The Devil's Own Luck (Once a Spy) Read Online Free PDF

about it when I was in school.”
    He stared. She was smiling at him, damn her. “They teach you that in school?” he asked incredulously.
    “No, of course not. A school friend of mine, Allison Benson, has six brothers…”
    “Who don’t know when to keep their bloody mouths shut,” he finished for her. “Good God, brat, you don’t need a companion. You need a handler with a very short leash. If Stratton had heard you say that he would lock you in your room and throw away the key. I may well do it for him!”
    She grinned. “You won’t tell him, will you?”
    Rand wiped his nose with his handkerchief and sniffed. He wasn’t certain if he would ever be able to drink brandy again. At least, not in Cecelia’s presence. “No. But don’t you dare repeat that to anyone or you’re apt to find yourself packed off to Northumberland where no one knows who you are.”
    “But it’s true, isn’t it?” she persisted.
    “Maybe as far north as Scotland,” he continued, deliberately ignoring her question. “You simply can’t go around saying things like that.”
    “But,” she interrupted a little more loudly, “men like to kiss like that, don’t they?”
    “Stop!” he ordered. “Go back to your chair. Sit down and let me recover my wits before you say another word.”
    “But…”
    “Not another word.”
    “Very well,” she said calmly and returned to her seat.
    Rand pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned. Why the devil did Stratton and Priscilla think they needed a honeymoon? If they hadn’t left, he wouldn’t be sitting here trapped in the same room with an enticing, but completely untouchable, eighteen year old chit who was discussing an erotic form of kissing. Despite her inelegant description and the painful burn of brandy in his nose, he was having a difficult time keeping his imagination in check. Why did she have to grow up to be so damned attractive? And why did she have to be Stratton’s sister?
    “Pardon me.” Reeds had quietly entered the drawing room. “Lady Fitzberry asks if you would be so kind as to visit her in her chambers as she is unable to greet you in the drawing room.”
     Thank God. If the idea weren’t so objectionable, he could have kissed the butler. “I would be delighted to visit Lady Fitzberry.” He rose and offered his arm to Cecelia. “Come along, my dear,” he ordered. “Madame has beckoned. We mustn’t keep her waiting.”
    Mirabella was turned out for company with a crimson and gold shawl knotted at her breast and matching turban on her head. A plum coverlet was tucked around her where she lay on the chaise lounge. Like most women, she was not immune to Rand’s charm and her cheeks were tinted pink with excitement as Reeds ushered him and Cecelia into her sitting room. She held out a pudgy bejeweled hand which Rand took and bowed over.
    “Lady Fitzberry,” he said pleasantly. “A pleasure to see you again though I am most distraught to hear of your mishap.”
    “Thank you,” she fluttered. “It’s a pleasure to see you as well. I was so surprised when Cecelia told me of your arrival. Do forgive me for not joining you in the drawing room.”
    “Of course. I trust you’re not in too much discomfort.”
    “Not overmuch. Though it is quite vexing to be unable to move about. It was so silly of me to fall. I simply wasn’t paying attention.” She indicated the chair across from her chaise. “Do sit down, Mr. Danfield.”
    “You look well,” he said as he settled in his chair. “That shade of red is very becoming on you.”
    He thought he heard a faint snort from Cecelia, but Lady Fitzberry beamed at him.
    “Do you think so? It’s called “Scarlet Rose.” I’ve a number of garments made up in it. I do love the color red. I would love to see Cecelia wear red, though I suppose it really