Read Online Already His (The Caversham Chronicles - Book Two) by Sandy Raven - Free Book Online Page B

like to think I have grown up. Where I might not have cared before, I truly do not wish to hurt a gentleman’s feelings. Ever.”
    “Have a care, Elise. There are more like Sinclair out there. Rakes who know how to woo a woman out of their fortunes.”
    She bristled at his words. “I assure you I did not encourage him.”
    “I know you didn’t encourage him. My eyes never left you as the two of you danced. It looked as though you could barely tolerate his touch.”
    She settled, thankful he noticed her discomfort.”You’re very observant, my lord. Even though he is pleasant enough, there is something about him that I cannot quite put my finger on. Or perhaps it was just his presumption that I would be willing to stay on the dance floor with him. His actions bothered me such that it nearly provoked me to the point of walking away from him.”
    They raised their arms for the couples on the other side to parade under them, then they took a turn gliding under the arms of the other dancers. Michael whirled her around as their dance came to an end, the music crescendoing to its finale. When he stepped back from her, she found her body missed his touch and nearness.
    She smiled as their gazes met. “I had a wonderful time, Lord Camden. Feel free to rescue me any time you see me such a situation again.” He nodded, then led her from the floor to a group of her friends. Silently he bowed, then he turned away and strode from the room.
    Elise noticed Beverly holding court in the corner between the dais and the wall and headed toward her. And, as usual, young men of all ages found Beverly utterly charming and delightful. Elise never aspired to attract the bevy of gentleman admirers that her friend did. She only wanted one admirer. The same one she’d wanted all her life.
     
    “M y God,” Michael breathed as he reached the solitude of an empty retiring room upstairs. What was happening to him? He’d meant to tease Elise earlier today when he’d seen her on the steps, but couldn’t when he realized her nerves were stretched tighter than a harp wire. That had been the first clue that something was wrong with him. He’d never before held anything above tolerance for the little hellion who’d been an embarrassing thorn in his backside all those years. And now look at him! Compliments, kindness and servitude toward that termagant.
    What had changed? He’d seen her in ball dresses before many times since the season began. He’d even seen her bare feet and legs as they dangled from a tree limb last summer, when he’d gone to Haldenwood to bring important contracts for Ren to sign during Lady Sewell’s recovery. It had been one of those idyllic warm spring days when the sun shone bright, beckoning all it touched to bloom.
    Well, it seemed a certain flower did bloom—right before his eyes—and he’d missed it.
    She’d certainly caught his attention tonight. A nymph. A natural beauty unadorned by frippery and jewels. She, in all her simple elegance, was the gem. If those bucks down there didn’t understand that, they didn’t deserve her.
    Where had that thought come from? In the past he never would have considered Elise in the same category as a gem, never in a million years.
    Until tonight.
    Now, he found he didn’t like the idea of sharing her with anyone. What in hell was happening to him?
    “No!” he whispered into the silent room. Not that. Dread weighed heavily on his shoulders. Whoever would’ve thought.... Certainly not he. And definitely not Ren.
    “Oh, Christ!” He remembered his friend downstairs. His best friend, the man who’d grown up with him, and attended Eton and Oxford with him. The best friend who cried in his study the night he returned from India and discovered his father and pregnant stepmother died in a suspicious carriage accident.
    How would he explain this to Ren? What about the very public brawl in the middle of Sabrina’s wedding all those years ago? And the promise they’d made to