No Greater Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

house?”
    “Yes. Well, almost. In theory. It’s complicated. I was distressed to discover what it’s come to, and I suppose I was touched that you felt the same way. Anyway, it’s not the first time that I’ve regretted an impulse—not for my sake this time, but rather for yours.”
    “I quite understand. Don’t trouble yourself any further over the matter. Good-bye, Mr. Daventry.” Georgia collected her basket and started back to Ravenswalk.
    Nicholas squared his shoulders and banged the heavy brass door knocker, his heart feeling just as heavy, and echoing as loudly in his chest. He almost wished now that he hadn’t seen the state of the Close: he would have felt a great deal more benevolent toward his uncle had his illusions still been in place. But then, illusions were dangerous, and he needed every bit of ammunition at hand.
    The man who opened the door was a stranger to him, but his eyebrows went shooting up when he saw Nicholas. It took very little to persuade the man to have him announced.
    Nicholas waited in the hall, his eyes scanning every detail. The house had been improved, a great deal of money lavished upon it, that much was immediately evident. What was also evident was that there were items in the hall that had once resided at the Close, and that alone was enough to make Nicholas’ blood boil.
    His head jerked around at the sound of a dress rustling across the marble floor, and he slowly turned. Jacqueline hadn’t changed much at all, the ten years honing her face into something approaching real beauty, in fact. There was more confidence in her carriage, as well. She no longer looked like a belligerent new countess, recently elevated from a humdrum existence as widow of a wealthy tradesman. She looked as if she’d been a countess all of her life.
    The bodice of her dress was cleverly cut, covering but not disguising the full swell of her breasts, the skirt flaring out just enough, but not so much that the curve of hip was hidden. He knew what the material hid well enough, the memory burned into his mind for all time. He had not thought that his physical reaction to the sight of her would be so extreme, but it was, not unlike being kicked in the gut by a horse, and a vicious horse at that.
    “So. Jacqueline,” he said, his voice colder than ice.
    “Nicholas,” she replied stiffly, her lips appearing bloodless. Indeed, her entire face was ashen, and he could immediately tell that she was as unnerved as he was. But he had the advantage of surprise and he took it.
    “My, my. How you haven’t changed.” He took a step forward, and she retreated a step, but it was only fractional, a momentary lapse.
    “What are you doing here?” she said, raising her chin slightly. “You know you are not welcome. I suggest you leave immediately, before I have the footman throw you out.”
    Her chest was rising and falling in a quick unnatural rhythm, and Nicholas smiled grimly. “How unfortunate for you, dear Jacqueline. I have no interest in your welcome, and I doubt the footman would be very successful in his efforts. I also have no intention of leaving, not before I’ve seen my uncle.” He’d expected her to recoil, and so didn’t understand the small, tightly folded smile she gave him.
    “Very well, Nicholas. I will not deny you your wish. You may see your uncle. And then you will leave, for as you shall discover, you will have no choice in the matter.” She started up the stairs, and Nicholas followed after, the sound of merry voices fading away as they walked down the corridor to his uncle’s rooms.
    He was tense, wondering how his uncle might greet him, not pleased that the first meeting had to be under Jacqueline’s eye, in her presence, but he was in no position to argue. He was prepared to see his uncle indisposed, given what Georgia Wells had told him, but nothing prepared him for the sight that met him when he walked into his uncle’s bedchamber.
    Nothing could prepare anyone for the