Enchanted by Your Kisses Read Online Free

one of them."
    "Am I?" These British, so easy to fool. Even now, not a person in this room knew they had an enemy in their midst, a man more than one British official had sworn to capture. No, he would never be one of them. Bloodlines and titles did not interest him.
    "But of course you are. At least, that appears to be what you think."
    She was trying to insult him again, for her unspoken words were that she considered him anything but a gentleman. Well, bully for her. And against his better judgement he found himself admiring her spirit. She stood in his arms all but thumbing her nose at society, despite the fact that they'd treated her horribly this night. Oh, she might have tried to conceal how much their slander had wounded her, but he could tell. She held herself proud, too proud for someone unaffected by what went on around her. And as someone who'd endured his share of curious and repulsed looks, he knew the feeling well.
    "While I cannot deny my bloodlines, I cannot claim to be a true gentleman. I'm too new to England ."
    "And how new is that?"
    "Two months." He saw surprise in her eyes, wondered for a moment what she would think if he told her he would have been here sooner if possible. But with the war so recently over, finding a ship to sail to England had been difficult. "Thus I do not subscribe to the dictum that he or she with the oldest title wins."
    "How unusual."
    "Indeed. Nor do I particularly like the fashions." He looked around them, then leaned toward her, adopting a look of sincere curiosity. Once again, he was surprised she did not draw away. It gave him hope that his plan might succeed. "Tell me, why must women place the tallest wig upon their head? And wear the widest hooped skirts? Is there some sort of competition going on?"
    He saw her lips twitch before a frown of disapproval slipped upon her face. "Indeed not, sir. The women are merely adhering to the fashion of the times."
    "Are they?" he asked, pretending to be enlightened. "How interesting. Well, then, perhaps that is where you erred tonight. You should have worn a bigger wig. Your return to society might have been better received then. After all, half the women in this room hide their shocking lack of morals beneath a giant head of false hair. Why should you be any different?"
    "You're incorrigible," she muttered, yet he thought he saw a small smile on her exquisite face.
    "Indeed I am, but let me make one last observation." He tilted his head a bit, a habit he had formed to hide his defect, and smiled. "' Tis obvious you can truly be called a lady while most of these women behave as anything but." He spoke rather convincingly, he thought.
    "Thank you. . .I think."
    He continued to smile down at her. But something in her changed. She all but physically withdrew. It didn't help that the steps of the dance separated them. When they came together again, the amusement was gone, replaced by icy aloofness. In vain he tried to think of something else to say that would once again amuse her, but the music ended before he could do so. She stepped away.
    And it was over.
    "Thank you, sir." She curtsied.
    "You're welcome," he answered. But she was already gone. He watched her go, her head held high, a piece of dark hair escaping from the bottom of her wig.
    "Damn," he muttered. What had he done wrong? And just how the hell was he supposed to befriend a woman who all but ran from his arms?

2

    And Ariel did flee—right to the nearest exit, which happened to be a balcony door that opened to a garden. The source of all the blooms inside instantly revealed itself. A riotous smell assaulted her senses. Roses. Jasmine. Lilies. She inhaled deeply, realized she panted and raced down the steps in search of privacy so that she could better regain her breath. Fortunately, it was all but deserted outside, the evening a bit too chilly for any but the most desperate of partygoers. And she was desperate. Gracious heavens, but the man inside disturbed her. It must be