Elizabeth Powell Read Online Free Page B

character.
    The others were waiting for his response. Everly cleared his throat. “I believe I could fit another groom into the stables. Are you any good with horses, MacAllister?”
    MacAllister shook his head with a rueful grin. “Hopeless. My brother’s the horseman of the family, Captain.More than likely I’d get kicked or bitten on a regular basis. If you wish me to fit in, I daresay I’d be better off in the house.”
    Everly felt an answering smile tug at the corner of his mouth, though his suspicion was enough to quash it. “Very well, we’ll see how you do in livery. Present yourself to Hobbes, my butler, first thing tomorrow morning.”
    “Of course, sir.”
    Carlisle nodded his approval and returned his attention to Everly. “Remember, Captain, anything you observe may be of value. I wish to be apprised of everything you see or hear.”
    It rankled to be given orders by a civilian, but Everly swallowed his indignation. “I shall not fail.”
    This seemed to satisfy the earl. “Excellent. I will make sure that you receive your invitation to the ball before nightfall.”
    “Hmph. Better have your man shine up the brass on your dress uniform,” St. Vincent said. “Mustn’t disgrace the Royal Navy.”
    Everly would have rather faced down a full French broadside than attend a society function, but instead he managed to quip, “Quite so, sir. It should prove to be a very interesting evening.”

Chapter Two
    I f Amanda were the fainting type, she would have collapsed in a puddle of emerald silk right there on the grand staircase. All the assemblies in Dorset could not have prepared her for one evening amidst the
beau monde.
Not only was the crowd much larger than that found at a country house party, but Amanda had never seen such a profusion of titles as she had this evening. Earls brushed shoulders with commodores, admirals conversed with marchionesses. And this was just the receiving line. In her borrowed gown, with no jewelry or adornments, she felt very small, very out of place … and very afraid. What if someone recognized her?
    She glanced up at Harry, resplendent in his dress uniform, but he appeared as discomfited by the august crowd as she was. Small wonder—Harry was more at ease in the wardroom than the drawing room. She gave his arm an awkward pat.
    “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” he muttered. He tugged at his jacket. “Half of London society must be here.”
    “I’d say more than that,” she replied. A shiver of revulsion seized her. All the wealthy and titled, come to see
him.
The source of her family’s misery and shame.
    Harry noticed her bleak expression and waxed sympathetic. “Steady on. It’s not as bad as all that. You’ll be fine.”
    “Of course.” Amanda hid her grim thoughts behind a bright, forced smile. Oh, Harry—if only you knew why I really asked to come here …
    As they neared the head of the line, Amanda beganto tremble; against all logic, her nerve-fired imagination convinced her that Admiral Locke would recognize her. Her hands grew clammy inside her long kid gloves. Her heart slid upward to lodge in her throat. She cast a furtive glance over her shoulder. There were too many people on the stairs, too great a crowd between her and the front doors; as much as her body screamed at her to flee, she had come too far to turn back now. She straightened her shoulders and tried to swallow around her dry tongue.
    Rear Admiral William Locke stood at the head of the stairs, greeting his guests with gracious ease. His younger sister, Lady Desmond, stood next to him as his hostess, but Amanda scarcely noticed her; she fixed her entire attention on the man who had destroyed her family. He was nothing like what she had imagined. She gauged him to be near her father’s age, and still well-favored despite years spent at the mercy of wind and sea. He was perhaps a head shorter than Harry, and stockier. Wavy, gray-streaked brown hair crowned his tanned