Free Rules of Engagement by Christina Dodd

have employed him, heh?"
    "You are very astute, sir." Kerrich set a crystal paperweight on some of his less-interesting correspondence, men looked up at a wail from above stairs.
    "What was that?" Lord Reynard asked. "It sounded like a banshee."
    Mystified, Kerrich shook his head. "Perhaps the child?"
    "Only if they were killing her."
    The noise did not repeat, so Kerrich suggested, "Let's go sit by the fire."
    Willingly Lord Reynard heaved himself out of the hard-backed chair for the promise of a cushioned one. "She's a spirited filly, that one."
    "Who… oh." Did every conversation have to center around them'} "Which, the child or the governess?"
    "This young lady you're courting." Lord Reynard leaned one hand on Kerrich's arm and one on his cane, and started toward the fire.
    Kerrich's head whirled. "What young lady?"
    "Your pretty governess!"
    "Now, wait, Grandpapa—"
    "What other reason would you have for adopting a child? You're a rake, but you certainly wouldn't take a lady of good background as your mistress. So you obviously want that governess in your home so you can plead your suit at your leisure."
    "You mean—Miss Lockhart? To wed?" Lord Reynard's speculation rendered Kerrich incoherent.
    So that was the reason Lord Reynard had not interrogated him about his sudden turn of philanthropy. He thought Kerrich wanted to take Miss Lockhart to wife! And Kerrich could deny it, but what other reason could he give his grandfather for taking Beth into his home? For foisting her on society and lying about her origins?
    "A woman like that wouldn't have a man like you without persuasion." Lord Reynard waggled his finger. "You'll have to work to win her."
    Kerrich tried to see the best way out of this morass, but could come up with nothing better than "I don't want her!"
    Lord Reynard backed up to the fire and rubbed his rear. "Then what the hell is a girl of respectable family doing living in your house?"
    "I'm… looking her over." As good a tale as any. "I know I'll have to wed soon, and I have a list of what I want in a wife."
    "Do you?" Lord Reynard coughed—or did he chortle? "Tell me about this list."
    "I'll show you." Striding to his desk, Kerrich sorted through his files until he found it. "Basic requirements, really. She should be of good family. That goes without saying."
    "Without saying," Lord Reynard repeated.
    "She should have a strong sense of what is proper, be instructed on the duties of a hostess, be intelligent and, of course, be pliant and live to please me."
    Lord Reynard stared at him, and by his expression Kerrich suspected he would not be praised for a list that he thought to be quite forward thinking.
    Finally Lord Reynard asked, "Why don't you just buy a collie?"
    "Because I can't get an heir on a collie," Kerrich snapped. "Did I mention my bride should be fecund?"
    "Now there's something that's difficult to discover without prematurely tasting the delights." Lord Reynard closed one eye and tilted his head. "You didn't mention beauty, so I must assume you are too clever to make your decision based on mere pulchritude."
    Without volition, the picture of Kerrich's perfect woman rose in his mind. "She should have long brown hair, wavy when released from its braid, beautiful skin with a faint golden tint to it, curves that would crash a phaeton, and eyes of the most angelic blue…"
    Lord Reynard's question broke the spell. "What about love?"
    Kerrich dismissed that with a wave of his hand. "Oh, I can make her fall in love with me."
    "You could make any woman fall in love with you, hm?"
    Kerrich shrugged. "Every man has to be an expert at something, Grandpapa."
    "Even Miss Lockhart? Do you fancy you're up to the challenge of making her fall in love with you?"
    "If I wish—although I'd rather you didn't tip her off as to my intentions."
    "Of course not! I mounted a few fillies in my time. Surprise is of the essence." Looking at the Oriental carpet beneath his feet, Lord Reynard seemed lost in thought. At last,