Read Online A Scandalous Countess: A Novel of the Malloren World by Jo Beverley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jo Beverley
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humor, and most wondrous of all, no sign of a flinch at the sight of his face. She’d have been warned, but from the first she’d met his eyes with no hint of discomfort.
There was also no hint that she knew of a special connection between them. In general, he preferred honest dealings, but he’d avoid them for now and enjoy this pleasant moment.
“Hardly my first social occasion, Lady Maybury, but my first with fine English ladies.”
“Frightening enough to send you head first off the balustrade, my lord?”
He smiled, testing her with the snarl.
Again, wonder of wonders, no flinch.
“I wasn’t attempting suicide, ma’am. I merely wished to discover the magic of the perfume below. Roses and honeysuckle I recognize, but not the tall plants.”
She came closer in a soft rustle of skirts and leaned out, but the balustrade was too wide to give her a view.
Dracy scooped her up and sat her on top, keeping an arm around her waist—for safety’s sake, of course.
Her beautiful eyes were only a foot from his, the subtle tones of green and blue reminding him of some foreignseas. Her lashes were brandy brown and thick, and even up close her complexion was as perfect as a rose petal. It truly was.
And her scent…
Or was that the flowers?
Chapter 5
T rapped by his arm, Georgia stilled, heart fluttering, unsure what to do but determined not to show it.
“I was warned you might be rough-and-ready in your ways, my lord, but this…”
His expression was slightly, irritatingly, amused. “Blame it on the navy. Are you offended?”
“And if I were?”
“I would instantly return you to the terrace, my lady, and apologize profusely.”
“So tame?”
“You would prefer that I complete the offense and tip you over?”
She had to laugh. “You are certainly an original, Lord Dracy.”
“Perhaps a gallant one? I hoped to prevent you from snagging your gown.”
“It would be no great loss. In twenty-four days I’ll be free of mourning and may well burn it. Very well, sir. I will trust you and lean.”
She did so but hadn’t anticipated that it would press the side of her right breast to his hand. Thank heavens for stays!
“Ah, the perfumed tobacco,” she said, straighteningquickly. “I doubt you’re smelling it now. It releases its scent in the evening. Restore me, please.”
“And if I don’t, what will you do?”
She counted on her fingers. “One, fend for myself. Two, send you the bill for my ruined gown, for I do have need of it for twenty-four days. Three, inform the world that you’re a dastard, my lord.”
“Four?” he asked.
“Three will suffice. Shall I begin fending?”
She saw the way he looked at her lips. Lud! He wouldn’t!
“We are within sight of the house, sir.”
“And if we were not?”
“I would probably slap you.”
He laughed and said, “With reason.”
He restored her to the ground, but this time she was more aware of being apparently weightless in his strong arms, of being settled back on the terrace with perfect care.
She fussed over the smoothing of her skirts, wishing she could smooth the rest of herself as easily.
“A perfumed tobacco,” he said. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“It’s a rare plant grown from seeds given to my mother. She has a fondness for perfumed gardens.”
“Truly?”
She understood his skepticism. “No one has only one side, Lord Dracy.”
“Some have too many. I like the idea of a plant that gives perfume only at night. A magical property.”
“If it’s magical, it’s ordinary enough. I could have the gardener give you some seeds.”
“Commonplace magic, so carelessly distributed. Are you an enchantress, Lady Maybury?”
“You cited magic first, sir, and merely because of a tobacco plant.”
He leaned against the copingstone,
There was also no hint that she knew of a special connection between them. In general, he preferred honest dealings, but he’d avoid them for now and enjoy this pleasant moment.
“Hardly my first social occasion, Lady Maybury, but my first with fine English ladies.”
“Frightening enough to send you head first off the balustrade, my lord?”
He smiled, testing her with the snarl.
Again, wonder of wonders, no flinch.
“I wasn’t attempting suicide, ma’am. I merely wished to discover the magic of the perfume below. Roses and honeysuckle I recognize, but not the tall plants.”
She came closer in a soft rustle of skirts and leaned out, but the balustrade was too wide to give her a view.
Dracy scooped her up and sat her on top, keeping an arm around her waist—for safety’s sake, of course.
Her beautiful eyes were only a foot from his, the subtle tones of green and blue reminding him of some foreignseas. Her lashes were brandy brown and thick, and even up close her complexion was as perfect as a rose petal. It truly was.
And her scent…
Or was that the flowers?
Chapter 5
T rapped by his arm, Georgia stilled, heart fluttering, unsure what to do but determined not to show it.
“I was warned you might be rough-and-ready in your ways, my lord, but this…”
His expression was slightly, irritatingly, amused. “Blame it on the navy. Are you offended?”
“And if I were?”
“I would instantly return you to the terrace, my lady, and apologize profusely.”
“So tame?”
“You would prefer that I complete the offense and tip you over?”
She had to laugh. “You are certainly an original, Lord Dracy.”
“Perhaps a gallant one? I hoped to prevent you from snagging your gown.”
“It would be no great loss. In twenty-four days I’ll be free of mourning and may well burn it. Very well, sir. I will trust you and lean.”
She did so but hadn’t anticipated that it would press the side of her right breast to his hand. Thank heavens for stays!
“Ah, the perfumed tobacco,” she said, straighteningquickly. “I doubt you’re smelling it now. It releases its scent in the evening. Restore me, please.”
“And if I don’t, what will you do?”
She counted on her fingers. “One, fend for myself. Two, send you the bill for my ruined gown, for I do have need of it for twenty-four days. Three, inform the world that you’re a dastard, my lord.”
“Four?” he asked.
“Three will suffice. Shall I begin fending?”
She saw the way he looked at her lips. Lud! He wouldn’t!
“We are within sight of the house, sir.”
“And if we were not?”
“I would probably slap you.”
He laughed and said, “With reason.”
He restored her to the ground, but this time she was more aware of being apparently weightless in his strong arms, of being settled back on the terrace with perfect care.
She fussed over the smoothing of her skirts, wishing she could smooth the rest of herself as easily.
“A perfumed tobacco,” he said. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“It’s a rare plant grown from seeds given to my mother. She has a fondness for perfumed gardens.”
“Truly?”
She understood his skepticism. “No one has only one side, Lord Dracy.”
“Some have too many. I like the idea of a plant that gives perfume only at night. A magical property.”
“If it’s magical, it’s ordinary enough. I could have the gardener give you some seeds.”
“Commonplace magic, so carelessly distributed. Are you an enchantress, Lady Maybury?”
“You cited magic first, sir, and merely because of a tobacco plant.”
He leaned against the copingstone,
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