The Poor Relation Read Online Free PDF Page B

Knowing that he was merely being polite, she was angry with herself for actually feeling flattered.  After all, he was an infamous rake.  “Thank you, my lord,” she said, sitting in the chair he’d pulled out for her. “I see you are dressed for riding?”
    “I ride most mornings,” he said and then smiled.  “Brutus’s sire was a black Arabian and has the devil’s temperament.  A hard ride each morning keeps him from abusing the stable hands.”
    He took his seat next to her, and she accepted a cup of hot chocolate from the footman and chose a scone from a silver basket on the table.  Applying blackberry jam to the scone, she decided to turn the focus away from herself and said, “Pray forgive me, my lord, but I can’t help but notice that your knuckles appear bruised, swollen even.”
    Camden looked at his right hand, holding his fork, then at Chloe. “Probably from sparring with the Gentleman Jackson yesterday morning before I left London,” he said and speared her with a challenging glint in his dark blue eyes.
    Accepting his game, she smiled sweetly.  “I take it you came away the winner?”
    He quirked one black eyebrow and returned her smile. “Have no doubt of it, Miss Woodforde.”  He toyed with the kippers on his plate, then put his fork down.  “You are an early riser?”
    “Yes,” she answered.  “It gives me time to myself as Lady Milbanke does not rise until midmorning.”
    He reached for his coffee cup and leaned back in his chair. “How do you amuse yourself?”
    His dark gaze held hers, and Chloe gave him another smile.  “When in the country, I walk.”
    Again the raised eyebrow. “With Lady Caro?” 
    Chloe laughed.  “Not in the morning, my lord.  My aunt’s abigail sees to Lady Caro then, for she too is a slug-a-bug like the baroness.”
    “Do you plan to walk again this evening?”
    “Yes, if the weather holds.”
    “I see.”  He looked at her thoughtfully before he gave her an inviting smile.  “Remembering our conversations, Miss Woodforde, perhaps you will desist walking late at night?”
    His smile seemed genuine and his request was a simple enough, yet Chloe judged his meaning was more of a warning.  Again, she found herself wondering if Amy Sansbury’s gossip held more truth than rumor.  Answering honestly, she said, “Most nights do not pose a problem as Lady Milbanke tends to retire early.”
    He inclined his head and said, “I am greatly relieved to hear that, Miss Woodforde.”  With that, he rose, bid her good day, and headed for the door.
    The door opened and Monsieur Guyot came to a halt.  Chloe watched as Guyot’s glare quickly changed to a smile, and he bowed and gave Camden a cheery, “ Bonjour , my lord.”
    “Monsieur Guyot,” Camden replied, “you are up early.”
    “ Oui , the sun is bright and the day promises to be delightful.”  Guyot ran his eyes over Camden’s attire.  “You are going riding, oui ?”
    “Yes, in fact, I am on my way out now.”  Slipping past the Frenchman, Camden said, “Good day, Monsieur.”
    Guyot stood for a moment watching Camden’s retreating back before he seemed to recollect that Chloe was watching him.  Entering the breakfast room, he greeted Chloe, then went to the sideboard and filled a plate with the assortment of breakfast foods.  Taking a seat across from her, he said, “You know the Viscount well, oui ?”
    His tone implied much more, making her feel uncomfortable, but Chloe decided to ignore it and shook her head.  “No, Monsieur, we have just met,” she said, then bid him a good morning and headed for the door.
    ~~~~~
    When Camden returned from his morning ride, Tindall, the Clairmont s’ butler, took his hat and riding crop and said, “The Marquis has requested a moment of your time, my lord.  He is in his study.”
    Located on the ground floor, the study, unlike everything else at the Court, was a small intimate room with walnut cabinets on one wall and several chairs