Read Online A Lady's Vanishing Choices by Wareeze Woodson - Free Book Online
Authors: Wareeze Woodson
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past the curving stairs leading to the upper floor. A door shut with force in her wake.
A moment of regret engulfed him, but Eleanor stepped out into the corridor and came towards him with a smile on her lovely face. He pushed his pang of guilt aside. She knew exactly how to present herself to best advantage. Too bad her timid cousin didn’t take a leaf out of Eleanor’s book. How could he possibly believe ill of Eleanor or her family? Certainly he must remain vigilant, but the absurd notion held no merit in his eyes.
Eleanor extended both hands to him. He immediately covered her fingers in his own.
“How delightful to see you again,” she murmured in a breathless voice.
“You are certainly in looks today.”
“Milord,” Eleanor murmured and blinked up at him.
He bowed slightly and kissed her knuckles. “Here now, none of that. In London you called me by my name, not my title.” He grinned. “On one occasion, I remember a ‘dear Royce,’ slipping from your lovely lips.”
She gasped slightly and then twinkled up at him. “How naughty of you to remember. And not gentlemanly at all.”
He gazed fondly at her blonde curls before allowing his regard to track down to her big, blue eyes. Without warning, her eye color shifted to whiskey-brown before fading back to blue. He shook his head to clear the fog. Damn chit. How ridiculous to allow Betha and her captivating eyes to intrude at such an inappropriate moment.
Everything he desired stood before him, a lovely lady who made the most of her beauty. She presented a shining example of womanhood, young, blonde, a very pretty chit with the required big, blue eyes and dainty figure currently accepted by society. The epitome of grace, she dressed in the latest fashion for a young debutante. With an indulgent smile, he kissed the back of one of her small hands once more. He managed to shake thoughts of her cousin aside. It would behoove him to do all in his power to absolve Eleanor’s family of blame.
“Yes, I remember the occasion fondly. It was right before I kissed—”
She quickly interrupted him with an indignant tone and jerked her hand away. “I never.”
Hesitating for a brief moment for effect, he continued, “Your hand, my dear.” The minx knew exactly how to titillate, how to tease, and where to draw the line.
“You must think I’m a shocking flirt.”
“Not at all, my dear.”
A door shut across the way and Lady Littleton stepped out. “Ah. Lord Rivton, how pleasant.” Still lovely, even with her mature figure, she swept all before her and ushered both Royce and her daughter back into the parlor. “Won’t you take a seat? I’ll ring for tea.”
Eleanor brushed her silk skirts aside to make room for him on the sofa and peeked up at him from beneath her lashes.
He chose to encourage her and sank down at her side. “I came to invite you and your entire family to a small soirée I’m giving Saturday next. I’ll be pleased if you accept.” Although the invitation was not of his choosing, he continued, “Your cousin as well.”
Eleanor and her mother exchanged glances before Eleanor explained, “Oh, Betha rarely attends parties. She’s shy and awkward around people.”
He tried to control the determined note in his tone when he clarified the invitation. “Nonetheless, the invitation includes your cousin.”
“Of course, we shall all be delighted.” Gertrude accepted the invitation with the appearance of pleasure.
With his lids half closed, Royce studied Eleanor. Recently returning from her successful London Season, he’d heard rumors her parents had been reluctant to accept the first proposals offered. Hopes had been raised to expect offers from the highest ranks of society, and he smiled to himself. His attendance here and now proved her parents had been correct.
The conversation became general, and several minutes passed before the butler entered with the tea tray, placing his burden on the low table in front of Lady
A moment of regret engulfed him, but Eleanor stepped out into the corridor and came towards him with a smile on her lovely face. He pushed his pang of guilt aside. She knew exactly how to present herself to best advantage. Too bad her timid cousin didn’t take a leaf out of Eleanor’s book. How could he possibly believe ill of Eleanor or her family? Certainly he must remain vigilant, but the absurd notion held no merit in his eyes.
Eleanor extended both hands to him. He immediately covered her fingers in his own.
“How delightful to see you again,” she murmured in a breathless voice.
“You are certainly in looks today.”
“Milord,” Eleanor murmured and blinked up at him.
He bowed slightly and kissed her knuckles. “Here now, none of that. In London you called me by my name, not my title.” He grinned. “On one occasion, I remember a ‘dear Royce,’ slipping from your lovely lips.”
She gasped slightly and then twinkled up at him. “How naughty of you to remember. And not gentlemanly at all.”
He gazed fondly at her blonde curls before allowing his regard to track down to her big, blue eyes. Without warning, her eye color shifted to whiskey-brown before fading back to blue. He shook his head to clear the fog. Damn chit. How ridiculous to allow Betha and her captivating eyes to intrude at such an inappropriate moment.
Everything he desired stood before him, a lovely lady who made the most of her beauty. She presented a shining example of womanhood, young, blonde, a very pretty chit with the required big, blue eyes and dainty figure currently accepted by society. The epitome of grace, she dressed in the latest fashion for a young debutante. With an indulgent smile, he kissed the back of one of her small hands once more. He managed to shake thoughts of her cousin aside. It would behoove him to do all in his power to absolve Eleanor’s family of blame.
“Yes, I remember the occasion fondly. It was right before I kissed—”
She quickly interrupted him with an indignant tone and jerked her hand away. “I never.”
Hesitating for a brief moment for effect, he continued, “Your hand, my dear.” The minx knew exactly how to titillate, how to tease, and where to draw the line.
“You must think I’m a shocking flirt.”
“Not at all, my dear.”
A door shut across the way and Lady Littleton stepped out. “Ah. Lord Rivton, how pleasant.” Still lovely, even with her mature figure, she swept all before her and ushered both Royce and her daughter back into the parlor. “Won’t you take a seat? I’ll ring for tea.”
Eleanor brushed her silk skirts aside to make room for him on the sofa and peeked up at him from beneath her lashes.
He chose to encourage her and sank down at her side. “I came to invite you and your entire family to a small soirée I’m giving Saturday next. I’ll be pleased if you accept.” Although the invitation was not of his choosing, he continued, “Your cousin as well.”
Eleanor and her mother exchanged glances before Eleanor explained, “Oh, Betha rarely attends parties. She’s shy and awkward around people.”
He tried to control the determined note in his tone when he clarified the invitation. “Nonetheless, the invitation includes your cousin.”
“Of course, we shall all be delighted.” Gertrude accepted the invitation with the appearance of pleasure.
With his lids half closed, Royce studied Eleanor. Recently returning from her successful London Season, he’d heard rumors her parents had been reluctant to accept the first proposals offered. Hopes had been raised to expect offers from the highest ranks of society, and he smiled to himself. His attendance here and now proved her parents had been correct.
The conversation became general, and several minutes passed before the butler entered with the tea tray, placing his burden on the low table in front of Lady
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