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“No, I did not”

“Didn’t catch her, lucky fellow But then, he did catch more than his share, I’ll warrant Rather like your swell-headed friend, Melgrave, in that way Only Desence I don’t know At any rate, he was the only one of those loose fish I ever could have a conversation with” He gazed at the forgotten fork in his hand for aabout in the air Then he put it into his mouth and reverted to his customary silence

Mr Langdon conte Mr Desotten the property itself, though The uilty, at first, about continuing to read, given Miss Des so However, she was not by to harass hilected conscience sprang to agitated life What had he been thinking of, to keep the ht? He should have returned it immediately

The trouble was, he was extreed, with thehours When he slept, though, she crept into feverish dreary eyes and silken white skin of heated struggles that subsided into long and languorous joinings of another kind He would awake perspiring, to find the bedclothes tangled into knots and his breath coasps

Jack Langdon was accounted an eccentric and known to be shy of woes of any healthy young e it, but he had never felt anything like desire—rather the opposite—for women of his own class Only Catherine Pelliston had awakened in hi like passion Certainly it had thrilled him to discover a kindred spirit in feine an ideal mate, such was the character he’d conjured up

Miss Desmond was no kindred spirit She ild, brazen, hot-tempered, and completely unpredictable Every ti so he couldn’t think straight With Miss Desmond, Jack’s normal discomfort in feminine company increased a hundredfold, because added to his usual consciousness of his dull inadequacy was the disconcerting awareness that he’d wanted her from the moment he’d knocked her down

Jack forced a bit of his ohty effort, sed it He o, like it or not He dared not entrust the ersatz book to his uncle, because the viscount was certain to open it and read it on the way, as he walked

Jack would have to return it himself He would have to converse with the Des him was not evident in his countenance Then he would be done with the ht be channelled into more appropriate directions, if he would but apply himself

Chapter Six

Mr Langdon was so eager to be rid of thewith the Desmonds that he hurried his uncle out of the house well in advance of the time appointed for tea

Lord Rossing and his nephew entered the vestibule just as Mr Atkins was being handed his hat by a haughty Bantwell Mr Atkins did not appear happy Miss Desmond, who stood beside her father, appeared even less so Lady Potterby, who’d evidently conceived a keen dislike for Mr Atkins, threw hi up the introductions

“Ah, yes,” said Mr Atkins, when Lady Potterby had condescended to acknowledge his existence “Mr Langdon and I have briefly h not formally”

Jack pronounced hi but The sha it with curiosity

“What a handsodon I fancy myself rather a connoisseur, and it seems a rare specimen Greek, is it?” he asked, oblivious to the coone

“Yes,” said Jack, looking to Mr Desentle to commence a review of their mutual acquaintance

“It was a gift froht it to show Miss Desmond”

“How thoughtful,” said Lady Potterby with an indulgent smile “A book of poetry, is it?”

“No, Aunt,” Delilah said quickly “Horticulture Mr Langdon has a perfect passion for horticulture, do you not sir?” She turned to Jack with a dazzling smile

Jack nodded

“Since we have some time before tea will be served, you arden” Delilah moved closer to take Jack firh to explain the differences between the Greek techniques and modern methods of cultivation”

Mr Langdon stiffly avowed hihted

If Lady Potterby thought her grand niece rather forward, shean exceedingly shy gentle pair perid courtesy at her disposal to rid her hallway of the unwelcome visitor

“What is that fellow doing here?” Jack asked, when they had turned into the path leading to the decorative herb garden “I thought your father sent him about his business”