Return of the Viscount by Gayle Callen Page A

been holding her breath, and she let it out slowly. “Very well. You have my permission to attempt the battle of Oliver.”
    His head tipped back as if in surprise. “He’s been as bad as all that?”
    â€œNo, no, but it is you who make it seem like he’s your new campaign.”
    â€œI am a soldier; I see much of life like a battle to be mastered and won.”
    â€œAnd do you often win, my lord?” she asked softly.
    â€œAlmost always, my lady.”
    He’d lowered his voice until it was a deep rumble that reverberated through her. Again, she felt a twinge of intriguing danger, which she would do her best to ignore. She was responsible for Oliver, and she’d vowed never again to fail a member of her family.
    The door swung open, and Penelope entered like a floral spring breeze. “Hello, Cecilia!” she trilled, then came to a stop upon seeing Lord Blackthorne, her happy smile fading to pleased curiosity. “Oh, I am interrupting you.”
    Lord Blackthorne rose stiffly to his feet. “Good morning, Miss Webster.”
    â€œYou are always welcome, Penelope,” Cecilia said, finding herself relieved.
    Hesitantly, the young woman said, “Did you remember that we were going to paint the autumn colors of your garden after luncheon? But we don’t have to, of course. Circumstances have obviously changed.” She gave Lord Blackthorne a bright smile.
    Cecilia knew Penelope was thrilled with the revelation of Lord Blackthorne. But then she was very much like her sister, Hannah, who’d been a firm believer in true love. For a moment, melancholia rose inside her at the senseless drowning of her dear friend. Every death seemed to buffet Cecilia in a new direction.
    â€œOf course we’ll still paint,” she said, grateful that she had the other woman to remind her that there was more to life than business.
    â€œOh, I’m glad,” Penelope said. “Talbot asked me to tell you that luncheon will be served in half an hour.”
    Cecilia glanced at the mantel clock in surprise. The morning had passed swiftly. “We’ll be there.”
    She expected Lord Blackthorne to follow Penelope out of the study, but after a couple limping steps, leaning heavily on his cane, he turned back to her.
    â€œMiss Webster was introduced to me as Appertan’s fiancée. For a young man still living wildly, the engagement seems unusual.”
    â€œThey grew up in constant contact, as the Websters have long leased a manor from the estate.”
    â€œAnd Miss Webster was determined she would be the next countess?” Lord Blackthorne asked.
    â€œI never had that feeling,” Cecilia said, blinking in surprise.
    â€œThen whose idea was it?”
    She rose to her feet. “When my brother announced the engagement, I did not question what had gone on privately between them. I trusted their feelings. Oliver plans to wait until at least his twenty-first birthday to set a wedding date, which will give them time to decide if such a match truly suits.”
    â€œHe is not certain of that yet he already asked for her hand in marriage?”
    â€œYou make quick judgments, my lord,” she said coolly. “I wrote to you about Penelope’s sister, my dearest friend, who drowned in a pond near their home. Such tragedy often brings people together, and they no longer want to waste time alone.”
    â€œThen it is good that I know these circumstances, madam. They might affect how I deal with your brother.”
    â€œBe compassionate with him, Lord Blackthorne,” she said in a quieter voice, sinking back down into her chair.
    â€œI do not believe compassion has helped him much, but I won’t forget that you requested it of me.”
    He limped away before she could respond, closing the door behind him. She finished filling out her report to Oliver’s guardian about the daily management of the estate. But it wasn’t easy to