Free Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 04] - Love's Duet by Patricia Veryan

start,
caught sight of Sophia's warlike pose, gave a screeching honk, trundled
to the far corner of the room, and disappeared behind the drapes.
    With lightning reaction, the Marquis sprang to his feet and spun
around, a grim scowl on his face. To Sophia's horror, a long-barrelled
and wicked-looking pistol had apparently leapt into his hand and was
aimed unwaveringly at her heart.
    For an instant, they stared at one another. Then the pistol was whisked from sight. "Ah…" he smiled. "Charades…!"
    Recovering her wits somewhat but still trembling, she lowered the poker.
    "Let me think…" He picked up his jacket and shrugged into it. "It
could not be Boadicea, for you have no helmet, unless… that so charming
cap?"
    "W-why"—she breathed faintly, ignoring his nonsense,— "did you p-point that ugly… thing at me?"
    He stepped towards her but stopped as she backed away. "We have had some thievery, ma'am.
'Pon my word, but your energy astounds me! I'd have thought that after such a tiring day you would be sound asleep."
    "So would I," she said, her heart settling back into place once
more. "When I heard the… noise, I thought Horatio was jumping about on
the keys. I see now that I was mistaken."
    He contemplated the upward tilt of her little nose and said gravely,
"Most mistaken, my lady. He has been known to waddle, has made a few
attempts at flying, and occasionally, I believe, might be said to rush.
But I honestly cannot say I have ever seen him—jump."
    That disconcerting dance of mirth was in his eyes. But she was not
going to be taken in again. "I regret the error," she said coldly.
    "Ah, but are you quite sure, ma'am?"
    "Your pardon?"
    He took another step towards her. "I have"—out went his hands in a charmingly Gallic gesture—"a sort of—
er—je ne sais quoi
…"
    Sophia was obliged to remind herself sternly that this was the same
vicious man who had so cruelly teased her in the catacombs. But she
could not resist asking, "About me, uncle?"
    "
Mais non
—niece. About Horatio."
    She affected disinterest, and he went on. "Perhaps it is that, had
it not been for my presence, my faithful friend might have joined his
feathery ancestors this night And with no picture gallery to assure his
immortality!"
    "Good God!" she gasped. "I never meant to kill—er—well, that is to say, I would
not
have! It was just that awful uproar!"
    "Alas. My music does not please you."
    "Nor you, evidently. To judge by your profanity."
    Immediately, he was all seriousness. "Your pardon, Lady Sophia. I trust you will believe I'd not heard you come in."
    "Of course. You could not
possibly
have done so." She gave
a weary sigh and, lowering her lashes, said nobly, "I shall leave you
to your… practising, my lord, and
try
to get some sleep."
Looking up with saintly martyrdom, she discovered not repentance but a
near grin on his face and was hard put to it not to abandon her tragic
pose and favour him with one of her famous set downs.
    "That I should disturb your slumbers, dear lady, cuts me to the
heart," he mourned, entering her drama by resting one hand gracefully
upon his chest. "However, since this house is built like a fortress, I
cannot quite understand how my miserable stumblings should disturb you,
had you been tucked beneath the covers of your—most fortunate bed."
    His twinkling eyes travelled her dressing gown. She pulled the neck
closer, an unnecessary movement since she was far more fully clad than
she had been at dinner. "Sounds," she snapped, forgetting her meekness,
"travel up the chimney!"
    Abruptly, all traces of humour vanished from his face. "Mrs. Hatters
put you in my mother's room? Now truly this is unforgivable! Of course,
you were awakened! My profound apologies, ma'am. I shall be silent as
the grave." He bowed, but with anger lurking in his eyes.
    "You are all consideration," she murmured. "I bid you goodnight, sir. And pray convey my apologies to Horatio."
    With this Parthian shot, she turned away, feeling very