Read Online Baroness by Susan May Warren - Free Book Online Page A

upon her, the daughter of mighty Esme and Oliver Stewart, the publishers of the Chronicle, meant that she never went anywhere without the specter of fame.
    But here—here she tasted the freedom she’d forgotten, was slowly becoming the daredevil she’d named herself. She never dreamed she’d learn the Charleston, thanks to Presley—yes, now she remembered her name. Or find herself in a smoky dance club, listening to a dark-skinned American croon out a song from stage, something sultry, as if she were listening to chocolate. It made her wish that Rennie might pull her back onto the dance floor, wrap his arms around her.
    She never thought she’d be the kind of girl who let a man fill her thoughts, invade her dreams.
    Perhaps she never really had dreams, before Rennie. Just sorrows. And, she hadn’t discovered Paris on her own.
    Rennie had given it to her.
    â€œI think you should just forget about your cousin,” Presley said, smoke trailing from her cigarette holder. “She sounds like a bore.”
    â€œRosie? Oh, hardly. She’s a lot of fun, and very kind, really.” Lilly put her hand to her cheek, the bruise still upon her heart. “I think she’ll forgive me, in time.”
    Her gaze went to Rennie, talking to a brunette seated on a stool at the black zinc bar. She wore a dark lace dress that stopped just above her knees, and a pair of matching sheer stockings rolled just below the hem. She played with a long string of pearls as she smiled at Rennie, running her other gloved hand down his arm.
    He held Lilly’s lemonade in one hand, his absinthe in the other, but made no move to turn away. He was so handsome, it could steal Lilly’s breath, the way his straw-blond hair fell over his eyes, adding a hint of dangerous mystery. She longed to twirl her finger through the curls at the nape of his neck. Tonight he wore a pair of tweed trousers and a shiny vest over his collared white shirt. She wanted to smile at the way he laughed at the brunette’s words, his expression so full of life, the brokenness draining away from him on nights like this.
    â€œI see Ginny is still trying to get her fingers back into Rennie.” Presley sipped her glass of champagne then shook her head. “You’d think she’d had enough.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    Presley gestured at the pair. “Lady Virginia Fontenbreau. The former Ginny Dupree. She and Rennie were married a couple of years ago. They have a son—Duffy.”
    Lilly stilled, the words sliding hot through her. “Rennie was…married?”
    Presley glanced at her, frowned. “How well do you know him?”
    â€œWe met this week—he took me flying.”
    Presley smirked, rolled her eyes. “Of course he did.”
    Lilly’s chest began a slow squeeze. “What do you mean?”
    Presley shook her head. “You’re such a nice girl, Lilly. Too nice. I can’t figure out what you’re doing with Rennie.” She threw back the rest of her champagne. “I’m going to find someone to dance with me before this night is a waste.”
    She slipped onto the dance floor, and it didn’t take but a few moments for a chap to swing her into his arms.
    Lilly watched Rennie peck his former wife on the cheek and turn back toward the table.
    She couldn’t look at him. Around her, the music turned raucous, and the dance floor filled. She slid off her chair and disappeared into the crowd, heading for the door.
    She just needed some air, a fresh breeze to clear her head, sort through Presley’s words.
    â€œLilly!” His voice spurted out behind her, but it bled into the jazz and she ignored the tug to return. She didn’t have the voucher to retrieve her coat so she pushed out onto the street and gulped in the night air.
    The lights from the marquee of La Rotonde bathed the night in white and red, and outside the club, couples spilled