Seducing an Angel Read Online Free Page A

every single one of the children described was a spoiled brat of the first order.
    But finally the tedious conversation yielded a harvest. Three of the ladies were planning to attend Lady Sheringford’s ball tomorrow evening at the home of the Marquess of Claverbrook on Grosvenor Square. A surprising venue, that, one of them observed,since the elderly marquess had been a recluse for years and years before he had finally left his home again to attend the wedding of his grandson three years ago. He had not been seen since. Yet now there was to be a ball at his house.
    Rumor had it, though, apparently, Cassandra learned without being at all interested, that he spent a great deal of his time in the country with his grandson and his great-grandchildren. And that his granddaughter-in-law, the countess, had learned how to coax him out of the sullens.
    Lady Sheringford’s ball at the Claverbrook mansion on Grosvenor Square, Cassandra recited mentally, committing the relevant details of the conversation to memory as she tried to ignore the myriad irrelevant ones.
    Three of the ladies were going, though none of them wanted to, of course. It was really quite incomprehensible that a lady as respectable as Lady Sheringford had been willing to marry the earl when he had behaved so shockingly just a few years before that he ought never again to have been received by decent folk.
    Gracious heaven, he had even had a child with that dreadful woman, who had left her lawful husband in order to run away with him—on the very day he had been pledged to marry her husband’s sister. It really had been a scandal to end all scandals.
    The three were going to the ball anyway, though, because everyone else was going. And really one was interested to discover how the marriage was progressing. It would be surprising indeed if it were not under severe strain after three whole years. Though no doubt the earl and his lady would put on a show of amity for the duration of the ball.
    Two of the ladies were not going. One had a previous engagement, she was relieved to report. The other would not step over the doorstep of a house that contained the Earl of Sheringford even if everyone else was willing to forgive and forget. Even if someone were to offer her a fortune she would not go. It was most provokingthat her husband positively refused to attend any balls when he knew that she loved to dance.
    Better and better, Cassandra thought. The Countess of Sheringford lived under a cloud cast by the earl’s reputation as a rake and a rogue. It was unlikely they would turn anyone away from their doors, even without an invitation. Though clearly the earl’s reputation was going to bring more guests to the ball than it would drive away, curiosity being the besetting sin of the ton —and probably of humanity in general.
    The Sheringford ball would be it, then. It was tomorrow night. Time was of the essence. She had enough money left for next week’s rent and for food for another couple of weeks. Beyond that there was a frighteningly empty void in which money would need to go out but none would be coming in.
    And she had dependents as well as herself to house and clothe and feed. Dependents who could not, for various reasons, provide for themselves.
    Alice walked silently and disapprovingly at her side. Cassandra had shushed her as soon as they had started strolling ahead of the five ladies. It was a loud, accusing silence that she held, though. Alice did not like this at all, and that was perfectly understandable. Cassandra would not like it if she had to stand helplessly by while either Alice or Mary plotted to prostitute herself so that she could eat.
    Unfortunately, there was no alternative. Or if there was, Cassandra could not see it, even though she had lain awake for several nights looking for one.
    She glanced around as they walked, feeling a little as though she were at a masquerade, her identity effectively hidden behind a mask and domino. Her black veil