La Bella Isabella Read Online Free

you?”
    Again, that musical laugh.
    “You feel so, my lord? I wonder why? Because I call you ‘my lord’? Are you a lord?”
    “I am. As to why? I thought I did feel so, perhaps I will feel so again.” Such gentle innuendo, but realized—and judging by the brief laugh he heard—appreciated. “Are you a lady?”
    She considered. “Well, I am female, so that makes me a lady. Am I a lady? One of life’s mysteries, my lord.”
    Harry moved slightly, so his thigh rested against her cloak. “I love a mystery.”
    “Oh, so do I.”
    The coach came to a halt. “I believe we have reached Smithson Gardens, my lord. Are you sure you do not want to be taken all the way to your destination? We wouldn’t want you to catch a chill and be unable to…shall we say… help Lady Mellissa, would we?”
    The minx! So she did know who he was! And about his involvement with Mellissa, something he was sure very few people were aware of.
    “Thank you; that would be better. I would hate to be too cold to share my warmth.” He watched as his mystery lady put her head briefly out of the window to give the coachman his new instructions.
    There was a comfortable silence within the coach. Harry sensed her looking in his direction. Could he be so lucky that her face was now revealed? No, her cloak and hood were all encompassing.
    Almost inconsequentially, it seemed, he asked, “So where is your companion of earlier in the day? Penny, wasn’t it?”
    Her amusement was obvious as she stifled a chuckle. “No, my lord, it was not. And as you can see, she is not here.” She peered out the window. “Ah, but I believe we are here…where you wish to be.”
    “Indeed. My thanks.” He moved toward her and swiftly took her chin in his hand. “You, my dear, are playing with fire. You may not tell me who you are, but I will find out, and then—”
    “And then what, my lord?” she asked boldly. “Then what? Shall we dance?”
    “Then, I will do more than kiss you like this.” So saying, he bent and took her mouth with his. “We will dance in many different ways. This is the first.”
    She moaned, a sweet sound that set his pulse racing. What was it about this mysterious woman that made him want to take all of her clothes off and show her how to pull him inside her? Show her all the ways he could pleasure her, with his mouth, his tool, his whole body. Unless it was because she was unknown? The thrill of the chase, but not knowing whom he was chasing? On reflection, he thought not. There was something about her, her scent, that called to him, aroused all his senses. He moved his hand under the velvet top of her dress to cup the swell of her breast. She slapped his hand away and drew back from his mouth.
    “Oh no, my lord,” she said, “you do not go from me, with the imprint of my body on your hand, on your mouth, with your senses relating to me, to another woman. And do not say you will not go to her, for I know you will.”
    Harry drew back reluctantly.
    “That is true. I must go see her.”
    “Mellissa?”
    “Yes, Mellissa. I owe it her to tell her in person I will no longer be visiting. Forgive me, my dear.”
    “Nothing to forgive, my lord.” She gave her throaty laugh. “And although I am not your dear, I rather enjoyed it.”
    “As you will again,” remarked Harry conversationally. He heard her draw a sharp breath. Got you.
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “No need to beg my pardon. You have nothing to pardon. Why do you think I am visiting Mellissa to say farewell?”
    Her voice was frosty. Rather like the air outside the carriage, he thought. “I have absolutely no idea. But please, I cannot keep my horses waiting any longer.”
    “Of course not.” He swung down gracefully and jumped lightly into the snow. Just before the door swung shut, he addressed her.
    “The reason, my dear, I no longer need a mistress is because of you.”
     
     
    Chapter Four
     

     
    The afternoon soiree was at its noisiest height. Twelve young