Christie Kelley Read Online Free Page A

well-padded emerald jacket that spread across his narrow shoulders like moss on a tree. The cravat he wore was tied in some new fashion. They would look splendid dancing together.
    He scanned the room once more but did not seem to notice her.
    She was determined to rectify that.
    While she still had her courage, she strolled across the deserted dance floor, her gaze locked on her victim. Halfway to him, a large body bumped into her. The man caught her close to keep her from tumbling to the floor. She looked up into sparkling blue eyes and wanted to scream.
    “Selby, you oaf! Don’t you ever look where you are going?”
    “I must apologize, Miss Copley. I barely recognized you,” he said with a pointed look at the valley of her breasts exposed by her dress.
    She yanked herself away from him. “You are a beast.”
    “Hmm, probably so,” he said with a rakish grin.
    Avis strode away from him, still looking for Emory, who had managed to disappear into the crowd. The musicians finished tuning and the dancing was set to begin. Avis moved off the dance floor, glaring over at Selby. He irritated her in so many ways she couldn’t begin to count them.
    She finally located Emory in a crowd of men, which meant she wouldn’t get the chance to talk to him until later. Everything was fine. It was only a small change to her plan. She could talk to him later. Strolling out of the room, she headed down the hall to her father’s—no, Watton’s—study.
    As she sat in the overlarge chair, memories of watching her father working here overwhelmed her. She glanced down at her arm and the faint jagged scar still visible after almost twenty years. Looking over at the raised hearth, she wondered if the servants had ever cleaned all the blood off the bricks. All she’d wanted was a hug from her father. Instead, she had this constant reminder that business had been more important to him than her love.
    She shoved those dreadful thoughts away, picked up a piece of paper, and dipped the quill into the ink. After penning the note that would seal her future, she sanded it and waved the paper to dry.
    It was done. She would give herself up to the passion she had inside of her and allay her curiosity. The only thing left to do was get the message to him before midnight.
    After returning to the ballroom, she scanned the room for him. She found Emory only two feet from the man she wanted to ignore. While Emory didn’t appear to notice her stare, Selby naturally did. It seemed the wretch was spying on her tonight, though she had no idea why. Instead of dwelling on Selby any further, she waved a footman over.
    “Yes, miss?”
    “Bring this to the man by the terrace door,” she whispered, pointing toward Emory.
    The man hesitated.
    “Over there,” Avis said, again pointing to Emory.
    “Ah, yes, miss.”
    She couldn’t watch. Instead, she turned and walked toward Jennette knowing her plan was in motion.
     
    Banning continued to make inane conversation with Billingsworth’s friends, wondering when Avis would try to contact the man again. He hoped he had forestalled her first attempt when he jostled her on the dance floor. Letting Billingsworth make a fool out of her…or worse was not an option. Banning would do everything in his power to make certain Avis didn’t give herself to that letch.
    “I have great news to announce tonight at midnight,” Billingsworth said to his small crowd of admirers.
    “About what?” one of the men asked.
    “My latest novel. Walking with Emily is going to be a huge success.”
    Banning smiled along with the rest of the group but wondered exactly how Billingsworth’s unpublished novel would be a success when he couldn’t find a publisher. Banning watched as a footman headed toward the group with a note on a silver salver. He’d seen Avis talking to the same footman and could only assume she meant the missive for Billingsworth. Banning moved slightly closer to him, ready to grab the note if