Vexed by a Viscount Read Online Free PDF Page A

surprised when her features slipped back into the perfectly polite expression he was so accustomed to seeing over the years. “Yes, of course. There is sure to be much to explore.”
    Now this was the woman he recognized. Well-rehearsed smile, mild tone, neutral response—just this side of vapid, really. But the fact that this persona was back only heightened his interest. What other small rebellions had she been hiding behind that proper veneer? Surely the lake had not been the very first daring act she had ever attempted.
    “What other summer activities do you enjoy? Swimming, perhaps?”
    Mrs. Landon made a sound of distress from her end of the table. When Ash looked her way, she shook her head and exhaled. “Prudence suffered quite a distressing incident only this afternoon. You must be sure to stay a safe distance from the water’s edge in the future, my dear.”
    Ash’s eyebrows lifted. Ah, yes—her wet hair. It should have occurred to him that she would have to produce an excuse for that if she was only supposed to be walking. Thoroughly curious now as to what “distressing incident” she had invented, he leaned back and murmured, “Oh? I do hope you are all right, Miss Landon.”
    Once again, her fair cheeks took on a rosy hue. “Right as rain, my lord.”
    The conversation between Jeffries and Landon paused as her father glanced around. “What’s this? What incident occurred this afternoon?”
    Miss Landon’s cheeks darkened incrementally. “It was nothing, Papa. A small slip into the stream.”
    Ash bit back a grin as he met her sheepish gaze. A slip into a stream, indeed.
    “Small slip?” her mother echoed. “You were soaked from head to toe! Thank goodness it is summer. I shudder to think of the state of your health had it been any other season.”
    The squire’s brow lowered as he sent a reproving look toward his betrothed. “You must be more careful in the future, Prudence. A man needs a sensible woman by his side.”
    Ash took a drink of wine to hide his scowl. How nice of the man to be concerned for his own needs after learning of Miss Landon’s misfortune. It may have been a complete fabrication, but Jeffries didn’t know that. Showing a bit of concern for her welfare wouldn’t kill him.
    Ash watched over the rim of his glass as she lowered her eyes and nodded, properly chagrined. Unaccountable anger gathered in his chest. Jeffries had been a friend of Ash’s father for years, and he’d always liked him well enough. But seeing him as a bridegroom to the sweet and lovely Miss Landon was putting a rather bad taste in Ash’s mouth.
    Clearing her throat delicately, Mrs. Landon smiled. “I think it is time to leave the gentlemen to their port. Come, Prudence, let us retire to the drawing room.”
    As the women came to their feet, Ash and the other men rose as well. Prudence offered a perfunctory nod before turning toward the door. He wanted nothing so much as to follow her and finally have the conversation he’d been craving half the day, but he was stuck for at least the next ten minutes with the less than inspiring company of the squire and Mr. Landon.
    Not the way he had envisioned his evening progressing. By now he’d have been half-foxed and all happy at the village tavern, where he always found himself when he came home. The people there were of the salt-of-the-earth variety, and keeping up appearances was never an issue.
    But here? He took his seat and tried not to sigh. Miss Landon wasn’t the only one who could grin and bear it.
    ***
    A fter what seemed like an eternity, but was probably closer to ten minutes, the men rejoined Prudence and her mother in the drawing room. Mama had not been a pleasant companion, fretting as she was about having given Squire Jeffries reason to doubt Prudence’s character. That had quickly devolved into her chastising Prudence for having fallen in the stream in the first place, which Prudence couldn’t very well defend herself against, since her