Page 18 (1/2)

"ShallI move, my lord? " Daniel’s driver asked as he drew abreast of hiscarriage "Aservant keeps insistingthatIshouldn’t park here, butI told hi"

"Stayput, " Daniel ordered, turning to glare at thefello rushing towardhim from the townhouse

"Ye cain’t be parkin’ yer hack here Have yer driver move it

We don’t need the road blocked out front here, " the harried-looking fellow announced, and Daniel raised a supercilious eyebrowatthefellow Thehissurpriseas he took inthe The butler had nonose! He wasalsohair, and wore a pistol sticking out of his breeches Catching Daniel’s glance at the weapon, the felloled and fastened his waistcoat "Isaid - "

"I heard what you said, " Danielinterruptedcoldly "I si to orderthe least impressed "Now seehere, the surethatyou fellers ain’t clutteringup theroad with yercarriagesIfall of ye was to be parkingyerhacksouthere, no one would be able to get by andtheca - er - Lady Valoree, she was sayingshe didn’t want no trouble with the neighbors, so we’re to seethecarriages ersis out of’euests’ However, ht here forascowl to theservant’s face Thee pulled up just then, distracting him

"Oh, now, ye can’t be parkin’ yer hack here!" he shouted, lanced back curiously to see Beechain surprise atthe surly servant, the noble quickly to his driver, and the hack pulled away, leavinghim to hurry up the walk

"Thurborne, " he said in greeting, glancing over his shoulder toward the felloith no nose "I really must talk to Lady Ainsley about her servants They are quite - "

"Unusual? "

Daniel suggested

"I? "

"All of those, " Beechareed as they paused on the steps to the town house andDaniel rapped on the door with his cane

If the first servant had seemed soht scary He filledthe door like death, aswide asand even taller than, it was, having to stoop tostand in itsfrae His skinwas a deep, rich any, his head bald, and his teeth shone as he s but friendly

"Yer cards"

Daniel blinked at the deep growl and handed hiscard over, silently eyeing theman’s thickarlancing at them, the fellow steppedback forthe two nobles to enter, then tossed their cards on atray, where a sestured towarda door on their left, behind which the sound of voices could be heard It see them was not part of his duties

Alance back when Beecham asked curiously, "What did you want our cards for if you had no intention of presenting the us? "

In the process of closingthe door, the giant paused to eye young Beechamnarrowly"So’s I’ll knohere to deliveryeif yecausetrouble and I have to knock yeout"

Even Daniel blinked at that announce into an astounded ss to wholy "You have quite a collection there, e at all; hemerely said, "I’ll know"

And really, Daniel suddenlysuspected thehis head, he turned backto the door and opened it Having done so, he frozeinshockThe roo withmen There were at least thirtyof thele oneof the to be heard overtheothers

"My God, "Beechalanced at hirimly

"Aye It wouldseem herplan worked, " hemurmured, not at all pleased by this turnof events

"What plan? " Beecha fro the accounts, Daniel sur them

"Herplan to spread thewordthatshe is wealthyand desperate for ahusband, " Daniel explained patiently "She washoping that it would bring the suitors scurrying It appears that her plan worked Everygold-digger inLondon has shown up" Heusted face, thennoticed Beecham’s alarmed expression "Is that not why youarehere? "

"Nay!" Beecham criedat once "At least - Well, the money isn’t really importantI mean, money is always nice, but Lady Ainsley isShe’s" His voice trailed away helplessly, his expression slightlyinto theroohthe crowdof male bodies tohere they seemed most dense That herehe wouldfind Valoree, no doubtAt the centerof the hive

"Your hairis like fire"

"Your beautyis incomparable"

"Your lipsarelike little rosebuds"

"You are as sweetas honey"

"Oh, your voice ished inwardly and tapped her hand iainst her side as co around her It was all a bunchofbunk, of courseHerface was red and blistered, her eyes bloodshot, and her hair was lying flatandunfancy uponherback because she had refused to wear her daarden, anyway In short, she looked likehellAndshe knew she looked like hell Nor was she terribly impressed with all the flowery phrases hich suitors were showering her

It see up by the moment with hopeful would-behusbandsItwas nice tohavea choice, but really, hoas she to choose one frolance aroundto see Daniel

"Good , "heher firan to follow, their silly compliments undi into the hall, Danielpulled herout, then slammed the door in their faces

"Good day, " he his weight detera bedraggledand knottedwig froht"

Valoree couldn’t help it;she burst outlaughing as she tookthe wig, then shookher head and sighed "Good day to you, too

Thank youfor getting meout of there"

"Yes Itseemsyour plan worked"

’Too well, "she admitted sardonically asthe doorrattledwith the coht to openit