Read Online Gift of Desire by Samantha Kane, Kate Pearce - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Samantha Kane, Kate Pearce
Tags: Romance
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Keep smiling,” Aunt Grace said. She nodded at the ladies, forcing them to acknowledge her and Vanessa. She knew they couldn’t afford to risk a falling out with the Carlton-Smythes. They all nodded back politely.
Vanessa felt a spurt of disgust. She knew they disliked her and resented her family, and yet they all put on masks and pretended an affinity none of them felt. Including Vanessa. But she was reluctant to ruin their family and Miss Dorsett’s chances for an advantageous match, simply because she disliked them. As a Carlton-Smythe she may wield a great deal of power, but Vanessa had been taught from a young age to use it wisely and judiciously. It simply wasn’t in her nature to be so spiteful.
“Do you need a moment, Vanessa?” Aunt Grace asked, continuing their stroll, smiling and nodding as she went. She had been raised a Carlton-Smythe as well and knew how to maintain appearances. She also knew how this life sometimes suffocated Vanessa, and she was sympathetic. Aunt Grace had never married, not by choice but because her father and brother had never found a suitor worthy of her. She had once confided in Vanessa that were the grocer to offer for her at this point, she would say yes without a moment’s hesitation or consideration.
“Yes.” She did need a moment alone. She needed to regroup and settle her nerves. It wouldn’t do for anyone here to see her flustered or in a temper. She lived her life in a glass bowl. Her thoughts and feelings were her own, however, and not for public scrutiny.
Suddenly her aunt stumbled and caught her heel on Vanessa’s hem, tearing it. “Oh, dear!” Aunt Grace exclaimed. Several ladies and gentlemen standing nearby rushed over to help her unsteady aunt. “Oh, I’ve torn your hem, Vanessa,” Aunt Grace said sadly. “I’m so sorry.”
Vanessa wanted to applaud her masterful performance. Instead she smiled warmly. “I’m fine, Aunt Grace. As long as you are all right?”
Her aunt was glancing around the floor. “I’m fine, dear. I just can’t fathom what I must have tripped on,” she mused. By now there were at least ten people searching the floor in vain for the offending article. “Run along and get your hem fixed, Vanessa,” Aunt Grace begged. “I shall be well cared for, I’m sure.” A chorus of assurances came from her aunt’s rescuers as Mrs. Crusher pressed a glass of lemonade into her aunt’s hand and she was led to a chair.
Vanessa didn’t answer. Instead she slipped out without anyone noticing.
* * *
She had almost reached the relative seclusion of the retiring room when a small noise to her right made Vanessa stop. It had sounded a little like distress, but not quite. Was it a man or woman? Again, Vanessa wasn’t sure. It might have been a cat, even.
The noise came again and Vanessa turned her head slowly, until she gazed into the dark shadows of a small hallway, partially hidden by a chest of some sort. She couldn’t immediately discern what was happening. There appeared to be a couple, or perhaps more? They were hiding in the shadows, and a gentleman was holding a woman up. The dark material of his coat sleeve stood out in stark relief against the lady’s pale dress. Vanessa took a step toward them, still silent. The man raised his head from the woman’s shoulder and his eyes met Vanessa’s.
Her heart stuttered and then beat erratically. His eyes were black, one speck of light burning in each, mesmerizing her. She was frozen in place by the heat and intensity of his stare.
The moment was broken when the woman in his arms squirmed and sighed. The sound was the one that had caught Vanessa’s attention. Breaking eye contact with Vanessa, the man bent over the woman’s shoulder, one hand cupping the back of her head to hold her steady. Then he licked her neck.
Vanessa’s breath caught in her throat. It was an assignation. She’d stumbled upon lovers, it seemed. Embarrassment burned in her cheeks. Only the man was aware of
Vanessa felt a spurt of disgust. She knew they disliked her and resented her family, and yet they all put on masks and pretended an affinity none of them felt. Including Vanessa. But she was reluctant to ruin their family and Miss Dorsett’s chances for an advantageous match, simply because she disliked them. As a Carlton-Smythe she may wield a great deal of power, but Vanessa had been taught from a young age to use it wisely and judiciously. It simply wasn’t in her nature to be so spiteful.
“Do you need a moment, Vanessa?” Aunt Grace asked, continuing their stroll, smiling and nodding as she went. She had been raised a Carlton-Smythe as well and knew how to maintain appearances. She also knew how this life sometimes suffocated Vanessa, and she was sympathetic. Aunt Grace had never married, not by choice but because her father and brother had never found a suitor worthy of her. She had once confided in Vanessa that were the grocer to offer for her at this point, she would say yes without a moment’s hesitation or consideration.
“Yes.” She did need a moment alone. She needed to regroup and settle her nerves. It wouldn’t do for anyone here to see her flustered or in a temper. She lived her life in a glass bowl. Her thoughts and feelings were her own, however, and not for public scrutiny.
Suddenly her aunt stumbled and caught her heel on Vanessa’s hem, tearing it. “Oh, dear!” Aunt Grace exclaimed. Several ladies and gentlemen standing nearby rushed over to help her unsteady aunt. “Oh, I’ve torn your hem, Vanessa,” Aunt Grace said sadly. “I’m so sorry.”
Vanessa wanted to applaud her masterful performance. Instead she smiled warmly. “I’m fine, Aunt Grace. As long as you are all right?”
Her aunt was glancing around the floor. “I’m fine, dear. I just can’t fathom what I must have tripped on,” she mused. By now there were at least ten people searching the floor in vain for the offending article. “Run along and get your hem fixed, Vanessa,” Aunt Grace begged. “I shall be well cared for, I’m sure.” A chorus of assurances came from her aunt’s rescuers as Mrs. Crusher pressed a glass of lemonade into her aunt’s hand and she was led to a chair.
Vanessa didn’t answer. Instead she slipped out without anyone noticing.
* * *
She had almost reached the relative seclusion of the retiring room when a small noise to her right made Vanessa stop. It had sounded a little like distress, but not quite. Was it a man or woman? Again, Vanessa wasn’t sure. It might have been a cat, even.
The noise came again and Vanessa turned her head slowly, until she gazed into the dark shadows of a small hallway, partially hidden by a chest of some sort. She couldn’t immediately discern what was happening. There appeared to be a couple, or perhaps more? They were hiding in the shadows, and a gentleman was holding a woman up. The dark material of his coat sleeve stood out in stark relief against the lady’s pale dress. Vanessa took a step toward them, still silent. The man raised his head from the woman’s shoulder and his eyes met Vanessa’s.
Her heart stuttered and then beat erratically. His eyes were black, one speck of light burning in each, mesmerizing her. She was frozen in place by the heat and intensity of his stare.
The moment was broken when the woman in his arms squirmed and sighed. The sound was the one that had caught Vanessa’s attention. Breaking eye contact with Vanessa, the man bent over the woman’s shoulder, one hand cupping the back of her head to hold her steady. Then he licked her neck.
Vanessa’s breath caught in her throat. It was an assignation. She’d stumbled upon lovers, it seemed. Embarrassment burned in her cheeks. Only the man was aware of
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