The Viscount's Rose (The Farthingale Series Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

streets. Sir Milton Aubrey. But you aren’t to hurt him.” She tried to rise along with him, but her blasted foot would not cooperate and she sank back in her seat with a wince. “Promise me.”
    “I’ll do no such thing. He’ll get what he deserves. That explosion might have killed you and he knew it. The man deserves no mercy.”
    She was shocked by the iciness in his expression. “I won’t have you in trouble because of me.”
    He arched an eyebrow. “I can take care of myself. I—”
    The twins bounded in just then, putting an end to their conversation as they hurried toward Lord Emory with welcoming smiles. Lily was carrying a smaller version of the pouch of explosives she had handed to him yesterday. She was holding it delicately as she moved across the room toward them.
    “Oh, no,” Rose and Lord Emory muttered at the same time, for Lily looked quite contrite.
    Rose winced. “I ought to have thought of this yesterday, but I was distracted by my swollen ankle. She held back some of those explosives, no doubt to experiment with them.”
    “Good heavens,” he muttered.
    “But Dillie must have prevailed on her to give it back.” She sighed and shook her head. “Lily’s the smartest of us all. I’m sure she’ll save the world someday with one of her brilliant discoveries, but Dillie is the sensible one. She looks out for her twin and is often the only one who can convince Lily that what she is about to do is dangerous and nonsensical.”
    Lord Emory appeared to be listening attentively. “I understand. Lily is book smart, but Dillie is… heart smart. That is, she understands people and knows how to gently guide them to do the right thing.”
    “Yes, that’s very well said. I’m impressed, my lord. Seems you’re quite perceptive as well as wise.”
    He shook his head and laughed. “It doesn’t take a great mind to know that Lily will clear your salon in a trice if your other guests find out what she has in her grasp.”
    An appealing thought, Rose decided, for she was not quite recovered from yesterday’s incident. Though she refused to admit it to Lord Emory, she had a throbbing headache as well as a throbbing pain in her twisted ankle. She dearly wished to return upstairs and spend the afternoon in bed with her foot comfortably raised, but couldn’t yet. “Oh, no! I thought Lily was coming toward you, but she’s going to tell Father first. That’s not good.”
    They watched as Lily paused to tug on John Farthingale’s arm and drag him toward the private corner where she and Lord Emory were seated. “What’s going on?” her father asked, acknowledging Lord Emory and then tossing a questioning glance at her and Lily.
    “Perhaps I can explain,” Lord Emory said, holding out his hand to accept the small pouch from Lily.
    At the same time, Rose tried to make light of the matter. “Ha, ha. Funny you should ask, Father.”
    “Oh, blast.” He groaned. “What now?”
    Lily pointed to the pouch now in Lord Emory’s steady grasp. “Lord Emory has promised to return the… er… um… to the regimental headquarters for me.”
    Rose was certain her father gained a new gray hair amid his thick, dark mane. “What’s in the pouch? Lord Emory, may I see it?” He held out his palm and waited for him to hand it over.
    Lord Emory sighed. “I suppose you ought to be told.”
    He held it out, sparing a mere glance at Rose while her father peered inside. “Merciful heavens,” he said with a groan, his face now red and his expression apoplectic. Rose thought it was a bit of an overreaction. After all, they’d been vexing him for years and he ought to be used to it by now.
    He peered into the pouch again as though its contents might miraculously turn into something as unassuming as licorice sticks. Of course, no such miracle occurred. He shook his head and turned to Lord Emory. “You knew about this?”
    Rose scrambled out of her chair and hopped on her good foot to defend Nicola’s brother.