Read Online Lady Beware by Jo Beverley - Free Book Online Page A

had teasingly described the style.
    Her hair was dressed in a simple knot without any ornament. Her only jewelry was pearl studs in her ears and a silver and pearl brooch.
    And yet she glanced to one side, half expecting the Cave man to be there. It was almost as if his spirit lingered to whisper, like Hamlet’s ghost, “Remember me.”
    She hurried on, but some trace of him pursued so that she began to wonder if Lord Darien himself awaited her in her mother’s room. This summons wasn’t normal, especially in the afternoon. Her mother should be on her usual round of morning calls.
    Darien could not possibly have already approached her father to claim betrothal.
    Could he?

Chapter 9
    T hea entered her mother’s boudoir braced for trouble, but sunlight shone on elegance and order, and her mother smiled. She was a very ordinary-looking woman for a duchess, of average build and with plain brown hair, but her kindness formed her features into the sort of loveliness that would last her lifetime.
    She was sitting at the linen-covered table, china tea service and cups in front of her, and she had a guest, the always composed and elegant Lady Vandeimen. Maria Vandeimen was a distant cousin of her mother’s, but she wasn’t a common guest for tea.
    â€œThea,” Maria said, smiling, “how lovely you looked last night. That gown was quite wicked.”
    â€œYou mean my corset,” Thea said, kissing Maria’s cheek. “I should have changed it when I changed my gown.”
    â€œI mean the cut, dear. If I still had a long, slim figure, I’d order one on the same lines.”
    There was no trace of regret in her tone. Maria had remarried last year and given birth in February after years of believing herself infertile. She positively glowed.
    Thea sat and accepted a cup of tea, wondering what was afoot here. “I hope Georgie’s well,” she said, sipping.
    â€œIn perfect health.” Maria happily described her daughter’s many charms, but ceased surprisingly quickly. “Enough of that. I came here to talk about Lord Darien.”
    Thea’s cup only rattled a little. “Why?”
    â€œHe’s a friend of Vandeimen’s.”
    After the first moment, that wasn’t surprising. Maria’s second husband—scandalously eight years her junior—was a dashing ex-officer. Though Lord Vandeimen was blond and blue-eyed, and had always been a perfect gentleman in Thea’s presence, she recognized similarities.
    â€œFrom the army, I assume?” Thea said.
    â€œDifferent regiments, but they found common complaint in their names. Van had become Demon Vandeimen in the army, and of course Darien was Mad Dog Cave.”
    The duchess tut-tutted. “Such unfortunate names. Maria and I are considering what to do for dear Darien. People can be so unkind. Do have one of these lemon cakes, dear. Cook has surpassed herself.”
    Thea took one, but tried a warning. “He could be a true Cave, Mama.”
    â€œOh, no. They have always been wicked and selfish to the bone. The old Lord Darien would never have stepped out of his way to help someone. No resemblance at all, I assure you.”
    â€œHe does have the dark looks,” Maria said.
    â€œThe Vile Viscount wasn’t dark,” the duchess said.
    â€œNo, but Mad Marcus was. That caused much of the trouble last night. If Darien resembled his father, he might not create such alarm.”
    â€œBut he looks nothing like Marcus,” the duchess protested. “He was a bloated monster.”
    â€œNot when young. Before the pox set in.”
    â€œMaria!” the duchess protested with a flickering look at Thea.
    â€œI know about the pox, Mama,” Thea said.
    â€œOh, dear.” The duchess took another cake.
    â€œWhy do they have dark eyes and hair?” Thea asked. She knew she shouldn’t indulge her curiosity. It was like sneaking out to visit some scandalous