Midnight Rose Read Online Free Page A

from Atlanta in time for your little soiree.” She abruptly whirled away, calling out to someone she knew from church, not about to linger before their contemptuous glares.
    Erin was slower, hesitated a fraction of a second too long, and was thus vulnerable to Carolyn Manning’s loud whisper. “You weren’t invited, and you know it! You’re no debutante,” she added with a sneer, turning away as she felt the warning jab of her mother’s elbow in her side.
    Erin was well aware of the young men turning to stare appreciatively as she followed her mother inside the grandiose house. She ignored them and turned her attention to the lavish decor. There seemed to be an overabundance of everything—furniture, sculptures, paintings, crystal, gilt—as though the Mannings were desperate to display their wealth.
    All around, the ladies were conspicuously gowned and bejeweled, striving, it seemed, to flaunt every precious gem in their collections.
    They accepted champagne from a white-gloved servant who looked hot and uncomfortable in a red velvet coat and black velvet trousers.
    Arlene led the way to the ballroom, with its waved parquet floor and mirrored walls reflecting myriads of flickering tallow candles that other servants were just beginning to light.
    A string ensemble was playing in one corner, and along one wall were banquet tables filled with sumptuous foods. Beyond the French doors opening onto the rear terrace, the huge fountain had been transformed to offer a steady stream of bubbling champagne which flowed over the strawberries lining the bowl. Already, young girls with hopeful suitors hovering were giggling, becoming tipsy.
    “Isn’t it like something from a fairy tale?” Arlene breathed in awe. “I’ve never been to a party so lavish.”
    Erin felt a wave of pity, as well as guilt over having protested attending. The sad truth was that her mother had probably never been to a ball, or even a tea party, in her entire life. Oh, there’d been attempts to be accepted, always ending in heartache. She could remember the occasion of her tenth birthday, when her mother had planned a gala event, even engaged a traveling circus to perform on the lawn. Couriers were sent to hand-deliver invitations to every prominent family within a thirty-mile radius that had children in the household. But nobody came. So, for her mother’s sake, she made up her mind then and there to endure the evening and to pretend, at least, to have a good time, as long as she didn’t have to indulge in flirtatious contrivances, as she noted the other girls were doing.
    Arlene was delighted as Erin easily became the center of attention. The unmarried men flocked about her, begging for introductions, the opportunity to bring her more champagne, asking for dances later on. She truly was a beauty.
    Despite herself, Erin was starting to enjoy the ball. Thrilled by the contagious gaiety of her would-be swains, she couldn’t help but be dazzled by so much attention and beguiled by the romantic and lovely music, the wondrous ambience. Her emotions were displayed in her shining eyes and radiant smile.
    Erin wasn’t aware of the tall, broad-shouldered man who stood watching her from the shadows of the side terrace.
    Ryan had sought escape, tired of coquettish girls who disregarded the fact he was engaged to one of their friends as they clamored for attention. Keith, he was relieved to note, had apparently fallen in love on sight. He and the young lady of his choice seemed to have paired off for the evening. So Ryan had fled to the deserted terrace, willing his boredom to hurry and end, but suddenly found himself fascinated by the tall, tawny beauty who seemed to have mesmerized every male in attendance. He couldn’t figure out who she was, couldn’t remember ever having seen her at any social gathering. But having been away so long, he’d lost touch. He’d even had difficulty in some instances recalling the names of neighbors he hadn’t seen in a