expect?"
    "I never poured scorn on you," he said desperately. "And I didn't say – "
    "You implied!"
    "I did not! How was I to know you were so dashed touchy?"
    "A defenceless woman has to be touchy, as you put it," Dorina informed him in arctic accents. "Her reputation is at stake."
    "Oh Lord!" he groaned, horrified at himself, at her and at the whole mess in which he suddenly found himself.
    "Of course I risked my reputation when I agreed to stay in your house. If I had only known how that would be interpreted – oooooh!"
    She rounded off the performance by bursting into violent sobs and burying her face in her hands. From his corner the Earl regarded her aghast, and then askance. Gradually a gleam of humour came into his eyes.
    Unnerved by the silence, Dorina parted her fingers and looked through them to find him grinning at her.
    "You can stop now," he said. "You've made your point."
    "Have I?" She dropped her hands.
    "Yes, you were very effective at first, but then you overdid it. Tears!"
    "I don't see why you shouldn't believe my tears," she said indignantly.
    "I'd believe them from anyone else, but not from the woman who discussed piston engines with me all afternoon. I'm sorry Miss Martin, perhaps I have been a little insensitive, but you must know that I never meant to imply any of the things you said."
    "Yes, it was unkind of me," she said, relenting, "especially as you had someone put bolts on my door."
    "I didn't 'have someone' put them on. I put them on myself. I hit my thumb with the hammer, too." His aggrieved tone made her laugh and he joined in.
    "I was only talking about how beautiful you are," he added. "But I suppose you'll take offence at that now."
    "I promise not to. But there's nothing remarkable about my appearance."
    "Nonsense. Looking as you do now, you would light up a Mayfair ballroom."
    "Oh the dress!" she said lightly. "I told you I'd just come from France. I have very generous friends in Paris and this was one of their presents to me. You know that French clothes make all the difference."
    She smiled as she added,
    "Perhaps it's something you should pay attention to in your effort to develop new things and new ideas. After all, you've done shipping and trains, surely making an English woman outstanding should be somewhere on your list."
    The Earl laughed.
    "Trains are easy," he said. "The adornment of a woman might be a little beyond me. All I know is that you would be admired, even at Buckingham Palace."
    "Although you may not believe it, I would rather be where we are going now than being entertained at Buckingham Palace."
    He looked wary.
    "Meaning you want to talk about piston engines again?"
    "No," she said in a considering voice. "Tonight, I thought we might move on to variable steam pressure."
    He laughed out loud, and there was a new note in his voice. She saw pure admiration in his eyes, and the air in the carriage seemed to sing. For a moment Dorina almost succumbed to it. She was going out to dinner with a handsome man who admired her. Why should she not