Amanda McCabe Read Online Free

laughed. “So, since people are watching, I am not allowed to greet my sister?”
    Violet frowned up at him, her pink and white forehead puckering, her lips drawn together in a perfect imitation of Mrs. Chase. She opened the reticule that dangled from her wrist and drew out a small, blue leather-bound book. She flicked through the pages until she found what she was looking for, and she read aloud, “ ‘A gentleman shall never be overexuberantwhen greeting a lady, even one nearly related to him. Bowing over the hand, or, if closely related, a kiss on the cheek, will suffice.’ ”
    Michael laughed again, thinking she could not be serious. But Violet’s frown deepened, and she even tapped the toe of her kid half-boot against the floor.
    “Michael!” she scolded. “The rules are not to be mocked. They are important. Manners are what make us
civilized
.”
    “What on earth are you spouting about, Vi?” Michael asked, and grabbed the book out of her hands.
    A Lady’s Rules for Proper Behavior.
    Michael almost groaned aloud. So the insidious “rules” had spread out from Town into the Seminary. And his own sister was an adherent.
    He should have known that Mrs. Chase, of all people, would read and espouse this book.
    Violet took the volume back, and tucked it into her reticule. “You should read it, Michael. It is really most edifying.”
    “Edifying, eh?” Michael couldn’t resist reaching out to tweak one of his sister’s sunshine curls. “They
do
teach you big words here.”
    Violet drew back with another frown. “You see, Michael? You
do
need to read the rules. A gentleman should never pull a lady’s hair. But come and say hello to Mrs. Chase now! I have told her all about our plans for the holiday.”
    “Did you, indeed?” he muttered. He politely offered Violet his arm, and led her across the room toward Mrs. Chase. He pasted an amiable smile on his lips, but inwardly he hoped he could just keep himself from throttling Mrs. Chase. She was turning his sweet sister into a rule-following stick—just like their father.

Chapter Three
    “A gentleman must never seat himself on the settee beside his hostess, or any lady not related to him, unless invited.”
    —
A Lady’s Rules for Proper Behavior
, Chapter Five
    R  osalind watched Lord Morley’s exuberant greeting of his sister—and almost laughed when Lady Violet pulled out
A Lady’s Rules
and proceeded to read her brother a portion of it. She did not know which rule it could be, but it must be a good one to cause the dark frown on Lord Morley’s face. He stepped back from Violet, his hands planted on his hips, leather driving gloves dangling carelessly from his curled fingers.
    Lady Violet, usually the mildest of young ladies, looked like a fierce little Valkyrie, swooping down to avenge wrongs done to decorum.
    Rosalind thought again what a very fine student Lady Violet was.
    “Ah, I see Lord Morley is here!” said the woman Rosalind was talking to, Lady Stone-Smythe. She reached up to pinch some color into her plump cheeks, and straightened her pink and green confection of a bonnet. “Such a treat to get a glimpse of him. He is invited simply
everywhere
, you know, but is so unpredictable in which invitations he will accept. I have hopes he will come to the literary evening I have planned.” She half-turned toward where Lord Morleystood, displaying her ample charms in a tight green carriage costume to better advantage. “Imagine seeing him at a ladies’ seminary.”
    Rosalind thought of one or two rules Lady Stone-Smythe would be well-advised to follow, but she resisted the urge to say so. Lady Stone-Smythe had three daughters in the school, and was one of her finest patrons. Even if she
was
a bit of silly goose.
    “Lord Morley is the brother of one of my pupils, Lady Violet Bronston,” Rosalind said. “She told me he was going to escort her home today.”
    “Of course! Lady Violet. Such a lovely young lady. And she is such good friends