Provoked (24 page)
Authors: Joanna Chambers
Miles couldn’t hold himself back. “Sir. You were given a trust to go along with your fortune.”
“You forget yourself, Kenway.”
“You employed me to care for your property. I am doing my job.
I
do not forget where
my
duties lie.”
With Molly and the children, you great idiot.
With that return to sanity, he continued, “Ah, please forgive me, Mr. Gerard.” He stood, intending to flee before the Gadabout could gather his thoughts and fire him on the spot. “You are right, I overstepped my bounds and I do hope you understand it is a matter of overzealousness and not disrespect. I have no wish to annoy you or cause—”
“Are you done babbling?”
He gave an inward sigh. “I expect…yes, sir.”
“Sit down and finish your damned brandy. We will not discuss my job, although we might touch upon yours.”
“Thank you.” Miles felt numb as he carefully resettled on the too-small chair. Had he been ushered to such a seat to be reminded he was a clumsy, oversized ox? He eyed the not-too-tall, not-too-large gentleman who employed him, the man who wasn’t merely careless but malevolent when it came to his family’s building and grounds. He obviously had some sort of grudge against the abbey. What had a pile of ancient stones and glass done to him?
Since his arrival, Miles tried only to gather information from the solicitor, Joey and Mrs. Billings but, assuming he still had a job after this meeting, he would go straight to the Goat and Grape and settle in for some drinking with the local farmers. Surely someone hereabouts would know why Mr. Gerard disliked the place.
Could it be that as a young boy Mr. Gerard had gotten caught in a drafty cell in the old cloisters? Three sides of the original building had crumbled into ruins, but one remained, and some of the tiny rooms in that wing had been preserved and could only be locked from the main hall. Miles imagined the original inhabitants, the monks, had led a harsh life.
He studied the cap he held in both hands rather than raise his head and meet the gaze of Mr. Gerard. Miles hoped his bowed head gave him the air of meekness. Of course Gerard would notice the top of his wild hair and the fact that Miles hadn’t had it cut recently, or that he didn’t brush his hair nearly often enough. Well, perhaps his shaggy appearance would make him appear a hard worker, although judging from the well-dressed Gadabout, a neat and clean appearance would have worked better in Miles’s favor.
“It is rather too late to act as the part of the polite and eager member of staff, Mr. Kenway.”
“I know, sir. I am truly very sorry for my bad temper.” There. He truly sounded penitent. Earnestly ashamed of himself.
“Huh.” The Gadabout didn’t seem to believe him. Miles raised his eyes and saw Gerard smiled.
No fine lines at the corners of his eyes—Gerard had great curving lines that transformed his entire face, lifted the gloom from the haunted expression. His smile invited anyone who saw it to return the grin.
Miles’s mouth twitched. He wasn’t going to relax until he knew he hadn’t bullied his employer into firing him.
“To return to the topic at hand.”
“The boy?” Miles asked hopefully.
“Your employment.”
Ah.
“Your job is safe for now.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You are conscientious and mean well.”
Indeed I do, you priggish Gadabout. Unlike some I could think of.
“Thank you, sir.”
Gerard swallowed the rest of his brandy and stood. “I do not need a tour, but we will go hunt down the boy and discuss his future with him.”
Now Miles allowed himself a smile. This could be entertaining.
Provoked
Joanna Chambers
When a man loses his heart, he has no choice but to follow…
Enlightenment, Book 1
Lowborn David Lauriston lacks the family connections needed to rise in Edinburgh’s privileged legal world. Worse, his latest case—defending weavers accused of treason—has brought him under suspicion of harbouring radical sympathies.
Troubled by his sexuality, tormented by memories of a man he once platonically loved, David lives a largely celibate life—until a rare sexual encounter with a compelling stranger turns his world on its head.
Cynical and worldly, Lord Murdo Balfour is more at home in hedonistic London than dingy, repressed Edinburgh. Unlike David, he intends to eventually marry while continuing to enjoy the company of men whenever he pleases. Yet sex with David is different. It’s personal, intimate, and instead of extinguishing his desire, it only leaves him hungry for more.
As David’s search for the man who betrayed the weavers deepens, he begins to suspect that his mysterious lover has more sinister reasons for his presence in Edinburgh. The truth could leave his heart broken…and more necks stretching on the gallows.
Warning: Contains mystery and danger set in 1822 Scotland, and a forbidden love between two men that will leave you on the edge of your seat—until the next book.
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B
Cincinnati OH 45249
Provoked
Copyright © 2013 by Joanna Chambers
ISBN: 978-1-61921-617-4
Edited by Linda Ingmanson
Cover by Angela Waters
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: July 2013
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