My Lord Hercules Read Online Free Page B

His question completely unarmed
her. He’d let her drive his bays? Devlin would have an apoplexy if
he knew. “I beg your pardon?”
    Lord Harrison slid slightly closer to
her on the bench, until his hard, muscled leg touched Miranda’s.
Tingles raced across her skin at the contact. Good heavens, he
could jumble her mind.
    “ For a girl who dons
trousers, I figured you might be adept at driving cattle too,” his
deep voice floated around her like an embrace.
    The fluttering in her heart increased
tenfold. No one had ever had such an effect on her. And no one had
ever offered such a thing to her, not even Simeon, God rest his
soul. “I’ve never handled the ribbons before,” she admitted before
she thought the better of it. What if he took back his
offer?
    “ There’s nothing to it, my
dear.” He moved the driving reins closer toward her. “Just like
riding. You do know how to ride, do you not?”
    Of course she knew how to ride. What a
ridiculous question. “Before I was walking.”
    A brilliant smile flashed on his face.
“Why does that not surprise me?” He slightly jiggled the reins
before her. “Here you go, don’t pull too hard, but don’t give the
ribbons too much play either.”
    Miranda gulped. Devlin would flay her
alive if he found out, but when might she get another chance like
this? She heaved a steadying sigh then took the reins in her
hands.
    “ Perfect,” Lord Harrison
gushed. “Like you’ve been driving all your life.”
    “ It’s been all of ten
seconds.”
    He laughed once more. “You do make it
quite difficult for a fellow to compliment you. Do you know
that?”
    Did she? Miranda glanced up to find
his smoldering green gaze leveled on her.
    “ Watch the road, my
dear.”
    A bit light-headed, Miranda returned
her attention to the other conveyances and riders in front of them
as they approached Park Lane.
    “ Right there—” he pointed to
a grand home “—is St. Austell House. Number Twelve. I’d hate for
you to lose your way tomorrow.”
    Miranda snorted. “After Penny’s
performance, I don’t believe there’ll be any way I could possibly
get out of attending that function, my lord.”
    “ Then I shall have to thank
Penny profusely.”
    Miranda couldn’t help the smile that
escaped her. He really was very charming for all that he had
managed her ever since their paths had first crossed. “And just why
do you want me to attend your sister’s ball?”
    “ So I can see you in a
pretty gown. Do save me a waltz.” His hand brushed her elbow. “Lead
them to the right, my dear.”
    Miranda pulled the reins slightly to
the right and grinned when the phaeton made a smooth turn onto Park
Lane. “I did it!”
    “ I never had any doubts,” he
drawled. “Now slow down just a bit so we can get across the
street.” He gestured to the park entrance up ahead on the left. “Go
right through there.”
    Miranda followed his instructions,
pulling back slightly on the reins until it was safe for them to
make the turn into the park. What a heady feeling to be in control
of the phaeton. She’d never even contemplated driving before. What
other excitements was she missing out on?
    “ You aren’t like any other
girl I’ve ever met.”
    His statement jerked Miranda back to
the present, and she turned her head to look at his lordship. The
intensity of his gaze stole her breath, and she simply gaped at
him.
    “ Do watch where we’re going,
Miranda.”
    “ Oh!” She turned her
attention once more to the path in front of them. That was the
hardest part of driving, the looking ahead part.
    Lord Harrison leaned back on the bench
and draped his arm on the back of the seat. Heat seemed to roll off
him in waves, warming her thoroughly. “Quite shy for a chit who
frequents gaming hells.”
    Miranda kept her eyes on the path this
time, glad she didn’t have to look at him for fear that he would
see her blush even despite her unfortunate coloring. “I don’t
frequent them.”
    “ No?”