![]() ![]() He’d teach her to show respect for someone of his position. How he’d like to get his hands around her fat neck and squeeze until she talked. “Look at me!” he demanded, his fists clenching and unclenching. “Where is she, you old witch? Where’s Francie?” Jared Crayton advanced on the old woman as she bent over in the fields, cutting some kind of purple flowers. No matter how broad her uncle’s smile stretched, she was not interested. The more impassioned she became while arguing her position, the broader her uncle’s grin.īut this was real life. He reserved this smile for situations, usually in her studies, when Francie formed one conclusion and the correct answer was the exact opposite. That should suit the two of them just fine.” He smiled then, a slow, lazy smile she’d grown accustomed to over the years. If you can’t be husband and wife, then we’ll have to settle for brother and sister.” “No, Alexander, we are not in the least interested,” she forced herself to reply. “Francie and I,” he began again, “are not in the least interested in developing a relationship of any kind.” His gaze burned her with the heat of his anger. And the jagged scar, the telltale sign, grew silver-white. His eyes narrowed to half-slits, his mouth set in a firm line. He was on the verge of losing his temper. “Francie,” Alexander said through clenched teeth. “Usually, that’s necessary at some point if an acquaintance is to develop into a relationship of any substance.” Isn’t that right, Bernard?”Īll eyes flew to Uncle Bernard. You’ll never get to know one another if you can’t dispense with the Miss and Mister. For heaven’s sake, you’d think she was a two-headed monster. The whole notion is preposterous.” Though he needn’t be quite so adamant about it. Heat rushed to her cheeks and she blurted out, “Mr. “Miss Jordan and I would never suit.” His gaze settled on her. “This is ridiculous.” Alexander shot the earl a murderous look. ![]() “Hmmm,” he said, stroking his bushy beard and tilting his head to one side. Every now and then, Francie caught his gray gaze swinging from her to Alexander Bishop. Uncle Bernard hadn’t spoken more than three sentences since dinner began. Very much.” His eyes narrowed on the old man. “I happen to like my single state, Philip. How could he even think such a thing? Couldn’t he tell they had difficulty being in the same room together?Īlexander cleared his throat. He meant Alexander had been waiting for her. Her father’s insinuation was quite clear. Maybe,” he added, swinging his blue gaze from Francie to Alexander, “Alex has been waiting for someone else.” “Who knows? Maybe Alex has been stalling with Tess because she’s not the one for him. The earl continued as though he hadn’t heard her. “But now that I have Francie here, who knows? Maybe she’ll give me a little baby to spoil.”įrancie felt the blood drain from her face. You know I’d like to see a baby or two running around the house before I meet my Maker.” His blue eyes twinkled. “I doubt anyone is interested in my personal affairs.” “Philip,” Alexander’s deep voice filled the room. “But I might as well be talking to that door over there,” he said, pointing a long finger at the thick, oak door leading to the hallway. “I’ve been hounding Alex to state his intentions, get moving, and start working on a passel of children before my time is up.” He sighed. They’ve been seeing each other for quite some time.” He winked at Francie. “Tess is Lady Printon, widow of an old friend of mine,” the earl said, sipping at his claret. It was just that, try as she might, she couldn’t visualize him being gentle with a woman, couldn’t imagine him speaking tender words or holding her in his arms. Bishop had a love interest, because she didn’t. Tess? Who was Tess? Not that she cared if Mr. “Tess?” The words were out before Francie realized she’d spoken. ![]()
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