The Importance of Being Wicked. Victoria AlexanderЧитать онлайн книгу.
breath.
“Even then.”
“It did seem to make sense, while much of the building was under construction, to include and expand amenities.”
“Very clever of Mr. Tempest.” As much as he hated to admit it.
She glanced at him. “Dare I take that as a measure of satisfaction on your part?”
“You may. I confess I did not consider things like plumbing and water closets and certainly not electricity, but all in all, yes, I do find this more than acceptable.”
“Excellent.” She straightened and met his gaze firmly. “Our next step then is to hire workers, locally if possible. If you could arrange for your estate manager to meet with Mr. Clarke tomorrow, I suspect he would be most helpful in that regard.”
“Excellent idea.” He nodded. “Dare I hope Mr. Clarke’s personal difficulties have been resolved satisfactorily?”
She looked at him sharply. “You remember that?”
“I am not a cad, Lady Garret. Most would say I am both thoughtful and considerate. As well as sincere.”
She smiled as if she had doubts on that score. Obviously she was going to need some convincing.
“I can also be charming and amusing.”
“That really isn’t—”
“I never mistreat the servants or those less fortunate. I support any number of worthy charities. And I am unfailingly kind to . . . to animals and children. Why, I can bring in several children from the village who will attest to that. I usually carry sweets in my pocket to hand out when I happen upon them.”
“Oh, yes, that is good for them.”
“And dogs. I’m very fond of dogs.” He glanced around. “Even that nasty little worthless beast of my aunt’s has been known to curl up at my feet.”
“No doubt, but—”
“And should you ever meet that embarrassment to the canine world you will certainly understand why it takes the kindest of men to—”
“Lord Stillwell!”
“My apologies. There is something about that dog. . . .” He grimaced. “Neither here nor there, of course. Do go on.”
“Very well. The Mr. Clarke, Emmett Clarke, you graciously inquired after is still unavailable to oversee construction. That task will be taken up by his brother, Mr. Edwin Clarke.”
“Edwin and Emmett? Twins?”
“Not to my knowledge. They have a sister named Eloise as well.”
“Their parents were exceptionally fond of the letter E then?” He chuckled.
“I have no idea.” She looked at him as if he had grown two heads. So much for his effort at amusing conversation. “As I was saying, we have engaged this Mr. Clarke’s services in the past. He is quite knowledgeable and does an excellent job. He will be here every day during the course of the project. Is there a cottage at Fairborough or on the grounds of Millworth or perhaps something available in the village where he can reside? It would be much more convenient if he could live in the area during construction.”
Win nodded. “We can arrange something suitable.”
“Excellent. As you have agreed to the plans, work can begin next week.” She hesitated. “Oh, and I will be here as well, of course.”
Win stared. “You?”
“Yes.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Every day?”
“I should hate to see anything go wrong and it will certainly slow progress considerably if Mr. Clarke is forced to stop work to scurry into London to clarify a point. I assure you, I am well versed on Mr. Tempest’s designs.” She studied him coolly. “So yes, I would think I shall be here very nearly every day from the first day of construction until the last.”
“I see.” If she was to be here nearly every day from next week into the foreseeable future he had best try to get on better with her. Again. He forced his most charming smile. “We have not started out on the right foot, you and I.”
“Do you think so?” Her eyes widened in feigned surprise. He didn’t believe her for an instant. “I really hadn’t noticed. I thought things were going quite well.”
He studied her for a long moment. This woman was an enigma and an annoying one at that. More so now in her refusal to admit that they were barely cordial to one another.
“Obviously I was mistaken then.” Regardless of whether she admitted it or not, they had clashed from the moment she had stepped into his life. “Do not think you have won any sort of battle here today, Lady Garret.”
“Why, my lord, I would never think such a thing.” Her voice was overly sweet and her lashes fluttered in a flirtatious manner. He ignored it.
“Good. As long as we understand one another I believe we can survive the next few months.”
“I have no doubt of it.”
“Because you haven’t, you know,” he said firmly.
Confusion crossed her face. “Won a battle, you mean?”
“Exactly.”
“No, of course not.” She paused. “Unless we are engaged in a war that I was unaware of ?”
“Not to my knowledge.” Ha! There had been no outright declaration and it may not be all-out war, but there was certainly an ongoing skirmish between them, whether she wished to acknowledge it aloud or not.
“That is a relief as you don’t strike me as the kind of man used to losing. Battles or wars, that is,” she added.
“I’m not.”
“Then we do understand one another.” She cast him an unexpectedly brilliant smile and in that moment he realized he was wrong. She was far more than pretty in an ordinary way.
“Excellent.” This was much better. Satisfaction washed through him. She was at last seeing things his way.
“And you have decided upon electrification?”
“Yes, I have,” he said staunchly.
“I shall see you next week then. Good day, my lord.” She smiled, nodded and left the library. But not before he saw the distinct touch of triumph and more than a little amusement in her eyes. Her definitely brown eyes.
“Good day,” he murmured. The tiny morsel of satisfaction he had tasted a moment ago vanished with the swish of her skirts and the close of the library door.
Damnation, he hated losing a battle, a skirmish or a war—whether it was officially declared or not.
Chapter 6
“Life changes us all, doesn’t it, Lady Garret?” Lady Fairborough sipped her tea and studied the younger woman.
“My apologies.” Miranda cast her a polite smile. She had wanted to return to London as quickly as possible, but instead found herself sitting in a parlor with Lord Stillwell’s mother making small talk, although she had the oddest feeling it was anything but small. Still, it would have been rude to turn down Lady Fairborough’s request to join her for tea. It was still early in the day and Lady Fairborough might well be her strongest ally if she ultimately needed one. “I don’t quite understand exactly what you mean.”
“Really? And I would have imagined you understood far better than most of us given the way you have stepped forward to take the reins of your husband’s business. To insure the livelihood of his employees.” Lady Fairborough nodded approvingly. “I find it quite admirable. It’s so very modern of you.”
Miranda