Netherby Halls Read Online Free Page B

this?”
    “Isn’t it obvious? You are my closest friend …
want you happy,” the marquis responded evasively.
    “Gammon!” returned Percy on a snort.
    “Don’t question my motives, Percy. I mean to help
you, whatever they might be,” the marquis said, his
expression suddenly grim.
    “Do you know, for as long as I have known you,
through all we have been at over the years, you remain an
enigma.”
    “Indeed, Percy. That is because I wish to be so. Be
ready at ten tomorrow morning, for I shall be prompt.” With that,
the marquis turned and made his way out of the club.
    Motives , Percy thought as he watched his big
rake of a friend take his leave. The marquis’s inscrutable motives
were bound to plunge them into some sort of complication, he was
sure of it, because he damn well knew Justin wasn’t making this
trip just to further his cause with Sophy!
     

 
     
    ~
Three ~
     
    The day had been long, without enough to do, though
she had had to dodge Sir John—and more than once. Therefore, it was
with some relief that she bid her ladyship and Sir John goodnight
and made her way to her room.
    She had locked her bedroom door, as was her habit,
and was sitting on a hardback chair, reading by candlelight, when
she heard the key slip into the lock on the other side of the
door.
    She looked up to find him in shirtsleeves, his
breeches unbuttoned. He exposed himself, holding his hardened
manhood as he leered at her and said, “Look what I have for
you …”
    Her reaction was spontaneous. She leapt to her feet,
threw a nearby vase at him, and growled, low and threateningly,
“Get out, and if you don’t, I shall scream loud enough to bring
down this entire house around your ears!”
    Faith , that should have sent him off. Instead,
swaying slightly and with bloodshot eyes, he sneered and took a
step towards her.
    She threw the chair she had been using at him, but he
ducked it, ran at her, and grabbed her arm.
    Magic came to her rescue. It swirled around him,
lifted him off the floor, and flung him out of the room. She rushed
the door, locked it, and once again, without even having to rub her
ring, she called on her magic and pushed a dresser in front of
it.
    Her fear of Sir John had taken precedence over
caution, but he was drunk and would not remember details—hopefully.
She spelled the door so his key would not work again. Magic. It had
become a living entity within her. She had but to need it, and it
was there. She would have to be careful.
    * * *
    By morning, realizing matters were now intolerable,
Sassy knew what she had to do.
    Sir John was unabashed and unashamed. He had come up
to her after breakfast. “Sooner or later,” he threatened, his eyes
mere slits in his fury, “ I shall have you .”
    She knew he would be forever hovering about, ready to
pounce on her. He was without principle, and although she might be
able to put a stop to it by informing Lady Margate of his behavior,
she found she simply could not tell her benefactor such a
thing.
    She went looking for Lady Margate and found her
sitting at her writing desk in the study. Sassy had an idea and
hoped fervently that she would be able to implement it. She would
take on a position as a governess.
    As she broached the subject, Lady Margate put up a
hand and frowned. “Enough … impossible … your dear
father—”
    “I think I would make a good governess,” Sassy
interjected. Silently she said to herself, My father would not
wish me to remain exposed to Sir John’s advances. However, she could not find it in her to say that to dear Lady
Margate.
    “Nonsense. What woman would want you under her
husband’s gaze? Absurd child … that is out of the question.”
Lady Margate sighed. “I did hope you would be happy here. I have
such great plans for you. Of course, not until your mourning period
is at an end … but …”
    “There must be something I could do, for I simply
cannot stay,” wailed Sassy, wringing her hands. “I adore you,