A Dangerous Love Read Online Free Page B

to make an impact…Wait! What about the shield and sword mounted on the opposite wall? Quickly, she set the candlestick on the table and lifted the objects from their rack. Thesword was heavier than she’d expected, but the stout oak shield with its leather bindings gave her a measure of security.
    Without giving herself time to change her mind, she raced back across the hall and kicked the door open so hard it slammed against the wall. Brandishing the sword and hefting the shield, she plunged into the room, and cried boldly, “Stand to, thief!”
    When the dark-haired stranger rose from behind the desk, she realized with a sinking heart that she’d grossly misread the situation. This was no gypsy. Gypsies didn’t possess fair skin or eyes an unearthly shade of searing blue; they didn’t wear expensive satin waistcoats or finely tailored silk breeches.
    Then, to her mortification, a hint of a smile softened the man’s angular features. “Good evening, madam,” he said as he sketched a bow. “You must be Lady Rosalind.”

Chapter 3
He that tries to recommend him [Shakespeare] by select quotations, will succeed like the pedant in Hierocles, who, when he offered his house to sale, carried a brick in his pocket as a specimen .
Samuel Johnson, patron and critic of the theater, preface , Plays of William Shakespeare
    G riff stared shamelessly at the Amazon flashing a sword in his face. By God, this was the third sister? This astonishing creature armed with weapons as ancient as the house itself? She couldn’t be anyone else—her outrageous orange wrapper of Chinese silk could only belong to the same woman who’d defaced Swan Park’s entrance hall.
    And who seemed bent on defacing him.
    He held up a hand as he edged around the desk. Swords were nothing to sneeze at, especially when wielded by a madwoman. “You are Lady Rosalind, aren’t you?”
    “You have the advantage of me, sir.” Tossing backa head of thick russet hair that fell nearly to her waist, she hefted the enormous slab of steel a notch higher. “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
    Not mad perhaps, but certainly madcap. “I beg your pardon. I’m Knighton’s man of affairs. Daniel Brennan at your service, madam. Most people call me Griff.” He eyed her curiously. “Didn’t your sisters tell you I’d joined your cousin for this visit?” When her sword wavered and confusion spread over her face, he suppressed a smile. “I take it they did not.”
    She recovered herself quickly. “They said nothing about a man of affairs.”
    “Ah.” He nodded toward the weighty weapons she defied gravity to control. “That explains your…er…entrance. I wondered if you greeted all your guests with dramatic displays of the Swanlea arms.”
    If he’d thought to embarrass her, he’d failed. Her sword didn’t waver. “Only when I find those guests rummaging through Papa’s desk.”
    “Oh, that.” Thank God he’d changed places with Daniel. He wouldn’t have wanted to see how Daniel handled the Amazon. “I needed to jot down some notes, but I left my writing implements and paper behind. This seemed a likely place to find some.”
    She cocked her head, her hazel eyes alive with suspicion. “Do you often work so late?”
    “I’m used to town hours—this is early for me.” He glanced at the clock. “It’s not yet midnight.”
    “I didn’t know men of affairs kept town hours. I thought they had to be at work early every day.”
    Clever woman. And wary, too. She’d keep him on his toes. “My employer is casual about such things. I often attend late-night social affairs with him, andhe allows me to keep what hours I wish. But you would know that if you’d joined us for dinner.”
    She grimaced. “I’d intended to be there. Papa had other plans, however.”
    The mention of her scoundrel father made him stiffen. “Does he often keep you at his side when guests arrive?”
    A scowl marred the freckled brow fringed by short curls.