Miss in a Man's World Read Online Free Page A

deceased father in order to maintain the appearance of respectability. Undeniably thegirl had a quiet dignity that was not feigned, and that certainly suggested she believed her parentage to be above reproach. Which made lending herself to such a start even more surprising!
    Deciding to refrain from questioning her further for the present, he said, ‘I am satisfied you could perform the duties of a page. If you should choose to avail yourself of the position, I shall have a new set of clothes made for you on the morrow.’
    She betrayed no sign whatsoever of being delighted by the offer. In fact, if anything, there was a hint of mistrust as she asked, ‘But why should you require a page, sir? Are you married?’
    â€˜And what has that to say to anything, pray?’ He cast her a look of exasperation. ‘No, I am not, as it happens. Why do you ask?’
    There was a suspicion of a twitch at the side of the perfectly shaped mouth again. ‘Well, because it’s usually ladies who engage pages, sir.’
    â€˜Not always,’ he countered, and then smiled grimly. ‘And that is one of the reasons why I’m prepared to engage your services. I feel the most overwhelming desire to annoy a certain acquaintance of mine. He shall find it quite irksome when he sets eyes on you for the first time.’
    â€˜Shall he, my lord?’
    â€˜Most definitely, child! And now you may begin your duties by tugging the bell-pull, there, by the hearth.’
    Taking her immediate compliance to his request to mean that she had accepted the post, he sat quietly, considering his latest responsibility until the summons was answered, and then turned his attention to his major-domo.
    â€˜The child you see before you, Brindle, is my new page.’
    Not even by so much as a slight raising of one greying brow did the butler betray surprise, even though there had never been a page employed in the household for as long as he had been in service with the family.
    â€˜Is there a spare room in the servants’ quarters?’
    â€˜Not one that isn’t presently occupied or used for storage, my lord. He could share with the boots for tonight, I suppose, or perhaps it would be best if he doubled up with James, the footman. His room is slightly larger.’
    The Viscount frowned heavily. ‘No. For the time being he may use the small room my niece occupies when she stays here.’ Once again he looked directly up at his butler. ‘Now, pay attention, Brindle. Tomorrow, I wish you to take the boy out and buy him a new set of clothes, and whatever other little necessities he might need. In the meantime he is to be fed and you are to arrange for a hipbath to be taken up to his room, where you are to leave him until he rings for it to be taken away. Is that understood? He is also to have his supper up there on a tray. Do not rouse him in the morning. I dare say he is possessed of wits enough to find his own way down to the kitchen.’
    â€˜Very good, my lord. Will there be anything else?’
    â€˜Yes, you may allow Ronan to bear me company for the rest of the evening.’
    His lordship acknowledged with a mere nod of his head the shyly spoken ‘goodnight’ from his latest employee. So deep in thought did he quickly become that he was hardly aware when the door opened softly a few minutes later; it was only when his favourite hunting dog came gambolling across the library towardshim that he came out of his brown study long enough to return the affectionate greeting with a pat.
    â€˜Am I being foolish beyond measure even to consider housing the chit, Ronan?’ Lord Fincham murmured, his mind having quickly returned to the enigma besetting him at the present time. ‘After all, she is nothing to me.’
    The dog, now happily settled on the carpet at his master’s feet, merely cocked an ear, while his lordship smiled grimly. ‘It cannot be denied, though, the minx has