Page 4 of Moonstone Angel
“No, there is not and has never been such a thing.” He slapped his hands to his thighs. “If my grandmother is here, then this is where I shall stay. It is settled.”
Miss Angel shot to her feet, her lovely eyes blazing. “You cannot. And where am I to put your valet?”
“I did not bring him with me. This may stun you, but I am quite capable of pulling up my own trousers or putting an elegant knot in my cravat.” He rose as well, knowing he stood a full head taller and was far bigger than this impertinent baggage. “I can and I will stay here. You dragged my grandmother halfway across the south of England, now deal with the consequences.”
“But I have nowhere to put you.”
“That is your problem, not mine.” He knew he was infuriating her, but it felt good to give her back a little of her own. After all, it was because of her bright idea that he had spent not more than a night back in London before dashing across England to come here. To add to the indignity, he would likely end up sleeping on the floor.
Well, he’d endured far worse on the Continent under brutal battle conditions.
She tipped her pert chin in the air. “I shall speak to your grandmother about this.”
“Speak to whomever you wish. It will do you no good. I shall have my way, as I do in all things.” Spending a few weeks in Cornwall in the summer would not be so bad, especially in her company.
Lord, she was a pretty thing.
Not that he would ever admit it to her.
“Are we in agreement, Miss Angel?”
“Are you deluded? I will never agree to us residing in such close quarters. You really ought to take yourself off to London. The lovely Lady Yvonne must be missing your full pockets terribly.”
“Gad, do you never stop being impertinent? I am not leaving without my grandmother.” And that was another thing—he ought to be furious with the girl for insulting Lady Yvonne, the woman he had thought to marry. Well, he had been imprudent in rushing to that decision. No harm done since he’d said nothing yet to Yvonne. Nor would he see her for another few weeks, perhaps as long as an entire month, depending on how long he decided to remain here.
He would have plenty of time to give this marriage business more thought.
One thing for certain, he was never going to marry someone like Miss Angel, this devil of a girl, even if she did look delicious.
The two of them were too busy glowering at each other to notice his grandmother enter the parlor. “Cara, how lovely,” she said, startling both of them. “I see you’ve met my grandson.”
The girl’s lips stretched in a wry smile. “He is hard to overlook.”
“I know. Isn’t he impossibly handsome?”
Chapter Two
“Impossible is right,”Cara muttered, trying not to soften toward this insufferable clot of a duke. Well, he was handsome as blazes, but no one would ever pry that admission from her lips while there was breath left in her.
How dare he think to take up residence in her home over her objections?
But her heart did melt as she watched him turn achingly tender toward Duchess Anne, for she was the woman who had raised him after his own mother had died in childbirth. Soon afterward, his father had died. Cara had been told the entire story and could see how much love flowed between them.
Drat, how could she hate the insufferable man now?
“Are you feeling rested, Duchess Anne?” she asked.
Oh, she looked so fragile. Yet, ever beautiful.
“Rested and happy as a butterfly now that I am in the company of my two favorite people.”
“Grandmama, have a seat.” The duke’s voice was gentle and deeply resonant as he led her to the spot on the sofa Cara had just vacated. “Would you like a cushion for your back? Are you comfortable?”
“Thank you, dear boy. I am. Cara, will you be so kind as to do the honors and pour me a cup of tea?”
“Of course.” She knew how the duke’s grandmother liked her tea and also knew the cake she liked best, so she set a slice of lemon cake on her plate.
“It is so good to see you, Rowan. I knew you would come after me. Did I not tell you he would, Cara?”
