Free How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries Page B

about. Ah yes. How he meant to become a problem for Gran. “Your kissing me cannot possibly help this situation.”
    “If your grandmother sees us, she’ll realize I’m more of a scoundrel than a suitor and she’ll grow alarmed.”
    Minerva drew back to glare at him. “If she sees us, she’ll proclaim me compromised and make me marry you.”
    “And that would work?” he said skeptically. “I got the idea that your grandmother couldn’t
make
you do anything.”
    “I don’t particularly want to test that theory.” She pushed at his chest. “Besides, I’ve got a less dangerous way to make you into a prob—”
    “God help me,” muttered a voice from the doorway.
    Minerva’s heart sank as she turned to see Freddy, his eyes round at the sight of Giles’s hands still clasping her waist. And Giles certainly took his sweet time about releasing her.
    “What are you doing here, Freddy?” Minerva asked, irritated at them both.
    “I thought there might be some muffins left from breakfast.” His gaze turned accusing. “You said you were just showing him out.” Freddy ran his fingers through his hair as he darted a glance in the direction of the Crimson Courtyard, named for its bright red paving tiles. “Dash it all, your grandmother will skin me alive. And your brothers will hold me down while she does it. I was supposed to chaperone.” His voice rose with his hysteria. “You said nothing could happen between the drawing room and the door—”
    “Nothing
did
happen,” Minerva said firmly.
    Freddy’s gaze flew from her to Giles. “But Masters there had his hands—”
    “It’s fine, Freddy. He was just . . . steadying me. I almost fell.”
    The young man’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not a complete idiot, you know.”
    She sighed. “Of course not. But honestly, there’s no reason for anybody to hear about it. I won’t say anything if you don’t. Why should we bother Gran with this?” She cast him a sly look. “I would hate to see you get into trouble.”
    “That would be very bad,” he muttered. “Jane would never forgive me. She likes your family. She wouldn’t want us sent home with a cloud over our heads.”
    “Exactly,” she said, feeling a small twinge of guilt at playing on his unreasonable panic. Especially since she could feel Giles’s gaze boring into her. “We’ll just keep this between us, all right?”
    “All right. Although maybe I should go with you to see Mr.Masters out.”
    “Good idea,” Giles drawled as he offered Minerva his arm.
    She took it, her heart beating faster when he laid his hand on hers. He wore gloves, as did she, yet she swore she could feel the heat of his flesh through both layers of leather.
    As they headed for the door, she said, “Let’s avoid the courtyard, shall we? No point in reminding my brothers that they want to thrash Mr. Masters.”
    Giles shot her a half-smile. “Concerned for my welfare, are you?”
    “Not a bit,” she lied. “I just hate the sight of bloodshed.”
    “I would never have guessed,” he said as they headed toward the back entrance to Halstead Hall, Freddy falling into step behind them. “Your books are full of it.”
    “That’s precisely the trouble with you. You keep confusing fiction with real life.”
    He lowered his voice. “Only because you keep turning real life into fiction.”
    Shooting a glance to where Freddy lagged some steps behind them, she dropped her voice to a murmur. “And I’ll continue to do so if you ever kiss me like that again in a place where my family might see. That will void our agreement, do you understand? I will keep writing about Rockton until I
die.
”
    He searched her face, as if trying to determine her sincerity, then gave her a cool nod. “You drive a hard bargain, my dear.”
    “Don’t you forget it.”
    They walked together a few moments in silence.
    As they neared the back entrance, he asked, “May I call on you again tomorrow? I don’t have to be in court until