Read Online Birds of a Feather by Allison Lane - Free Book Online

the night, staring at the ceiling. Where had the urge to protect Ellisham come from? He needed no help.
    She reviewed their conversation, finally relaxing in relief. While she had enjoyed talking with him, there had been no physical attraction – certainly none of the awareness and gawky awkwardness she had suffered with Lord Sedgewick. It was too bad that Ellisham was not a lady, for their minds were quite alike. He could have made a very good friend.
    Lady Wicksfield was going to be a problem. She had no patience for her husband’s plans, which would not restore his fortune for several years. The woman cared for no one but herself, and would gladly sell Harriet if it would benefit her.
    Lord Wicksfield must have known that, which explained the unusual power he had placed in a mere companion’s hands.
    Help me wield it wisely, she prayed.
    The right husband would bring Harriet great happiness. But in the wrong hands, she would suffer. She lacked the confidence to control her own emotional state.
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Sedge glowered at Husby as the butler admitted him to Glendale House. His mother’s summons had been unwelcome, for he rarely arose before noon. Yet here he was at only half past eleven, presenting himself for what could only be another lecture on setting up his nursery. Hardly unexpected, but why couldn’t she at least have waited until a decent hour?
    Yet he hid his frustration when he entered the drawing room.
    “Here you are at last,” exclaimed Lady Glendale, setting aside her needlework. “I despaired of seeing you today.”
    “You could hardly expect me to be awake, let alone dressed at the ridiculous hour of nine,” he drawled, leaning casually against the mantel.
    “If you didn’t play cards until dawn, that would not be a problem.”
    He nearly corrected her, for he had gone to Jenny’s after leaving the ball – and devil take that woman for making it necessary; it had required most of the night to get her out of his system – but he caught himself in time. His mother had often used deliberate misstatements to trip her sons into revealing childhood pranks, but he no longer owed her an explanation of his activities.
    He deliberately relaxed. “Since I am in no danger of losing my fortune on the turn of a card or toss of a die, how I pass my time is not your concern, madam.” He delivered the set-down in the same icy tone he had used on Jeremy Orville. He was well into his thirty-second year, long past his majority. It was time she recognized that fact.
    “Perhaps not, though—” She sighed in obvious frustration when he lifted his quizzing glass. “That is not why I wished to see you. We have finally settled Reggie.”
    “Oh?”
    “I introduced him to Lady Harriet Selwick last night – her mother attended school with my youngest sister, then managed to snare Wicksfield, who was the catch of that Season. Lady Wicksfield is all that is proper, so we can be sure that Lady Harriet will make a conformable wife. Reggie was so struck by her beauty that he waited for an entire set to speak with her a second time – unfortunately, her dance card was full before we managed the introduction.”
    “Waited to speak?” The incredulity was not feigned. Not only was the girl barely out of the schoolroom, but Reggie had long declared that he would remain single. Perhaps his reticence merely sought distance from their mother’s pressure, but infatuation with a chit half his age seemed ridiculous.
    “I saw him with my own eyes. He had not anticipated her arrival, so the shock of finding a new angel suddenly in our midst piqued his interest.”
    “The blonde with the rosebuds and lace on her gown?” They could not be talking about the same child. She didn’t look a day over fifteen. Reggie wasn’t stupid.
    “You noticed her.” Her satisfaction increased his irritation.
    “I notice everyone. I would have attributed the gown to Madame Francine if not for the lace.”
    “You are