Read Online Daring Miss Danvers by Vivienne Lorret - Free Book Online Page A

anyone,” Merribeth added in an awed voice as if she’d taken a sip of the elixir of life instead of tepid tea. “That only means one thing.”
    “He’s completely in love with you.”
    “I wouldn’t say that,” Emma said, swallowing down a sudden rise of nerves. Her friends were sure to be heartbroken once their false betrothal was over and they knew the truth.
    “Has he tried to kiss you?”
    Leave it to Merribeth to turn this into a romantic saga. Nonetheless, Emma blushed furiously.
    “More than tried, I’d say,” Delaney snickered.
    “What was it like? Was he swept away in the moment? Were you?”
    “Certainly not,” she lied. “It was a mere formality to seal our bargain.”
    “A woman does not kiss and tell when it comes to her husband, ladies,” Penelope added with a secret smile of her own. “Besides, whatever is between Rathburn and Emma, you’ll witness at the Dorsets’ ball.”
    The three women nodded, as if the knowledge were a common fact. “Nothing will happen at the ball. I’ve more sense than that.”
    “Have you danced with Rathburn?” Penelope already knew the answer. They all knew the answer, but Emma humored them with a shake of her head. Her newly married friend toyed with the fringe of her shawl. “Dancing changes everything.”
    She mulled it over and made a quick decision to avoid dancing with Rathburn at all costs.
    “Too bad there won’t be any dancing at the musicale this evening,” Delaney said with a wink. “Do you know what you’re going to wear?”
    Emma’s nerves were still focused on what Penelope had said about dancing and didn’t give much thought to the question. “The fawn evening gown, I suppose.”
    “The plain one with the brown sash?” Merribeth wrinkled her nose in distaste.
    Emma considered the sash more of a russet, not that it mattered. “Then the cream one with the lace filigree at the neck and sleeves.”
    “Oh, that one is lovely.” Penelope reached for the last biscuit on the plate.
    “Yes, but is it enough? After all, she’s essentially making her debut as Rathburn’s viscountess.”
    “Delaney is right,” Merribeth added. “What about pairing it with that beaded ivory shawl you wore at the end of last Season?”
    Emma looked at her friends, grateful for the distraction from her previous thoughts. “I could wear my hair in a Grecian knot.”
    “And your mother’s emeralds, to match Rathburn’s eyes.” Merribeth sighed and they all laughed.
    At least with this entire courtship being make believe, she could allow herself to be immersed in the fun of it. But heaven help her if she started to prefer this lie over the truth.
    R athburn knew instantly that something was different that evening. He felt it keenly at the base of his skull, a sharp sense of awareness that made everything seem slightly foreign.
    He’d been to the Sumpters’ musicale in years past, usually attending as escort to his mother. Yet, even then he couldn’t quite remember so many nods in his direction. Not to mention— Wait . Did his uncle, the esteemed Duke of Heathcoat, incline his head in approval?
    He shook himself. Surely not.
    It seemed strange that a single announcement in the Post could spawn this. That words printed on a page could make every expression, every sound, every scent seemed more vivid than ever before. He felt as if he were truly living in the moment, present in his skin, not focusing on the future and the list of objectives he had to complete in order to get there.
    He liked this sensation even less than yesterday’s anxiety.
    With Emma by his side, he stepped into the music room. The Sumpters’ musicale was a popular event, one of the first in the Season. The large room opened into the parlor through a set of pocket doors. Aside from the rows of chairs down the center of both rooms, upholstered settees and loveseats were positioned on the fringes of the room and angled toward the musicians. He was fortunate enough to procure a