Read Online Love in Disguise by Nina Coombs Pykare - Free Book Online Page B

once more at the ceiling. “Yes,” he nodded. “Even the incongruity of mixing winged sphinxes, dolphins, and griffins with the serrated leaves of the acanthus, the flowers of the honeysuckle, and the long pendant catkins of the Garraya Elliptica cannot mar its beauty.”
    He returned his gaze to the fireplace. “If I were you, I should let no one touch that beauty either. That’s a rare white marble he used and the stucco ornaments under the mantel are quite well done.”
    Fancy found herself obediently examining the items he had pointed out. Even in her anger she could discern fresh beauties, beauties she had been too busy previously to notice.
    The Earl rose from his chair and began to make a leisurely tour of the room, pausing now and then before one of the wall panels that held decorative paintings. In spite of herself, Fancy found that she was twisting in her chair to watch his progress.
    He completed the tour of the room and paused before the panel to the left of the fireplace. Then he nodded. “Yes, this whole room is a specimen of Adam’s best work.”
    He chuckled. “The man was extremely clever. He couldn’t bear to have his beautiful rooms destroyed by the hanging of a faulty picture. And so, many times he had the paintings themselves designed right into the room. In this way the owner was prevented from destroying the unity of Adam’s creation.”
    Fancy, eyeing the paintings, each in its own panel, was forced to acknowledge the truth of the Earl’s words.
    “I believe,” said Morgane thoughtfully, “that I prefer the romantic landscapes that grace my drawing room to these classical groups in chiaroscuro. Studies in light and shade, with no regard to color, are interesting, but not as restful to the tired mind as a good landscape.”
    “Of course, I have not seen your landscapes, milord,” replied Fancy. “But I find this drawing room quite adequate for my needs.”
    The Earl chuckled again. “I expect you do. I collect that great hordes of visitors are not descending upon you.”
    Fancy stifled a sharp retort. Castleford had obviously not wanted his visit to be known to his friend and she would respect his confidence. She summoned a smile. “You are quite right, milord. I receive few visitors. But, as I told you before, I do not set up to be a lady. This is a nice house -” The Earl’s eyebrow rose again but he said nothing. “This is a very nice house,” continued Fancy. “Perhaps a little grand for the likes of me. But I intend to stay here and enjoy it. Especially now that I have been apprised of so many of its beauties,” she added, with a mischievous smile. “And, since I do not need my neighbors in order to enjoy myself, I really need not care about their feelings in the matter.”
    A glint of amusement flickered in the Earl’s cool eyes. “A selfish sentiment, very admirable for a lady,” he replied. “You are perhaps further on your way to that estate than you suppose.”
    Fancy refused to be riled. “That doesn’t signify. I have no wish to be a lady. I find ladies intolerably stuffy and dull. And as for lords -” Fancy shrugged daintily.
    The Earl laughed. “Your estimation of our character is perhaps more accurate than we would like to admit. A position in the haut ton is perhaps not the enviable thing many people feel it to be.”
    This disclosure on the part of the Earl took Fancy somewhat by surprise. She would never have expected the haughty Morgane to say a thing against riches and position, but then the Earl appeared to have many divergent aspects to him.
    “I would not know about that,” said Fancy with a little grimace. “However, I do know that I am a working woman and this time after dinner is a time in which I study my lines so -”
    “So you would like me to leave,” said the Earl.
    “That would be most helpful,” replied Fancy. To her dismay, however, the Earl reseated himself and stretched his long legs with a sigh of contentment.
    “I am sorry to