Free A Dangerous Courtship by Lindsay Randall Page A

the fried lamb's liver with golden onions—the very dish Veronica had chosen but only picked at. A tea tray had also been delivered to the table, and with it teacakes and parkin. The innkeeper had obviously ordered his cook to spare nothing for Lady Veronica.
    There came a loud, angry voice from beyond the door, causing Nettie to jump in her seat and Veronica to stiffen.
    That it was Shelton shouting at someone was unmistakable.
    "La, m'lady," said Nettie, around the food in her mouth, "but 'e be soundin' frightful angry. Whut ev'r could be the matt'r?"
    Veronica could wager a fair guess. She did not, however, have a chance to go and see for herself.
    Within seconds, the coffee room door was thrust open and the cause of Shelton's ill-tempered shouts made his presence known.
    "Julian, "breathed Veronica.
    Nettie shrieked. She jumped to her feet, upending her chair, then plastered her body back against the far wall, where she stayed, shivering in complete and utter terror at the man's ungentlemanly entrance... and then, by degrees, she relaxed her stance as she got a good view of his rugged, handsome face and his deep darkling eyes.
    Veronica, too, would have liked to jump back and away from the man, but instinctively knew he would not allow any such thing. By the savage look in his black gaze, Julian had come to see her head on a platter.
    And by the looks of his battered face, he'd met with trouble after she'd left him at Fountains.
    "You've been hurt," Veronica whispered at the sight of him. A thousand questions tumbled through her brain.
    Shelton came charging in after Julian. "I tell you again, man, get out! Lest you want the innkeep and constable alerted and ordered to drag you gone by your ears you will leave now! Do you hear?"
    "Aye. I hear you," muttered Julian, who had eyes only for Veronica.
    She paled. His right eye was swollen and grotesque, his lip split. What had transpired at the abbey after she'd gone?
    "Tell your man and your maid to leave us," Julian said, so softly that Veronica had to strain to hear him. "You and I have much to discuss, my lady." He made a slight movement with his right hand.
    Veronica dropped her gaze, her eyes widening at sight of a small bundle of sheepskin bound with twine that he held in his fist. She gave him an almost imperceptible nod of her head, then looked first at Nettie and then to Shelton. "I would have a word with this man. Alone. Please leave us."
    Nettie's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "You know him, m'lady?"
    "Nettie, "Veronica said, a warning tone in her voice.
    The maid, clearly at an inner crossroads, decided finally she'd best bite her tongue and leave her lady to her business.
    She left her place at the wall, grabbed up one of the remaining teacakes from a plate near the parkin on the deal table, then scurried out of the room—but not before casting one last lingering glance at the tall, bearded fellow who'd invaded the chamber and who seemed mighty interested in having a private audience with her lady.
    Shelton proved not so easy to dismiss.
    "'Tis out of the question," he proclaimed loudly. He cast Julian a withering glance. "I'll not be leaving you to such a vagabond as this, my lady," he declared. "The earl would not be pleased. He would—"
    "Leave us, Shelton, " Veronica cut in, her tone brooking no argument. It took every ounce of her daring to stand up to her father's most trusted servant, but she did so unwaveringly. The bundle in Julian's hands, and the bruises to his face, were enough of an incentive. And, too, a small voice in her soul whispered, this is what she'd wanted, after all, when he'd left her, slipping into the dark mouth of that earthen cave. She'd known then, as she knew now, that she very much wanted to be alone with this man again.
    Shelton muttered something unintelligible, and then, with a baleful glare at Julian, finally relented. "Aye, my lady. As you deem," he muttered, scowling. "I shall plant myself on the other side of this