The Desires of a Countess Read Online Free PDF Page B

she made was designed to bewitch him.
To make him throb for her as he throbbed now. But he could and
would fight those urges. His desire only confused an already
complicated situation.
    “ Mr. Webber, perhaps you
could tell us a bit more about yourself.”
    Simon shook off his increasingly
erotic thoughts to give Harriet Percy a quick smile. The woman
seemed kind enough, though he’d be a fool not to realize her
friendliness only extended as long as he was considerate to Ginny.
He had a feeling the other woman would lash out if he dared to harm
a hair on her friend’s head.
    Even the questions she’d posed
throughout the meal weren’t really designed to get to know him on a
personal level. They were meant to determine what kind of man he
was. But he had nothing to hide.
    “ What would you like to
know, Mrs. Percy?” he asked, leaning forward with a half-smile for
her. She returned the expression and he knew without a doubt that
they understood each other perfectly.
    “ Ginny says you’re in
shipping.” Harriet tossed a glance toward their hostess, who was
twisting her napkin with a strange expression on her face as she
watched the two of them talk.
    “ Yes. I began eight years
ago and bought my first ship about five years ago. That ship has
turned into a fleet. Webber Shipping.”
    He couldn’t help but smile. He’d
turned the ghost of his father into an industry. An industry that
had bought his mother some of her respectability back. Some, but
not enough.
    “ You must be busy in London,
then.” Ginny glanced at him, but broke the stare just as quickly.
“You must want to go back there.”
    He covered his smile. She hadn’t added
soon, but the word hung unspoken in the air. Did she know how
obvious she was? How desperate to get rid of him she sounded? That
fact only challenged him to stay, no matter how much he longed to
get back to The Keeper and
the sea.
    He locked eyes with her when she dared
to look at him again. “Actually, my lady, I don’t work in London. I
have a few trustworthy men who manage the affairs of the business
from there, but I’m not comfortable in an office with a cravat
choking me.” He smiled as she cast her eyes to the knot that
squeezed his throat at the moment. “I take a more hands-on approach
to my business by captaining my own ship.”
    Harriet’s green eyes grew wide.
“Really? That’s fascinating, Mr. Webber. You must have seen so much
of the world!”
    “ Yes, most of it. From the
colonies to the Indies to places where the snow doesn’t melt all
year long.” He grinned. Seeing places most other men didn’t even
dream of was one of his favorite things about his life.
    “ You must ache to return to
your ship then.” Ginny’s brittle voice brought his attention back
to her. She had knotted her napkin entirely and her knuckles were
white as she clenched a fist.
    Why in the world was she so
upset?
    “ Actually, I’m pleased to
have some time on land,” he lied. “I’ve missed the countryside and
look forward to renewing my interest in its activities. Like Pall
Mall. Do you play, Mrs. Percy?”
    Ginny made a soft sound at the back of
her throat as Harriet nodded. “Ye-yes, I do play.”
    “ Are you trying to tell us
that you enjoy Pall Mall?” Ginny repeated. “It doesn’t exactly seem
like your kind of game.”
    He arched a teasing eyebrow her way.
“Well, we’ve just met, my lady. Perhaps I’ll surprise you.” He
leaned closer and enjoyed the way her eyes dilated. “In fact, I
guarantee it.”
    At the end of the table, Ginny
muttered something unintelligible, which he ignored. Somehow
stymieing her was almost as enjoyable as that brief touch they’d
shared. Almost.
    “ At any rate, that game
requires four,” Harriet said. “Who would be the fourth
player?”
    “ My man, Adam is quite good
with a mallet,” Simon supplied. Yes, a game with these two women
could be quite interesting. He already knew which one of them he’d
choose as his partner.