To Catch a Lady Read Online Free

duke, I get to choose. Now, if you will excuse me.”
    “Yes, of course. I thank you for your time.”
    Ash was sure he heard the sting of sarcasm in her tone. For some odd reason, her pluck intrigued him.
    She turned to leave, but unable to stop himself, Ash reached out to her. “Tell me why you came to my study today, and not your mother?”
    The woman paused, obviously considering her words carefully. “My mother is unable to tend to social duties.”
    “Really? Is she ill?”
    “Not exactly. She suffers from confusion.”
    “You mean mental disease?”
    She quickly covered her mouth. “Oh, no, Your Grace! She was employed as a governess after my father died. One day while attending to her duties, she fell and hit her head. Her former employer paid us a settlement, enough to care for her as well as for my sister and myself.”
    “Let me guess. The money has run out and the three of you now require a caretaker.”
    Miss Hawkins shook her head. “Absolutely not. I’ve already obtained employment as a lady’s companion. But my sister is so full of life and beauty, it would be a terrible waste to consign her to employment when she would be a perfect wife to a man of substance, a man such as yourself.”
    He took a breath, thinking himself a fool for asking, but the woman had pricked his interest, to be sure. “Tell me, what about you? Why don’t you seek a husband?”
    “I couldn’t possibly!” Her face reddened at his scrutiny. “I mean, I’m far too old. Already on the shelf, you know. And, besides, I’ve my mother to care for and a house to run. No, it’s best all around if Beatrice makes a suitable match.”
    —
    Damnable man. She didn’t like the way he studied her, asking her questions that weren’t any of his concern. But there she was, alone in his parlor, intruding upon him as though she’d had no upbringing at all.
    In her right mind, Sarah Hawkins would have died on the spot had she known of her daughter’s activities, and of her doing so without a chaperone, no less. Caro pushed away the emotions because any thought of disappointing her mother was too painful to bear.
    Worse yet, here she was on the verge of telling him her life story as if he had a right to such knowledge. If she’d any sense at all she would have gathered her skirts and marched out of there.
    However, she was determined to insist that he consider her sister for marriage. That alone was enough to keep her rooted to the spot.
    And yet, as she stood there, ready to breathe fire at him, she also found him to be the most interesting man she’d ever met.
    There was something about him that drew her attention. Not just his physical presence, though to be honest, he did look most impressive. Rather it was the way he moved and the low, thick tone of his voice when he spoke to her. She found him to be disturbing and fascinating at the same time. Especially unsettling was the way he looked at her through a guarded expression, his dark eyes setting off all sorts of tingling sensations throughout her body. How bizarre!
    When he leaned toward her, drawing a breath to speak, Caro had a brief flash of what it would be like to be kissed by him, what it would be like in his arms, crushed against his chest, his breath warm against her skin as he spoke…
    “I suppose your reasons are your own. To be honest, I’ve never understood the age requirements for young women on the marriage mart. Seems to me a woman with some experience and wits about her is far more appealing than a young girl just barely out in society.”
    “I daresay, most of the ton wouldn’t agree with you, sir. Men prefer a younger, more malleable woman for a wife.”
    “Most, but not all. Still, I suppose we are both restrained by our position in society. Very well, Miss Hawkins. Leave me her card and I will give your sister due consideration.”
    It was the best she could hope for. “I thank you, sir.” She turned to leave, but he reached out and touched her