Read Online After The Storm by Kimberly Nee - Free Book Online

the tiniest hint of attraction to belong to another? She murmured in agreement as Sally turned the talk to the latest gossip, but paid very little heed to the conversation. It was only when she caught Hugh staring at her again did she snap back to attention. Her belly leaped each time his gaze fell upon her. Had he said something?
    No. He merely glanced her way before turning his attention to his brother-in-law, apparently as uninterested in gossip as she was.
    “And I do hope you will be here for it.” Sally said, once again including Miranda in the discussion.
    Though she had no idea to what Sally was talking about, Miranda nodded her head. “Oh, absolutely. I wouldn’t miss it.”
    “Wonderful. The Rowan ball is one of the fetes of the Season. Isn’t it, Duke?”
    “It is.”
    “I am quite certain it will be.” Miranda nibbled on her roast venison to avoid any more polite chatter.
    Finally, the evening ended and she was back in her room, in bed, where she stared up at the canopy. Across the room, Mrs. Anderson dozed in an armchair by the fire, a book on the floor at her feet. She snored loudly every third breath, but Miranda paid her very little mind, as her mind whirled with both regrets and fantasies. It hardly seemed fair Hugh Montgomery belonged to another. When he looked at her she wanted to simply melt right through the floor into a contented puddle.
    It was a bit strange, hearing him addressed as Duke , as he did not seem very duke-ish. Dukes should be stiff and imposing, with silver hair and stern expressions. Hugh was hardly stiff, though his size alone did make him seem somewhat imposing. Rather, he seemed very much an ordinary man. Well, perhaps not ordinary , but—
    She scowled at the darkness around her. Even her own thoughts made little sense now, but sleep evaded her, and made it impossible not to think them. She’d made quite the fool of herself, though, with her inability to keep from gazing over at him. Sally wasn’t at all fooled. Her claim was being admired, and she was none too happy about it.
    “Take care,” she muttered, rolling over and punching her pillow. “You’d hate to alienate the very people you need.”
    Mrs. Anderson snorted and staid black linen rustled as she turned, mumbling “What?”
    Miranda ignored her. “Yes. It would be unwise to let Lady Sally know you were growing butterfly-bellied at the sight of her intended.”
    Terribly un wise. However, she couldn’t hold back her smile. Perhaps she was not in such a hurry to return to Scotland after all.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    “So, what did you think of your little dinner guest?”
    Hugh sat back in his chair, legs stretched out before him, crossed at the ankles, cane propped against the chair’s arm. Sally sat practically on the very edge of her seat cushion, in the chair nearest the fire. Her eyes appeared violet in the glow of the flames, and trained steadily on him.
    “You mean you wish to tell me what you thought of her.” He swirled the brandy in its glass. The amber liquor sparkled in the light, and he pulled his gaze from it to look at Sally. She appeared ready to burst. Masking her feelings was not one of her talents. She was as transparent as crystal, especially where other females were concerned. It wasn’t the first time she’d gone on a jealous tirade over what she felt was his bestowing too much attention on another woman. A bit tiresome, really, but unavoidable.
    Despite her pleasant smile, she was ready to pounce. Her angelic smile might fool one less familiar with her, one who didn’t recognize the tension yanking her back ramrod straight, or the slight frown of her bow-shaped mouth. Her silvery laugh rang hollow to his practiced ears, but it was best to simply let her continue.
    “You make it sound as though I was nothing more than a gossip.” She gazed at him through a lowered fringe of thick black lashes, a coy look she perfected years earlier. “Do you think me so