Nothing to Commend Her Read Online Free Page A

she could not open.
    "I have excellent hearing, George. So tell me,” she said, clasping her hands before her with a bright smile. “Who's the lucky girl?"
    "There is no girl.” He looked to Magnus, his gaze pleading. “Tell her."
    "I am afraid he's telling the truth. We were speculating on what we might like in a wife, but haven't discussed anyone in particular,” he lied.
    "Oh, come now. You must have some idea which lady is to be your wife?” She moved to stand before her son, her gaze quite pointed and direct. Crittenden was done for, if he didn't think fast.
    "One woman was named, but she's not for me, she's for Magnus,” he said.
    "Oh?” Lady Crittenden looked to Magnus, and he felt the need to hide. “Are you thinking of marrying again, dear? I do hope so. I hate thinking of you at Bridley Hall all alone."
    Lady Crittenden, a woman whom he greatly admired, had a tendency to treat him like an extra son since he'd stayed at Haverton House in his youth many Christmases past. And on most occasions he appreciated her attentions, and had formed an affection for her. She was kind and considerate, and she loved her son. He wished often that his own mother had been like her, but in this instance, he wanted her out of his plans and out of his business, whatever it entailed.
    "I've not yet decided, my lady,” he said, taking up his glass and finishing his brandy in one large gulp.
    "Closed mouthed, the both of you,” she said with a huff. “At least give me the lady's name, Magnus. I may know her and can help you make your decision."
    He glanced at Crittenden who sat grinning like a thief, praying he'd keep his mouth shut, but diversion was a favorite tactic of his friend's.
    "Her name,” Crittenden said, ignoring Magnus subtle shake of his head, “is Miss Agatha Trumwell."
    Lady Crittenden's brows rose. “Really? How interesting."
    "As I said, I have made no decisions in any way about marriage or my immediate future,” he hurried to say.
    "She's an unusual choice, not as young as I would think you'd prefer, but interesting. Yes.” She tapped her chin with the tip of her fan as she strolled toward the door. “Very interesting,” she murmured, and slipped out of the room.
    "You bloody fiend,” Magnus grumbled.
    Crittenden stood and slapped him on the back with a hearty chortle. “Better you than me, old boy. Better you than me."
    With a roll of his eyes, Magnus made his escape from the ball before Lady Crittenden could make any arrangements on his behalf.
    Yet later, sitting in the comfortable darkness of his carriage as it made for his townhouse, he couldn't stop seeing full, pouty, kissable lips and a pair of large brown eyes, filled with compassion and conviction, blinking up at him.
    * * * *
    [Back to Table of Contents]

 

    Chapter Two
    "Beg pardon, miss,” the maid said. “But you're father wishes to speak with you in the library."
    Agatha lifted her head from her notes spread across her worktable with a sigh. Still no progress. Something was off in her calculations. Perhaps she should write to her friend in America for his opinion.
    Naturally, the man had no inkling she was a woman, but he'd been ever helpful in supplying her with nitrophosphate, a difficult substance to acquire, as well as interesting facts from his own experiments in its use. He'd become an invaluable asset. It was a pity she had to fabricate a lie to converse.
    "Tell him, I'll be along in a moment. I need to clean up a bit."
    Her father, although quite supportive in her experiments with fertilizer, didn't care for her to bring the various odors through the house. There was no avoiding it, manure was a prime ingredient.
    Still pondering her latest failure, she removed her smock and washed up as best she could at the basin in the corner of the greenhouse. It wasn't a large structure, but it provided ample room in which to work. Many of her specimens, however, were outside. What good was experimenting in a perfect environment when her