Free To Love a Lord by Christi Caldwell Page B

thankfully swift death. His sister stood framed in the entrance. “Oh.”
    Chloe softly laughed. “It is lovely to see you as well.”
    Gabriel blinked and then registered her presence. “Chloe.” He sprang to his feet and the wooden legs of his chair scraped noisily along the floor. “How are you feeling?” Guilt chafed at his insides. He’d been so fixated on Mrs. Jane Munroe he’d not given proper thought to his sister’s well-being.
    Chloe waved a hand about. “I am rested and well,” she said with a smile. As though to prove as much, she moved with energized steps to the sideboard. She favored a nearby servant with one of her patently sincere smiles and proceeded to fill her plate. She carried it over and then claimed the spot beside him, and then froze. “What happened to your face?”
    His face. As in his blackened eyes. He’d arisen with the underside of his eyes painted purple and blue for Jane’s efforts. And as he couldn’t very well admit to kissing a stranger fighting for the post as companion and then being dealt an impressive facer for those efforts, he said the first words to form on his lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He winced as soon as the lie left his mouth. His tenacious sister would not release her talons from this juicy morsel.
    Chloe leaned up and touched the bruise. He winced. “This. I’m referring to this.” With a moue of displeasure on her lips, she adopted the disapproving tone used by their mother too often. “You do not fight, Gabriel.” No, he disavowed all violent endeavors. Having been the victim of too many fists of fury rained down upon him, he’d vowed to never raise one to another, except if it was to defend himself or his kin.
    And so, with his sister staring pointedly at him, he did what any gentleman who’d been kissing his sister’s companion would do. “I was visiting Gentleman Jackson’s.” He lied.
    “Oh.” The slight nod indicated she approved of that endeavor. “Well?” she prodded as she sat.
    Would she not let the matter rest? “Well, what?” he asked, reclaiming his seat.
    Chloe carefully diced a piece of cold ham. “Has she arrived?”
    Ah, she spoke of Mrs. Munroe. Gabriel cast another look over at the door. “She has.”
    “And?” she popped the breakfast meat into her mouth and chewed.
    His mind drew a blank. What was there to say about the woman who was a spitting mad vixen one moment and a quiet-mannered, proper young woman the next?
    Chloe pointed her eyes to the ceiling. “Do not be deliberately obtuse. Regardless, I must politely reject your plan to tie me to one of Belden’s dragons for the remainder of the Season.”
    The floorboards creaked and they swung their gazes to the entrance of the room. The determined Jane Munroe, who should have taken her leave two days ago, stood at the threshold. Hesitant, hovering, and uncertain, she bore traces of the woman who’d first shown up on his doorstep.
    He climbed to his feet, a grin on his lips. “Chloe, may I present to you one of Mrs. Belden’s instructors. ” His sister had the good grace to blush. “This is Mrs. Munroe.” After all, there was little doubt that Jane had, in fact, heard the unfavorable words leveled at her.
    His sister stood. “Mrs. Munroe,” she murmured.
    Jane executed a flawless curtsy. Her gaze strayed momentarily over to Gabriel and then she swiftly returned her attention to Chloe. “My lady, it is a pleasure.”
    Chloe warily eyed her, as though she feared one wrong word and the woman would drag her back for another year of finishing school. Ah, Jane, who’d been so very confident of her persuasion that she’d commandeered his home and boldly rejected his plans of returning her to Mrs. Belden’s. Amusement filled him and Gabriel felt himself grinning as he reclaimed his seat.
    Chloe returned her attention to her plate. From over the top of her head, he caught Jane’s gaze and lifted his cup in silent challenge. She narrowed