Read Online Masquerade (Scandalous Ballroom Encounters Book 1) by Victoria Vale - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Vale
Ads: Link
wicked girl, why did you not tell me?”
She swallowed past the lump rising in her throat and fought to control her breathing. Lowering her gaze, she took a deep breath.
“How did you know?”
“Mother and I were paid a call by the Marchioness of Whenhold this afternoon, and she mentioned the intimate dinner party she is hosting at the end of the week. Since she knows you and I are the best of friends, she thought to mention that you had been invited. Oh, you are so very bad for not telling me that Mr. Cranfield was the one to secure your invitation!”
A wide grin split Margaret’s face when she realized the secret her friend had accused her of keeping wasn’t the one she feared to speak of.
She smothered her sigh of relief with a giggle.
“I did not think it important,” she replied. Sheridan Cranfield, heir to a viscountcy, had become her most persistent suitor.
“Not important?” Cordelia hissed, keeping her voice lowered as they neared a group of gentlemen promenading toward them down the lane. The two smiled and greeted them politely before continuing on. “Of course it is important. The marchioness told us he all but begged her son to secure seats for your family at the table. The two were chums at Cambridge, you know.”
“I am sorry for not telling you,” she replied. “I suppose I’ve just been preoccupied.”
“Of course you have,” her friend soothed. “We shall have to discuss what you’ll wear. You must look your best. I daresay there’s a proposal in your near future, Maggie.”
She fell silent as they continued upon the path.
Cordelia was right, of course. Mr. Cranfield’s interest in her had become more than apparent, and as the season went on, he’d firmly established himself as the frontrunner for her hand.
It should have excited her. He would inherit the title of Viscount, along with a large inheritance. Aside from that, he was pleasing to look at, with soft, blond hair tousled in the style of Byron, and a tall, slender frame always accentuated by his well-tailored clothes. He had kind green eyes filled with warmth, and was charming, besides.
He’d become her best prospect for marriage, and even if she could not claim to love him, she could someday come to feel affection for him. It would not be hard if she tried, as he’d proven himself to be a genial sort.
Yet, thinking of marriage led her to contemplate a wedding and the inevitable consummation. When she thought of lovemaking, Camden’s electric blue eyes filled her mind. Her cheeks grew warm and her neck flamed hot at the thought of him between her legs, filling her with his cock, pumping in and out of her with wild abandon. As always, her body reacted by heating her blood and causing the tell-tale flutter of desire between her thighs.
He was the only man she wanted, the only one who stoked the feelings within her that she associated with desire and love. It was ridiculous, really. Before the night of the masquerade, they’d never spent a minute in each other’s company. He hadn’t even known her name.
Her girlish fantasies of a man she barely knew had been satisfied and now she would have to move on with her life.
More than certainly, this was what Camden had done.
***
“Hmph.”
Camden glanced up from the buttered toast on his plate and met Aunt Albina’s cool stare. “Aunt?”
She took a sip of her tea and set it back into its saucer.
“Nephew,” she replied with a sniff. “I am certain you realize the end of the season is upon us.”
Turning his attention back to the toast, he stifled a sigh of exasperation. His nerves were frazzled enough as things stood without his aunt’s haranguing.
“I am well aware,” he said. “I will be glad of it. London is never so appealing as when the majority of the ton has retreated to the country.”
“Hmph,” she muttered, carefully slathering a biscuit with lemon curd.
“Oh, blast it all!” he grumbled, slamming his teacup onto the saucer with
She swallowed past the lump rising in her throat and fought to control her breathing. Lowering her gaze, she took a deep breath.
“How did you know?”
“Mother and I were paid a call by the Marchioness of Whenhold this afternoon, and she mentioned the intimate dinner party she is hosting at the end of the week. Since she knows you and I are the best of friends, she thought to mention that you had been invited. Oh, you are so very bad for not telling me that Mr. Cranfield was the one to secure your invitation!”
A wide grin split Margaret’s face when she realized the secret her friend had accused her of keeping wasn’t the one she feared to speak of.
She smothered her sigh of relief with a giggle.
“I did not think it important,” she replied. Sheridan Cranfield, heir to a viscountcy, had become her most persistent suitor.
“Not important?” Cordelia hissed, keeping her voice lowered as they neared a group of gentlemen promenading toward them down the lane. The two smiled and greeted them politely before continuing on. “Of course it is important. The marchioness told us he all but begged her son to secure seats for your family at the table. The two were chums at Cambridge, you know.”
“I am sorry for not telling you,” she replied. “I suppose I’ve just been preoccupied.”
“Of course you have,” her friend soothed. “We shall have to discuss what you’ll wear. You must look your best. I daresay there’s a proposal in your near future, Maggie.”
She fell silent as they continued upon the path.
Cordelia was right, of course. Mr. Cranfield’s interest in her had become more than apparent, and as the season went on, he’d firmly established himself as the frontrunner for her hand.
It should have excited her. He would inherit the title of Viscount, along with a large inheritance. Aside from that, he was pleasing to look at, with soft, blond hair tousled in the style of Byron, and a tall, slender frame always accentuated by his well-tailored clothes. He had kind green eyes filled with warmth, and was charming, besides.
He’d become her best prospect for marriage, and even if she could not claim to love him, she could someday come to feel affection for him. It would not be hard if she tried, as he’d proven himself to be a genial sort.
Yet, thinking of marriage led her to contemplate a wedding and the inevitable consummation. When she thought of lovemaking, Camden’s electric blue eyes filled her mind. Her cheeks grew warm and her neck flamed hot at the thought of him between her legs, filling her with his cock, pumping in and out of her with wild abandon. As always, her body reacted by heating her blood and causing the tell-tale flutter of desire between her thighs.
He was the only man she wanted, the only one who stoked the feelings within her that she associated with desire and love. It was ridiculous, really. Before the night of the masquerade, they’d never spent a minute in each other’s company. He hadn’t even known her name.
Her girlish fantasies of a man she barely knew had been satisfied and now she would have to move on with her life.
More than certainly, this was what Camden had done.
***
“Hmph.”
Camden glanced up from the buttered toast on his plate and met Aunt Albina’s cool stare. “Aunt?”
She took a sip of her tea and set it back into its saucer.
“Nephew,” she replied with a sniff. “I am certain you realize the end of the season is upon us.”
Turning his attention back to the toast, he stifled a sigh of exasperation. His nerves were frazzled enough as things stood without his aunt’s haranguing.
“I am well aware,” he said. “I will be glad of it. London is never so appealing as when the majority of the ton has retreated to the country.”
“Hmph,” she muttered, carefully slathering a biscuit with lemon curd.
“Oh, blast it all!” he grumbled, slamming his teacup onto the saucer with
Similar Books
