The Daring Exploits of a Runaway Heiress Read Online Free PDF

man. Certainly, I never had anything published—”
    â€œThey do say certain talents are known to skip a generation, dear,” Mother said pleasantly.
    â€œRegardless, I had no need for a muse.” Father snorted.
    â€œWhich explains a great deal,” Grandmother said under her breath.
    â€œThank you, Mother.”
    â€œDon’t take that tone with me, Jonathon. I am an old lady and I deserve respect if nothing else.” Grandmother pinned him with a firm gaze. “I’m not saying anything you don’t already know. Although I will say, your writing was better than your father’s poetry.” She shuddered. “Sentiment is not the same thing as good, although he did try, the dear man. And while you may have been a dreadful writer, you have been an excellent duke. The family is as sound as the Bank of England itself, thanks to your leadership, in terms of its finances and reputation. And I am extraordinarily proud of you.”
    Father’s mouth dropped open and a stunned look crossed his face. “I don’t think I have ever heard you say that before.”
    â€œDon’t be absurd, Jonathon.” She picked up her sherry. “I say it all the time.”
    â€œWell, that’s that then,” Mother said brightly, and started to rise, her sons getting to their feet as well. “I think we should all retire to the—”
    â€œSit down all of you, I am not finished.” Father glared and they all sat back down. “I have yet to make my point.”
    â€œI thought he made any number of points,” Grace said in an aside to Simon beside her.
    â€œExactly what I hoped to avoid.” Mother sighed. “Very well then, go on.”
    â€œI intend to,” Father said sharply, then turned to Cam. “Regardless of the fact that you are writing under a different name, this reporting of yours for that disreputable rag of a newspaper is scandalous and embarrassing and puts this family in the poorest of lights.” Father’s tone hardened. “You will resign your position at once.”
    Mother groaned. “Jonathon!”
    Cam braced himself. This was it then. “No, Father. I’m afraid I can’t—I won’t— do anything of the sort.” He shook his head. “I still have a great deal to learn. With every word I write I am honing my craft. There is no better teacher than experience.”
    â€œI believe you’ve said that on more than one occasion, Father,” Spencer pointed out.
    â€œWell, on this particular occasion, apparently I am wrong.”
    Cam rose to his feet. “I am sorry, Father, but I am twenty-seven years of age. You have long bemoaned the fact that I was doing little more than drifting through my life. Now I have found my calling, my passion as it were, and there will indeed come a time when I give up my position and turn to the writing of novels, but not yet. If you cannot accept that”—Cam met his father’s gaze directly and squared his shoulders—“then I fear we are at an impasse.”
    â€œOh, sit down, Cameron, and stop being overly dramatic.” Father cast an annoyed glance at his wife. “He gets that from you, you know.”
    â€œHe gets all sorts of things from me,” she said sharply. “But he gets his tendency to overact from you. Now, sit down, Cameron.”
    Cam sat.
    â€œObviously, I am not pleased, but neither am I surprised by your refusal. Therefore I have considered what my response would be should you decide to ignore my wishes.”
    â€œSounded more like a command to me,” Simon murmured.
    â€œI am not about to disown you or exile you from the family or cut you off without a penny,” Father said. “While four sons may seem like a great many to those who have none, I am not going to toss one aside for choosing his own path, even if I disagree with said path.” He paused. “I was not aware that you