Noble Destiny Read Online Free PDF

had heard such an outrageous slander, but that worthy was engaged in discussing the finer points of field amputations with the behooked pirate, Crotch, whom Lord Weston kept as a butler and general all-around thug.
    â€œYes, you did so,” Charlotte said vehemently. She turned around on the seat and bellowed, “Did he not bring up the subject first, Mrs. Benton? Genitalia?”
    Dare ignored the unladylike comments spewing with increased venom from the pink phaeton in order to better extricate himself from what was turning out to be a horrible morning. “I did not introduce the subject of your genitals—”
    â€œI should hope not,” Charlotte replied with an outraged flare to her delicate nostrils. She smoothed her gown over her thigh. “My genitals are my own business, sir, and they certainly have no relevance to you, no matter how hard you may try to introduce them into polite conversation. That is, they have no relevance to you at this moment, which, in fact, brings me to the very subject upon which I wished to speak with you.”
    Dare felt slightly dazed. He blinked several times, shook his head, and tried to focus on a sane subject of conversation. He failed. “What is Crotch—” he began, waving his hand toward the two servants.
    â€œThere, you see, you did it again!” Charlotte crowed, snapping her fan closed with a smug smile.
    For a moment Dare considered the implications of throttling the woman before him, finally deciding she wasn’t worth going to the gallows. “I meant Crotch. Crotch! Crotch the butler. You can’t possibly mistake him, he’s the one with the wicked-looking hook and a scar running from brow to chin. Weston’s butler. The thug Crotch!”
    â€œI know who he is.” Charlotte’s smile went a little terse around the edges. “But his name is Crouch, Alasdair, not Crotch.”
    Dare squinted suspiciously at her. “It is?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    Charlotte thought for a moment. “Reasonably so. I might have misheard Gillian…no, I am certain it is Crouch. It wouldn’t do at all having a servant named after one’s personal regions.”
    â€œAh. Well, then.”
    â€œExactly. As that is straightened out, you may now beg my forgiveness for discussing my genitals in public. Lust after them as you might, I am not prepared to have talk of them on everyone’s lips, not even you, although should you care to—well, we’ll come to that in good time. You may now beg my pardon.”
    Dare stared at her for a long, disbelieving moment. “You, ma’am, are stark, raving mad.”
    Charlotte bristled, but Dare was not falling for such a display of righteous indignation. He shook a manly finger at her. “You always were slightly mad, and now I have proof. I have at no time, NO TIME , mentioned your genitals! You, on the other hand, burst into conversation with me about them at every possible moment! You’re genital-mad! Not only did you bring the subject up in conversation—after narrowly avoiding an accident with Mrs. Benton’s wig-eating horses—I do not recall ever stating that I lusted after your own particular…er…specimen. Indeed, Lady Charlotte.” Dare took a deep breath, feeling a great deal more in control than he had since he first caught sight of Charlotte’s lovely blue eyes. “Indeed, I hazard to say that you’re obsessed with genitals! As such is the case, you will excuse me from further conversation and give me leave to be on my way. I bid you a genital-free good morning.”
    With a sharp nod to Charlotte, and the merest tip of the hat to Mrs. Benton, who had given up trying to blister Charlotte’s ears and was presently engaged in backing her phaeton with an eye to ramming her team into the black-and-scarlet racing curricle, he turned and started off for the solicitors’ office at a brisk,