Regency 03 - Deception Read Online Free Page A

do still your fan.
You are declaring to the room that you are engaged,” Miss Ellison
warned. “You are also wreaking havoc on your charming
coiffure.”
    “ I apologize, Ellie,” Aurora
mumbled. She had tried to learn the intricate language of the fan
but much of it eluded her in times of anxiety. To think, she had
almost made a mull of her marriage prospects by fanning her flushed
cheeks!
    She looked out of the corner of her eye at the young
man who had so upset her equilibrium. He was gone. She made a
disappointed sound in the back of her throat before she could stop
herself.
    “ Looking for me?” came a very deep
voice from somewhere behind her.
    Aurora turned her head and looked up at the large
man standing in the shadows. She attempted to stare him down—which
was a difficult task considering he was so much taller and she
couldn’t see his face very well. She could tell he was grinning,
however.
    “ Get rid of your companion,” he
said low enough that Miss Ellison couldn’t hear.
    “ Whatever for?” Aurora asked
sharply. Ellie cocked her head and frowned at Aurora’s tone. Miss
Glendenning smiled innocently and patted her hand in a soothing
gesture. Placated, Ellie returned her attention to the dowager on
her other side.
    “ I would talk to you,” was his
reply.
    Aurora stuck her little button of a nose in the air.
“That would not be wise, sir, as we have not been properly
introduced.” She turned away from him and pretended to study the
other guests.
    She heard a rustling of greenery behind her and
assumed he had left her in peace. She didn’t care for the way his
presence affected her breathing. Such feelings were dangerous.
Acting on feelings like the ones she was currently enduring
resulted in illegitimate offspring—as she knew all too well.
    ~~~~~~
    Levi approached his cousin Bri. He had to meet the
pert little minx with the golden hair. If she wanted to do it all
properly, so be it. He just prayed Bri or Adam knew the chit.
    They didn’t. Adam agreed she was beautiful; Bri
scowled at her smiling husband and then agreed with both gentlemen.
Lord Connor Northwicke and his wife approached the little group and
after exchanging greetings, inquired as to the cause of Levi’s
frown.
    “ He wants to meet the pretty young
lady near Lady Dunfield but no one seems to know her,” Adam
supplied.
    Levi turned to leave, mumbling something about
asking Lady Jersey to introduce them since the girl had obviously
been invited.
    Lord Connor’s wife Verena stopped him. “I’ll
introduce you to her, Levi,” she said softly.
    Her husband looked at her with raised brows. “Are
you acquainted with her, love?”
    “ A bit,” Verena answered
evasively.
    The earl offered his arm to Connor’s wife and led
her across the room. He chatted with her about her children until
she relaxed. She’d tensed when he’d pointed out the girl he desired
to meet. It was most odd.
    As he talked, he mused over the strange little lady
with the even stranger eyes.
    When he had seen her wide-eyed perusal of him, he’d
been amused. As he watched her, favoring her with the same
treatment she had so recently given him, he decided he wouldn’t
mind having her in his bed. After those few brief words he’d had
with her, he decided he wouldn’t mind at all being married to the
chit. She was unique and adorable. She would never bore him, of
that he was sure.
    If she was rich, he had found his bride. All the
others could go to the devil.
    ~~~~~~
    Aurora saw them approach. She was so nervous to be
face to face with the handsome young Adonis that she failed to
notice his companion. It was not until she glanced away and her
eyes caught sight of a familiar pearl pendant around the woman’s
throat that Aurora turned her complete attention away from the
gentleman and looked into the face of her childhood friend.
    Eyes widening, her smile returned as she stepped
forward. “Doll!” she exclaimed, using the pet name Verena had had
since