The Temptation of a Gentleman Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Jenna Petersen
Tags: Fiction, Historical Romance
stranger that she had been contemplating the deliciously handsome Marquis and how utterly out of her realm he was.
Instead she managed a smile and a more proper topic. “I was just thinking about how lovely your lands here are, Mr. Lucas. And how much I’m looking forward to exploring Toppleton Square and Woodbury during my stay.”
That elicited a smile from both men and the beginnings of yet another mind-numbing discussion of rivers and hills and valleys. Marion stared into her tea cup as she blocked out her father and Lucas.
Yes, a man like Noah Jordan was not meant for her. But she intended to enjoy his company when she found herself in it. And if she allowed herself a little daydream about him from time to time, it could bring no harm to anyone.
***
Noah strummed his fingers along the desktop. Though it was only just teatime and his guests could hardly be called late, a restlessness he hadn’t felt for years persisted. He welcomed it. It meant his head was in his case, not bored to tears by Society or expectations he wished he wasn’t forced to make.
Sliding his hand across the desk, he placed it over the small box of charcoal pencils perched there. He had picked them up in the village to give to Marion as a replacement for the ones Phantom had destroyed. It was the perfect excuse to be alone with her for a moment. And to warn her about his fears for her safety and future.
He liked Marion’s humor and couldn’t deny a strong attraction to her. Hell, he felt more for her ten minutes after meeting her than he had in all the months he’d courted Charlotte.
The warmth inside him faded. That was unfair. He had made a vow to the woman he intended to marry, and he would keep it. There would be no dalliances during his time at Woodbury. No matter how appealing the prospect.
“My lord?” Basil York, the butler at Linton Green for as long as Noah could remember, stood in the hallway awaiting his master’s orders.
“ Yes, Basil?”
“ Your guests have arrived. I put them in the West Salon as you asked and they await your appearance,” he said with a proper bow.
“ Thank you. I’m sure Mrs. York has prepared something sumptuous to go with tea.” Noah watched with a grin as the old man’s eyes lit up at the mention of his wife of thirty years.
“ I’m sure she has, my lord,” he answered with as close to a smile as the butler would allow himself before his master. Noah had heard the man laugh many a time below stairs, but above he was the picture of calm and composure.
“ Thank you, Basil.”
With a pat on the other man’s shoulder, Noah strode down the hallway. As he paused for a moment at the West Salon door, his heart pounded with excitement at this continuation of the chase. The chase of Lucas, of course. Marion had nothing to do with it.
With a deep breath, he pushed the door open and gave the guests within a welcoming smile. “Good afternoon, my friends. Thank you for braving this weather to join me here at Linton Green.”
He wasn’t surprised that Lucas answered him first. The man obviously saw himself as an important fellow. Overly important.
“ Good afternoon, my lord. What an honor it is to be invited to your home. Will your mother be joining us for tea this afternoon?”
Noah stiffened as his thoughts turned to Tabitha. His mother was still deep in mourning for his late father, weighed down by days when she could do naught but cry. She claimed to feel better since his arrival, but he had seen no change in her melancholy to support that statement.
“ My mother is still grieving,” he explained with a sigh. “I have extended the invitation to her, of course, but receiving guests is still too much for her at this time.”
He looked over to find Marion’s eyes on him. “I’m so sorry for her loss, Lord Woodbury,” she said softly.
“ Thank you.” He was struck by her sincerity. Though her words were the same as a dozen other well-wishers had used, none of them had ever
Instead she managed a smile and a more proper topic. “I was just thinking about how lovely your lands here are, Mr. Lucas. And how much I’m looking forward to exploring Toppleton Square and Woodbury during my stay.”
That elicited a smile from both men and the beginnings of yet another mind-numbing discussion of rivers and hills and valleys. Marion stared into her tea cup as she blocked out her father and Lucas.
Yes, a man like Noah Jordan was not meant for her. But she intended to enjoy his company when she found herself in it. And if she allowed herself a little daydream about him from time to time, it could bring no harm to anyone.
***
Noah strummed his fingers along the desktop. Though it was only just teatime and his guests could hardly be called late, a restlessness he hadn’t felt for years persisted. He welcomed it. It meant his head was in his case, not bored to tears by Society or expectations he wished he wasn’t forced to make.
Sliding his hand across the desk, he placed it over the small box of charcoal pencils perched there. He had picked them up in the village to give to Marion as a replacement for the ones Phantom had destroyed. It was the perfect excuse to be alone with her for a moment. And to warn her about his fears for her safety and future.
He liked Marion’s humor and couldn’t deny a strong attraction to her. Hell, he felt more for her ten minutes after meeting her than he had in all the months he’d courted Charlotte.
The warmth inside him faded. That was unfair. He had made a vow to the woman he intended to marry, and he would keep it. There would be no dalliances during his time at Woodbury. No matter how appealing the prospect.
“My lord?” Basil York, the butler at Linton Green for as long as Noah could remember, stood in the hallway awaiting his master’s orders.
“ Yes, Basil?”
“ Your guests have arrived. I put them in the West Salon as you asked and they await your appearance,” he said with a proper bow.
“ Thank you. I’m sure Mrs. York has prepared something sumptuous to go with tea.” Noah watched with a grin as the old man’s eyes lit up at the mention of his wife of thirty years.
“ I’m sure she has, my lord,” he answered with as close to a smile as the butler would allow himself before his master. Noah had heard the man laugh many a time below stairs, but above he was the picture of calm and composure.
“ Thank you, Basil.”
With a pat on the other man’s shoulder, Noah strode down the hallway. As he paused for a moment at the West Salon door, his heart pounded with excitement at this continuation of the chase. The chase of Lucas, of course. Marion had nothing to do with it.
With a deep breath, he pushed the door open and gave the guests within a welcoming smile. “Good afternoon, my friends. Thank you for braving this weather to join me here at Linton Green.”
He wasn’t surprised that Lucas answered him first. The man obviously saw himself as an important fellow. Overly important.
“ Good afternoon, my lord. What an honor it is to be invited to your home. Will your mother be joining us for tea this afternoon?”
Noah stiffened as his thoughts turned to Tabitha. His mother was still deep in mourning for his late father, weighed down by days when she could do naught but cry. She claimed to feel better since his arrival, but he had seen no change in her melancholy to support that statement.
“ My mother is still grieving,” he explained with a sigh. “I have extended the invitation to her, of course, but receiving guests is still too much for her at this time.”
He looked over to find Marion’s eyes on him. “I’m so sorry for her loss, Lord Woodbury,” she said softly.
“ Thank you.” He was struck by her sincerity. Though her words were the same as a dozen other well-wishers had used, none of them had ever