The Conqueror's Dilemma Read Online Free Page A

Somehow she managed to snare Drumbeg for her
second.’ Her nose wrinkled distastefully. ‘Rumour has it he was more than
halfway to the grave, for he did not long survive the marriage.’ Her expressive
eyes held his. ‘Now do you see? Any female who cannot find a relative or
acquaintance, albeit undistinguished, to bring her out—whether or not money
changes hands—must be suspect. So pray don’t fall in love with her.’
    ‘ Love ?’ The very word caused
a contraction within William. He forced a laugh, adopting a careless note. ‘My
dear Juliana, are you not leaping to conclusions? I said I was intrigued,
that’s all. Enough to find out more about her.’
    To his discomfiture, Juliana
showed signs of alarm. ‘Will, I beg you to take care. I am far too fond of you
to see you caught in the toils of a scheming adventuress.’
    It was the least likely
occurrence, but annoyance rose in him—and not on his own account. ‘Adventuress?
Humdudgeon, Ju. I’ll wager she’s as innocent as a babe.’
    ‘She may be, but you cannot say
the same of that Drumbeg woman. She will catch you if she can.’
    ‘Where have your wits gone
begging, Ju? Am I remotely eligible?’
    Juliana clicked her tongue. ‘Of
course not. Everyone knows you haven’t a feather to fly with, but that’s not
the point.’
    ‘What is the point, then?’
    ‘You are the Conqueror, Will. She
is bound to put herself in your way in hopes of your patronage.’
    ‘The chaperon might,’ he
conceded. ‘The girl has no idea who I am. Or,’ he amended upon reflection, ‘she
had none before this little contretemps.’
    He glanced across the room, and
realised with relief that the unwelcome pair had gone. Juliana must have noted
the direction of his gaze.
    ‘I take it the hussy has removed
herself?’
    William schooled his expression
to indifference. ‘I imagine she did so immediately.’
    Satisfaction entered Lady
Yelverton’s face. ‘I imagine she might well have done. She has effrontery
enough, but she would scarcely risk a second chance of a rebuff.’ The teasing note
she was wont to use with him crept back into her voice. ‘You are saved, Mr
Westerham, from an ugly fate.’
     
    The interruption, not altogether unexpected, came while
William was at his morning toilet, in the process of paring his nails. Barely
had his valet reached the door after a light knock had sounded than he was
waved aside by an impatient hand and the visitor bounced into the room.
    ‘What, is the fellow still abed?
Ah, no, there he is. Good Lord, man, aren’t you done prettifying?’
    William met the eyes of his best
friend in the mirror. ‘Some of us, Hector, take a trifle of pride in our
appearance.’ A faintly disagreeable aroma emanated from behind him. He wrinkled
his nose and frowned. ‘You’ve been riding.’
    ‘Of course I’ve been riding,’
returned Lord Kilbride. ‘And if you weren’t such a sluggard, Will, you’d be out
there with me.’
    He strode to the window and
whisked back the drapes, letting in the blast of sunlight the valet had
carefully screened so that it would not disturb his master’s eyes where he sat
on the dressing stool.
    ‘Beautiful day,’ pronounced
Hector. ‘Can’t think why you want to waste it.’
    William sighed and laid down the
paring knife. ‘Frocester, what time is it?’
    ‘A little after eleven, sir,’
replied the valet.
    ‘And all of the day before me.
Excellent.’
    Kilbride grinned at him. ‘At
Juliana’s until the small hours, were you? Doing the pretty, and getting above
yourself again, I’ll wager.’
    ‘On the contrary,’ replied
William, rising and allowing Frocester to remove the frogged dressing-gown,
revealing the pristine white of his shirtsleeves beneath, and a pair of tightly
fitting pantaloons. ‘I found myself disgracefully ennuié with the ball and came
away early.’
    His friend snorted. ‘Yes, and
pigs have wings.’
    ‘No, it’s true,’ insisted
William, beset by an intrusive memory