Read Online Captive Pride by Bobbi Smith - Free Book Online Page B

his abrupt, arrogant manner a spark of embarrassed anger seared through CC’s momentarily stunned senses, and she glared at him venomously.
    â€œIndeed, Lord Kincade,” she shot back, wondering why she found his snubbing so irritating. He was a titled gentleman. Hadn’t she come to expect such behavior from them? They were all so pompous…so obnoxiously vain. The fact that she found him attractive had nothing to do with it, she declared to herself vehemently. CC gritted her teeth as she gave her father a sweet smile. “Father, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you gentlemen to your business….”
    â€œOf course, dear.” Judging from Kincade’s calm manner, Edward felt certain that Kincade had not overheard his daughter’s disparaging comments, and he was exceedingly grateful. “Come in and have a seat,” he invited, leading the way back into the study. Directing Noah to the chair before his desk, he shut the door behind them.
    CC stared at the closed portal for a moment before turning away to find the butler still standing there.
    â€œI’m sorry, Miss CC,” Gilbert apologized humbly, knowing how embarrassed she’d been by the Englishman’s presence, “but the gentleman hushed me when I started to announce him.”
    â€œHe did, did he?” That news infuriated her all the more. The damned scoundrel! He had deliberately eavesdropped! How dare he?
    â€œMiss CC?” He read the range of emotions on her expressive face and knew a moment of disconcertion.
    CC was angry, but not at the butler. “Don’t worry about it, Gilbert. It’s not your fault that he’s a conscienceless cad who would deliberately listen in on someone else’s private conversation.”
    He was relieved that her irritation wasn’t directed at him. “Can I do anything else for you?”
    â€œNo, Gilbert, I’m fine, thank you.”
    â€œDo you think Lord Kincade will be staying for dinner?” the servant inquired.
    â€œI hope not,” she muttered under her breath in annoyance as she walked off.
    â€œMiss CC?” he ventured again, not having heard her answer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.”
    CC paused to answer. “You’ll have to check with my father. I’m not sure if their business meeting will last that long or not.”
    â€œYes, ma’am. I’ll do that.”
    Hoping she’d seen the last of the obnoxious Lord Noah Kincade, CC again started off to her room.

Chapter Four
    Edward smiled in satisfaction as he regarded Noah across his desk. They had been poring over contracts and manifests for more than an hour and had finally come to a mutually beneficial agreement regarding the Lorelei ’s current load of merchandise.
    â€œA toast to an agreement well met?” he offered as he rose and strode to the liquor cabinet across the room.
    â€œThank you, Edward,” Noah agreed. He had found him a tough but fair man to deal with and he was pleased with the terms they’d finally settled upon. The profit from the Lorelei ’s goods would keep Matthew and him comfortably until the Pride ’s arrival.
    â€œWhiskey? Or sherry, perhaps?”
    â€œWhiskey will be fine.”
    Edward poured two generous tumblers of the golden liquid and handed one to Noah. “To our future business dealings. May they be as successful as this one.”
    â€œI see no reason why they shouldn’t be.” Noah nodded in accord as he sipped of the potent brew, but even as he said it, his thoughts were on the possibility of his upcoming meeting with Smith.
    â€œYou say you have another ship due in port soon?”
    â€œThe Sea Pride, ” he provided. “The best I can figure, depending on the weather, she should make port sometime around the first of the year.”
    â€œYou’ll be staying until spring then?”
    â€œYes. Atlantic crossings are hardly the thing