Read Online A Matchmaker's Match by Nina Coombs Pykare - Free Book Online Page B

his extravagantly brocaded waistcoat, clutching dramatically at his heart. “I assure you I have never worked a day in my life!”
    Psyche laughed with the rest of them, the earl saw. But that light wasn’t shining in her eyes, the light that shone there when she looked at him. “Then perhaps,” she said, “your wealth will come from someone else’s hard and honest work.”
    Gresham chuckled, his round face jovial, his eyes merry. “That’s more like it. I am always willing to profit from someone else’s labor.”
     

Chapter Seven
     
    One by one. Psyche read their fortunes—all but Lady Linden’s and the earl’s. Lady Linden pleaded a headache and went early up to bed, dragging her still dazed daughter after her. The others gradually drifted away, leaving the earl and Psyche alone in that part of the room.
    She gazed at him speculatively. “How is this? I thought you wished to have your fortune told, but you did not take your turn with the others.”
    He hitched his chair closer and took her hand. That was highly improper, of course. She sought to withdraw her fingers from his grasp, but he didn’t allow it. “Wait,” he said, holding them more tightly still. “I wish to tell your fortune.”
    “The cards are on the table,” she replied, a little stiffly because actually she did not want to withdraw her hand at all. It felt quite natural in his, as though it belonged there. “You must shuffle them first, though.”
    He shook his head, his dark eyes gleaming. “No, Psyche, not with the cards. I mean to read your palm,”
    A shiver sped down her spine, whether from the way he spoke her name or from the way he was holding her hand she couldn’t be sure. “I didn’t know— How did you learn to read palms?”
    He smiled at her. “When I was a boy, the Gypsies camped on our summer estate. I used to watch them read my mother’s hand. And those of the servants. It was great fun.”
    She tried to protest, tried to pull her hand away. “But that doesn’t mean--”
    “I know enough,” he said softly, turning her palm over. He traced a line down it with his warm forefinger. Another shiver afflicted her. This was ridiculous. She was no schoolroom chit to be thrown into the vapors by the touch of a man’s finger!
    “This, this is your lifeline,” he went on in that deep voice of his. “It shows your life will be long.” He leaned closer still and a certain giddiness overtook her, a longing to topple into his arms.
    Be sensible, she told herself. He’s merely playing with you, doing what he does best. But oh, if only he weren’t playing, if only he were serious.
    The earl tried to remain calm. He had reached her. She had that look in her eyes, that look that he knew preceded surrender. But this was no game of flirtation he was playing. This was the most serious thing in his life. She held his future in her hand, all right, but not in any lines. And it was still too soon. He dared not ask her yet.
    He hitched his chair a little closer. “And this is your love line. It’s very strong. I see marriage, one marriage, to a man you love.” If only he could tell her he was the man. How much longer could he bear to wait? But he must not make the attempt too early.
    Psyche threw him a hard look, and pulled her hand away. “Enough foolishness,” she cried. “I am too fatigued for this.”
    Across the room, Aunt Anna looked up. “You should be abed,” she cried, bustling over. “I’m sorry, my dear, I have been remiss keeping you up so late after your injury.”
    Perversely, now that she had an excuse to leave the others, Psyche found that she didn’t want to do it.”I--”
    “Psyche has not yet read the cards for me,” the earl told Aunt Anna, his eyes full of laughter. “Surely you would not deprive me of that pleasure?”
    Aunt Anna giggled. The earl had that effect on women, Psyche thought with some bitterness. No matter their age—or size—he made them act like green girls just out of the