Free A Gentleman's Kiss by Kimberley Comeaux Page B

I could leave as easily as you!” he heard her cry as his carriage began to roll away.
    It was afternoon before he could return to the shelter and speak with his butler. After what his father told him, he wasn’t so confident the meeting would go as he’d hoped it would.
    And he was right.
    “I’m sorry, sir, but it’s best for all if my granddaughter and I do not meet. She’ll never be accepted by the ton if she openly acknowledges me as a relative. And if Moreland finds out, I’m afraid he’ll cut her off as he did the girl’s father,” George told Cameron.
    “Claudia has gone to great lengths to find you—believe me! She’s willing to risk the ton and Moreland to know you.”
    George turned away from him and went to stand by the window. “I’m sorry, my lord, but I prefer not to meet with her.”
    Frustrated by his butler’s stubbornness, Cameron told him the truth. “You’ve already met her, George. But neither of you knew who the other one was.”
    George whirled to face him. “When would I have. . .” His voice drifted off, and his eyes widened. “She isn’t the young woman you brought home the other night, is she?”
    Cameron nodded. “Yes, she is.”
    “And she’s the same one who was dressed in those tattered clothes you were yelling at in your office?” he said carefully.
    Cameron smiled sheepishly. “I wasn’t exactly yelling, but, yes, she’s the one.”
    Cameron took a step back when he saw George’s face redden with anger. “I thought she might be a trollop, the way you spent so much time alone with her! Where was her chaperone, and why were you kissing her?”
    Cameron opened and closed his mouth. What plausible explanation could he give? “Your granddaughter has a penchant for getting herself into messes, which I’ve had to save her from twice.” He knew he should say no more, but he couldn’t keep from asking, “And how did you know I kissed her?”
    “How else would you have gotten dirt on your face?”
    Cameron winced and lowered his gaze. “I know I might have been out of line—”
    “Have you compromised her?” George charged.
    “No!” Cameron exclaimed. “I have only the best intentions toward Claudia. I hope to win her hand.”
    George grew quieter then. “Even more reason for us not to acknowledge our family connections.” With that he walked out of the room, leaving Cameron to wonder what he was going to do.
    ❧
    He was late. For the fourth time in only five minutes Claudia paused before the clock on the parlor mantle and sighed as she resumed pacing.
    Cameron had sent a note to her the night before, saying he would come by at ten. It was now ten thirty, and he had still not come.
    “Stop your pacing, girl!” her grandfather ordered, walking into the parlor. He noticed what she was wearing and grunted. “You’re not dressed as if you’re about to greet a beau.”
    Claudia dropped into a chair and smoothed the skirt of her gray morning dress. “He’s not my beau, and I’m certainly not dressing to impress him .”
    Her grandfather crossed the room to where she sat and scowled down at her. “Not a beau? Then what is his business here this morning if not to come calling?”
    “He’s simply a friend—that’s all.” She glanced once more at the clock.
    “Humph! You certainly seem anxious because he hasn’t arrived yet, and I can’t imagine any young gentleman visiting a lady only because he wants to be friends.”
    “Grandfather—,” she began but was interrupted by their butler announcing Lord Kinclary had arrived.
    Claudia anxiously watched Cameron step into the room and greet her grandfather. She tried to read his expression but was unable to decipher what he might be thinking.
    “So you’re Kinclary,” her grandfather said in his gruff way while making a show of sizing up Cameron.
    “Yes, Lord Moreland,” Cameron answered with a quick bow of his head. “Thank you for allowing me to meet with your granddaughter this