Free THE STRICT BRITISH BARRISTER: ACT ONE by Maggie Carpenter Page A

making sure they weren’t opening drawers they had no business opening, and he had been replaying the footage of her sneaking into his cabin.
    Watching her lurking in his cabin was making him chuckle, especially when she discovered she couldn’t fit behind the armoire. Clearly her break-in had been completely spontaneous, giving credence to her explanation of why she’d done it.
    As he watched her duck out on to the patio he shook his head; it was almost endearing. The footage ended when he walked in and turned it off, and deciding to save it for posterity and share it with her at some point in the future, he downloaded it to his computer before deleting it from the camera.
    Turning his attention to the evening ahead, he moved across to the dining table. He’d ordered white roses for the centerpiece, and two white tapered candles. Dom Perignon champagne was chilling in an ice bucket, two, cut glass crystal goblets were waiting to be filled, and a bouquet of one dozen white and yellow roses in an art glass vase was out of sight in his bedroom,
    As a barrister Duncan enjoyed a reputation of sparing no expense, nor leaving any stone unturned when it came to defending a client, or litigating a case. His fees were high, but those who could afford him received the best representation money could buy.
    So it was in his personal life. He did not hold back, he did not play cat and mouse games; he made his feelings known, but staring at his impulsive purchases he felt a slight reticence.
    What am I doing? It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this…thing…for a woman. Do I want to immediately shower her with all this? Should I? Am I being too impetuous? Yes, it’s the right thing. Soon we’ll be apart, I must seize the moment.
    He had no doubt Brittany would be thrilled, but would probably ask him some surprising questions. Brittany was full of surprises; it was one of the qualities he found so captivating.
    At 7 p.m. her gentle knock announced her arrival, and after quickly lighting the candles he opened his door. Dressed in a shimmering emerald green, low cut, knee length, silk cocktail dress, and white and green glossy high heels, he thought she looked stunning. A string of pearls graced her neck, and she’d parted her hair on the side, causing it to fall coquettishly across one eye.
    “You are exquisite,” he smiled, taking her hand and kissing it softly.
    “Thank you,” she smiled, the shadow of a blush crossing her face, “and you look so handsome,” amazing in fact, just like James Bond.
    Duncan had opted for dark suit, a sharp white shirt, and a bow tie with a barely discernible streak of purple; it was an outfit he would have chosen to wear to an elegant dinner party in London.
    “I have champagne chilling, and not the sparkling wine we shared this morning. Dom Perignon, and a very good year I might add.”
    He ushered her forward, but when Brittany saw the beautifully set table she stopped, delightfully surprised by the elegant setting he’d arranged.
    “Duncan, this is gorgeous,” she exclaimed, “no-one has ever gone to so much trouble for me.”
    “More’s the pity,” he announced. “I want you to feel appreciated, and I want you to know how special I think you are.”
    “But, I’m not special,” she frowned. “I’m just a southern girl from a nothing town with dreams I’m too afraid to-”
    “Do I need to fetch my slipper already?” he lightly scolded, interrupting her. “You are special, and the sooner you come to realize that, the less power that doubting imp will have over you.”
    Reminded that he’d read her soliloquy she felt a warm blush, but she wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment that he knew her secrets, or pleasure that he’d not just read her story but had understood what she’d been trying to convey.
    “I’ll do my best,” she murmured.
    “Good girl,” he smiled, taking her hand as he kissed her lightly on the lips. “I have something for you. Please sit