Woo'd in Haste Read Online Free

small child. Luc hadn’t been around any since he was one himself, and he wasn’t certain what an eight-year-old should look like. The boy was thin, too, and pale and had the same coloring as Bianca and her father, though, Luc understood from Reggie’s description of the family, he was a half-sibling,.
    Who was staring at him with wide, fascinated eyes. And seemed on the verge of a question but held his tongue.
    “Compared to Mr. Dore, you certainly are,” Bianca quipped and Luc flushed. Half with pleasure that she was aware of him, half with embarrassment. As he always had been about his towering size.
    “Quite right,” Mr. Mansfield agreed with a laugh. “You cut a rather imposing figure, Mr. Dore. Miss Smith tells me that my son can be rambunctious and disobedient in the schoolroom. I’ve never seen any evidence of that myself.” The words were laced with humor. “But perhaps you can manage him.”
    “Very funny, Papa.” Thomas rolled his eyes.
    Mansfield reached out to ruffle his son’s hair, and the boy squirmed in his chair till he was just out of reach. It was clear he doted on his son.
    “We’ll frighten Mr. Dore away with such talk,” Miss Smith said with a smile, levity lightening the governess’s stern façade.
    Luc laughed. As he’d already embroiled himself in this suspect escapade, nothing could now frighten him away. Not when the woman of his dreams was sitting right next to him.
    I t was impolite to stare, but regardless both Thomas and she did so. Lottie did so, as well, but far more discreetly. However, Bianca knew her governess well. Those downcast lashes concealed a sharp perusal, one that Bianca had been the focus of many a time. And now she was using that technique to study the new tutor, who was quite possibly the tallest man Bianca had ever met. He towered several inches over her father and a good half a head above her, at least. In fact, she felt petite and slight in his shadow, something she had never felt before. Unlike Kate, who took after their late mother, Bianca took after their father. But Mr. Dore possessed an athletic build, like some ancient Olympian. His proximity and great height made it difficult for her to notice other details, and instead she formed a vague impression: shaggy brown hair, a prominent nose in a broad face, slightly ill-fitted clothing that was still of good quality, as if originally made for someone other than he. Bianca’s own clothes, a joint effort of the village seamstress and herself, were sewn to her proportions but no more elegantly made.
    “Henrietta and Catherine are off to Brighton,” her father said.
    She should have expected that her father would discuss the letters they had all received the day before. And even if she chose to ignore hers, it would still be a topic of conversation. As usual.
    “My eldest daughter,” he continued, filling Mr. Dore in.
    “Yes, Lord Reginald did mention her.”
    Bianca smirked. There at least she could find some sympathy. She knew Reggie didn’t hold Kate in any particular regard. No, as neighbors they were too close to keep bad behavior secret. If only Kate’s bad behavior wasn’t continually rewarded.
    “Henrietta is particularly eager for the sea air.”
    “I’ve never been to the sea,” Thomas informed Mr. Dore. “Have you?”
    “Yes, many a time. And many seas. My favorite—”
    “Perhaps we should join them,” Bianca interrupted, half-surprised that the words were actually coming out of her mouth, but it was time. Time to stop accepting everything and to confront her father. As much as she loved him, neither of them could live their lives in fear of Kate, in hopes of keeping a peaceful home. This was barely Kate’s home, in any event, as she only resided at the manor a mere handful of weeks a year. “I’m certain Henrietta would love your company.”
    Her father frowned. Sent her a disappointed glare, as if he were hurt and dismayed that she would even bring up the