Dangerous Loves Romantic Suspense Collection by Dorothy McFalls Page B

age.”
    George frowned. “Are you not the least concerned that Charlie or one of his friends might be wearing a torn cloak?”
    Nigel considered the idea and quickly dismissed it. “Charlie’s harmless.”
    George frowned, not looking at all convinced.
    “Granted, Charlie has an uncommon talent for mischief,” Nigel conceded. “But I assure you, he would never do anything to harm me. We were raised together. We survived his father’s rages together. We’re as close as brothers.”
    “Of course you are,” George shook his head and smiled. “I’ve been working in the shipping business too long, I suppose. I no longer trust anyone.”
    “I’m sure that’s not true. Anyhow, I don’t have time to worry about this now. I’m tending to a fire on our other front.” He explained the situation and was more than a little relieved when George followed him into the gardens. His friend had a certain way with women, handling the fairer sex with a rogue smile and a smooth tongue.
    Without too much searching they found Elsbeth and Olivia in the folly, a sham ruin celebrating the goddess Athena. The round Greek temple sat in the midst of one of the garden’s many ponds.
    “My ladies,” Nigel said, as they crossed the arched bridge and joined the women in the shelter of the marble stone structure. “Please allow me to introduce my friend and neighbor, Mr. George Waver.”
    Olivia stepped forward. Her smile rivaled the sun reflecting off the pond. Elsbeth stayed behind her cousin. Her features remained as still as the stone ruin. At least her sapphire eyes, though hard and wary, were clear. No evidence to suggest she’d been weeping. Perhaps Lady Dashborough’s complaints had not reached her ears.
    George greeted the women using his extraordinary charm and began to recount a silly adventure Nigel and George had shared as lads. “We were convinced the head gardener was a French spy and had set out to uncover the truth,” he said and then launched into his tale with vivid descriptions.
    George’s presence seemed to put the young Lady Olivia immediately at ease. Elsbeth was more reserved in her reaction. Her wary gaze, Nigel noticed, kept straying away from George and in his direction. Nigel crossed his arms in front of him, hoping to strike a languid pose.
    What was she thinking? What did she find so unpleasant about him that she would have to regard him so?
    George must have noticed Elsbeth’s odd behavior for he stopped mid-story. “Lady Olivia, would you care to stroll the bulb garden with me? The flowers are near their peak, and the light is perfect for viewing.”
    Olivia quickly agreed and latched onto George’s proffered arm. “I will see you at dinner, my lady,” George said, giving a departing bow to Elsbeth, who had stepped forward to join in the stroll. “And do not worry after your young cousin. I will have her back to the house in a trice.”
    “Very well,” Elsbeth said with a sigh. “I will be waiting for you in our apartment, Olivia.” Her gaze stayed fixed upon the departing couple until they disappeared around the corner of the path. She then turned to Nigel.
    “Why do you stare at me so?” she asked in a harsh whisper.
    “I don’t understand.” He was quite taken aback at the charge. He took a step toward her. “It was you who was staring at me . Not that I mind the attention, mind you. At least you are finally taking notice of me.”
    “Absurd. Simply, absurd,” she said, as she backed away from him until she’d pressed herself up against one of the far columns.
    Her behavior confounded him. “Is it so terribly frightening to find yourself alone with me?” He braved a second step forward. Pursuit of a woman was foreign to him. He was much more used to the role of hapless prey than aggressive predator. And aggressive predator was unquestionably the role he filled now. He purposefully stood between Elsbeth and her escape, making damned sure there was no danger of her fleeing. There