Captured Love Read Online Free

were numbered. If she did
not make a choice soon, her father had said a week ago, he would make the
choice for her.
    Yet Meredith had met no one she wished to encourage,
apart from Lord Morton, who was not interested, and would barely even look at
her.
    Yet last night when he had looked at her, for the very
first time he had glanced down at her lips as she spoke and looked right into
her eyes. She’d felt faint as he’d held her, and she’d wondered if he’d sensed the
trembling she’d felt inside.
    “ Come, let me introduce you
to my family, Miss Divine.” Lady Eleanor touched Meredith’s arm, gently
pressing her elbow to lead her.
    It would be embarrassing if Meredith was left to sit the
dance out. Especially as she was with people she hardly knew. She glanced back
at the people dancing, then looked desperately about
the edges of the room, trying to catch the eye of some gentleman who might ask.
    “Ellen.”
    Meredith’s heart felt as though it did a leap in her
chest as her gaze spun to Lord Morton. He’d come from the direction of the
entrance; he must have just arrived. His voice had that deep, subtly angry
pitch she’d become used to, but nevertheless, her heart still ached at the
sight of his harsh countenance.
    His eyes were a clutter of light brown, green and
gold.
    His gaze dropped from Lady Edward to Meredith, as if saying,
I did not speak to you, why, are, you, looking at me. Then in his very formal voice,
he said, “Miss Divine,” before looking back at Lady Edward.
    Meredith felt sick.
    “Miss Divine, would you accept my hand?”
    Meredith turned again to face Hugh Holland. Hugh had
no title, but he was born from old money, simply a couple of generations below
any wealth. He was fortune hunting. But he was not hunting any fortune from her;
her dowry was as many miles off what this man needed as the level of her birth
was below what Lord Morton considered genteel.
    However, Hugh wished something else from Meredith. He’d
made numerous inappropriate suggestions since they’d been introduced. She did
like him, though. If he had been at all prepared to make an appropriate offer,
he was one man she might have been willing to accept, although she’d never love
him. But she did enjoy dancing with him. Hugh made her laugh.
    She had even let him kiss her once or twice, but never
let him do more. The last thing she needed was to have a ruined reputation on
top of a poor heritage and an equally poor dowry.
    “I would be honored, Mr.Holland .”
She dropped a curtsy, and smiled, feeling Lord Morton’s gaze burning into the
back of her head. Her skin prickled. Lord Morton made her feel such odd,
delicious things. It was him she wished to dance with, not Hugh. But she would
simply have to keep wishing, because undoubtedly, last night’s dance would not
be repeated.

 
    Rupert watched Miss Divine walk away. She’d been busy
ingratiating herself into Ellen’s family he saw, while Rowena had been accosted
by Kendrick again. Anger raced through Rupert’s blood. “Is that wise?” he asked
Ellen, looking back at her.
    He saw she realized he was speaking about Kendrick,
and her expression changed as she ceased smiling, and gave him an understanding
look.
    “I know you expressed your concerns to Edward, Rupert,
and I fully understand, but Rowena is a grown woman. She is intelligent and
sensible. She will not be fooled by any man. Kendrick will do her no harm. He
is well respected about his estates. I do not think him a bad man. His offer
was simply ill-judged.”
    “ Ill-judged— ”
Rupert was about to declare just how ill when Edward appeared, with a glass in
either hand.
    “Rupert.”
    “They are dancing, I’m afraid.” Ellen spoke.
    “Ah, and I am left bearing the orgeat .”
    “I will take one. I’m thirsty, and I shall find a
thirsty person for the other and leave you two to talk.” Edward and his wife
shared a smile and a certain look, which implied Ellen was giving Rupert a
little of