Pascale Duguay Read Online Free PDF Page B

known.
    “Excuse me, sir. I seem to have missed the stagecoach. I will need a room for the night. I see you have a busy establishment here. I am sure you could use some help. Would you accept labour in exchange for a bed?”

    Lord Rutherford, curious to know what Miss Fairchild intended to do next, had quietly followed her back inside and now watched this exchange from the doorway unnoticed. He propped one shoulder against the doorframe and crossed his booted feet at the ankles, settling in for the upcoming scene.
    The innkeeper put down the plate he had been holding and wiped his hands on a rag while his eyes travelled the full length of her short but voluptuous body.
    “We could probably use your services in the kitchens, and I happen to have a comfy bed upstairs once we close down for the night.”
    The Earl observed the vivid blush sweeping up Miss Fairchild’s cheeks as the man’s meaning sank in.
    “I think you misunderstand me, sir! I simply wish to do honest work in exchange for a room of my own.”
    “Here now, no need to put on airs with me, missy! A female travelling alone is fair pickings, as I’m sure you very well know. Besides, as you seem to have lost the protection of your gent, looks to me like you can’t be too picky as to who shares your bed tonight, eh?”
    The innkeeper took a step toward her just as the Earl deemed it time for him to intervene. However, Miss Fairchild’s next move took both men completely by surprise as her bag hit the innkeeper squarely on the nose. Since the fellow did not have the good sense to duck the blow aimed at his head, a loud crack along with the jingling of glass bottles resonated throughout the room. The innkeeper let out a yelp of pain and bent over double holding on to his bleeding nose.
    “You’ve broken by dose, you bloody witch! Just you wait ’til I get by hands on you!”
    Lord Rutherford, feeling somewhat sorry for the innkeeper, left his post by the doorway and came to stand next to Miss Fairchild.
    “That will not be necessary.”

    In spite of the gravity of the situation, Patience had to stifle a giggle.
    “Come, Belinda.”
    The imperious tone with which he uttered these two simple words caused her legs to move of their own volition. When she reached his side, he relieved her of the bag. Taking hold of her elbow, he steered her outdoors toward his waiting phaeton where, to her dismay, he assisted her aboard. After settling himself next to her, he motioned for the hostler to let go of the horses’ heads. But instead of dashing off at top speed to catch up with the stagecoach, as Patience had suspected he would, he set off at the same brisk trot as before.
    “You will not be able to overtake the coach at this pace,” Patience pointed out.
    “It does not signify since it was not my intention. As I told you previously, I do not go chasing after coaches. Had you not run off in a miff, you need not have found it necessary to break that unfortunate man’s nose.”
    Patience’s spine stiffened. “Humph! That unfortunate man deserved much more in my opinion!”
    “Maybe so, but as he rightly pointed out, you had placed yourself in a most precarious position.”
    Patience, not wanting to concede the point, refrained from responding. How dare he admonish her as if she were merely a schoolroom chit instead of a woman on the verge of turning one-and-twenty? To top it all off, this whole episode could have been avoided had he just made the least push to stop her from making a cake of herself.
    Only one other person had ever succeeded in making her feel this way. Thankfully, Julius Rutherford, that most pompous and sanctimonious of young men, was long gone from her life. She had not thought of him in years. The fact that she was presently on her way to his estate must be causing these long-forgotten memories to resurface so annoyingly. However, she doubted very much that he would be in residence. Like most of the ton, he would have removed to London for