The Rebellious Twin Read Online Free

tall — “
    “Since you’re dreaming, you may as well make him rich, and exceedingly handsome.”
    “Well, of course that, but more important, he will be his own man — “
    “Whom I won’t be able to twist around my little finger, like I can Larimore?”
    “Exactly.” Counting on her fingers, Sara Sophia continued, “He will honor his parents, be kind to animals, and, of course, adore horses. But most of all he will be so utterly masterful that you, my wild, independent Clarinda, will not be able to push him around.”
    Clarinda took over. “And yet, he will respect me for the bright woman I am and not be bossy, and he will allow me to have whatever I want and to do whatever I want.”
    “The perfect husband,” declared Sara Sophia.
    Clarinda slanted a skeptical glance at her friend. “Such a man does not exist.”
    Sara Sophia sighed. “I fear not. So you may as well marry that jellyfish, Lord Sufton, and make the best of it.”
    *
    Wisps of late night London fog swirled around the entrance to White’s Gambling Club as Robert, Lord Stormont, Earl of Marsett, stepped outside, followed by his good friend, Lucius, Lord Wentridge. Robert, a tall man with a purposeful stride, stepped to the curb and signaled his coachman. A frown crossed the handsome features of his thin, darkly tanned face as he turned to Lucius and said, “I’ve half a notion to give it back.”
    “Are you daft?” Lucius, a fair-haired, slender young man of medium stature, dropped his usual cynical demeanor and regarded his friend aghast. “You won Hollyridge Manor fair and square, did you not? Lord Westerlynn knew what he was doing, did he not? I’d wager he’s been playing whist since long before you were born.”
    “The old man’s close to eighty, if not eighty-five. What if he’s not of sound mind?”
    “Preposterous,” scoffed Lucius. “It’s not like you to question yourself. As I recall, you attempted more than once to dissuade Westerlynn from risking his estate, but the old reprobate would have none of it.”
    “True…. “Robert sunk into deep thought. Lucius was right, he should be ecstatic, winning such a huge estate, but somehow he felt less than joyful. Still deep in thought, Robert climbed into his coach, along with Lucius, and settled his lean, powerful body against the squabs. He leaned to signal his coachman, asking Lucius, “Where to? Shall we call it a night?”
    “No late visit to Selina?”
    “I saw her last night.”
    “Don’t want to spoil her, eh?”
    Robert’s deep, booming laughter filled the carriage. In truth, he was most pleased with his latest fille de joie, who excited him no end. Still, he had no need to see her every night. “She’s a lovely girl, Lucius, but I’ll soon be on to the next.”
    “My word, you’re fickle.”
    Robert sighed. “No long-term attachments, that’s my rule. Of course, when the time comes, I’ll see she has a sufficiency of trinkets to assuage her feelings.”
    Lucius sniffed his disgust.
    “But how often do I come to London?” asked Robert, trying to explain. “It’s not fair to tie any woman exclusively to me.”
    “There are times I don’t understand you,” Lucius said, sighing in chagrin. “Here you are, a first son — rich, titled, not bad looking by half — have I left anything out? Yet you choose to bury yourself in the dreary depths of the countryside with naught but your horses for company. Astounding!” Lucius rolled his eyes. “How could you deliberately chose to live away from London? I shall never understand how you could miss all the fetes, routs, glittering balls — let alone all those twittering young chits throwing themselves at your feet in hopes you’ll marry them. Yet you won’t move back, and you even refuse any serious attachment to any of your ladybirds.”
    “Don’t fret, Lucius,” Robert answered. “Strange as it may seem to you, my life is thoroughly comfortable without the joys of London. Rest assured I’m