Read Online A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin by Sophie Jordan - Free Book Online

never.”
    â€œNo one said you had to come.”
    His friend shrugged. “You said it wouldn’t take long.” He tugged at his cravat. “Can you make haste? The way some of these ladies are eyeing me is making me decidedly nervous.”
    Dec laughed. “The elusive Viscount Camden is in their midst. Dance with a few of them. You’ll be all over the scandal sheets tomorrow.”
    â€œBloody hell,” Max growled. “I’ll resist the temptation.”
    â€œBreathe easy. My aunt requested I make an appearance, dance with the chit once, and then we can be off.”
    â€œThen be done with it.” Max gestured to the crowded room. “Before I’m set upon.”
    â€œIf I can locate her, I shall.” Dec’s narrowed gaze swept the room, searching for Rosalie among the mad crush of brightly colored gowns. He should have inquired the color of dress.
    â€œThere’s your cousin.” Max nodded toward Aurelia. “Termagent. She’s actually dancing with some poor sod.”
    Dec’s lips lifted in amusement. “She’s only nasty to you, you know. She can be quite civil to other ­people. Pleasant, even.”
    Max snorted. “A facade merely. I’ve known her since she was all of eight years old. The female is a barbed-­tongued little witch.”
    He chuckled and shook his head, but his laughter quickly faded as he spotted Rosalie on the dance floor. “There she is,” he murmured, assessing her in her finery. She looked right at home amid the glittering ton. Her hair was stunning. A fiery sunset that drew the eye.
    â€œAh. She does polish up rather well, although I must confess I preferred how she appeared the other eve,” Max mused beside him.
    He shot his friend a quick glare. “How’s that?”
    â€œShe was rather beddable looking . . . all soft and sleep-­tousled. Bodes well that a female can look appealing when so little effort has been made with her appearance.”
    â€œI suppose,” he allowed, wondering at the tight pull of his skin and the clench of his fists. He didn’t like his friend looking at Rosalie that way . . . or talking about her in such a way. She was not some chit at Sodom for them to appraise.
    â€œ ’Tis true. Look around you. A good amount of sparkling doves in attendance . . . but they all required hours to accomplish such a feat. It’s all illusion.”
    The orchestra slowed and he knew the song was coming to an end. He inhaled and squared his shoulders. “Best see this done.”
    Max clapped him on the shoulder. “Try not to look so miserable. You might send her cowering into one of the ferns.”
    Somehow he found that unlikely. She’d already shown a fair amount of courage barging into his office in a fit of temper last week. Her fury had diminished. He’d watched it fade from her eyes as she reached the conclusion that a dowry—­a season—­wouldn’t be so bad. She forgave his presumption. She was no fool. She recognized it was a boon.
    He arrived at her side just as the final notes came to a close. He recognized her partner as Lord Strickland. The man was older but not infirm or decrepit. Of good family, he had nothing sordid or illicit associated with his name. Unlike himself, Declan thought. Aunt Peregrine would deem Strickland the perfect candidate and entirely eligible.
    Lord Strickland’s small, squinty eyes landed on him. “Your Grace, so good to see you. I’ve just had the pleasure of dancing with your sister—­”
    â€œStepsister,” he corrected, his gaze dropping to Rosalie. Color painted her cheeks at his quick declaration, making her freckles almost more pronounced, dark brown flecks in her usually porcelain complexion.
    â€œYes, quite,” he uttered in that mumbling voice of his. “Well, she dances like an angel.”
    He nodded, his gaze riveted to Rosalie.