Those piercing dark eyes
swung in her direction and seemed to hold her prisoner there on the
sofa. “I didn’t know I had a Cousin Cyrus.”
“I’m sure Charles has
mentioned him. He is the son of your deceased third cousin, Spencer
Moss. Mrs. Moss has come quite a distance to see you.”
Tremaine didn’t apologize
for his rather disheveled appearance, simply turned and made a faint
bow in her direction. “Mrs. Moss. Welcome to Castle Tremaine.
Now, if you will excuse me, there are several pressing affairs I
need to--”
“I should like a word
with you, my lord.” She rose from her place on the sofa. “It is a
matter of some importance and I have traveled quite far.”
One of his black eyebrows
arched up. It was clear he wasn’t used to a woman speaking out as
she had just done. For a moment he simply stared, as if taking her
measure in some way.
Then the edge of his
mouth faintly curved. “I suppose...since you have traveled, as you
say, quite some distance, I can spare a moment.” There was
something in that hard-edged smile that made her stomach lift
alarmingly.
Tremaine turned to his
sister-in-law. “If you will excuse us, Becky...”
Rebecca’s smile slipped.
“Of course.” She retreated toward the sliding doors but she didn’t
look happy about it. Corrie got the distinct impression the earl’s
sister-in-law wasn’t happy to think his impoverished distant cousin
might move into the house--no matter how large it was.
“Mrs. Moss?” Tremaine
didn’t invite her to sit. It was clear he didn’t expect the
interview to take that long. Corrie steeled herself against a hint
of irritation, followed by a rush of nerves. The earl was even more
handsome than rumors about him had said.
He was very tall and
extremely broad-shouldered, with a flat stomach and long, muscular
legs, clearly outlined by his snug black riding breeches. Looking
into those penetrating dark eyes, it was easy to imagine an innocent
young woman like her sister succumbing to such sheer masculinity.
“How many times have I told
you that a woman precedes a man. I can’t believe you have already
forgot.”
His brilliant blue eyes
darkened. “And I told you that a man walks in front of a woman in
case there is danger. There is danger here for you, Krista.
Whether you wish to believe it or not.”
