Read Online Miss Lacey's Last Fling (A Regency Romance) by Candice Hern - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Candice Hern
Ads: Link
down from the curricle. Young Aldrich shot Max a look of such venom that he felt sure he ought to expect a formal challenge from the young man.
"Your young swain is not happy, my dear," he whispered in her ear as he led her slightly away from the crowd. He was not surprised to find Fellowes and Vaughn among the disappointed assembly. He was, though, surprised to discover how thoroughly cocky he felt that Rosalind had singled him out from the teeming hoards. It had been years since he hadn't taken such distinction for granted. "I believe he hoped to have you all to himself," he said.
"Absurd!" she replied, and laughed.
"Yes, I daresay it is absurd. How can he have you to himself with a dozen other gentlemen vying for your attention?"
"Do you know that Mr. Newcombe has offered to let me drive his cabriolet? And Lord Radcliffe wants me to test his new curricle? Isn't that marvelous?"
"My dear minx, you will continue to scandalize all those proper matrons who are shooting disparaging looks your way as we speak."
She quickly glanced in the direction of a glowering Lady Sommerville, then gave a dismissive wave of her hand—a gesture so like her aunt that Max once again began to wonder about the true nature of this young woman.
"Actually, the scandalized matrons brings me to what I wanted to speak to you about," she said.
"Indeed?"
"I hope you have not forgotten your promise. Wednesday is fast approaching and I plan to attend Almack's. I shall expect that waltz."
"You are determined to thumb your nose at the lady patronesses, are you not?"
"Well, it still aggravates me that they dare question my aunt's request for vouchers. I would certainly not mind thumbing my nose at them. But that is not why I want you to remember your promise."
"Oh?"
"I simply want to waltz," she said, amusement twinkling in her eyes. "With you, Max. You did promise."
"My dear minx, there is a legion of men right here in the park who would be willing to lead you out onto the floor, patronesses be damned."
"Oh, but they're just a lot of silly billies. Jeremy Aldrich has been making such calf's eyes at me all afternoon that it was all I could do not to slap him. And all the other gentlemen seem to want to do much the same. But I don't need to worry about that with you, Max. You're much too sophisticated to play those games with me."
"Good God, you think I will not flirt with you as much as any other fellow?"
She laughed. "I am certain you will. You always do. But you do not mean it, not with me. I know you still think me a little country mouse."
"I do not."
"Yes, you do. And that's why I want to waltz with you first. You realize I am a country mouse and will teach me all I need to know."
The sensuous curve of her lips lent a more provocative meaning to her words. Could she truly be innocent of their suggestive double meaning? No, Fellowes and Vaughn must have been right, after all. The woman was a coquette. "I am at your service, Miss Lacey." He lowered his voice to the seductive whisper that had brought countless women into his arms. "In any capacity whatsoever, I shall be happy to teach you all you need to know."
Was that a blush coloring her cheeks?
"Rogue," she said.
"Minx," he replied.
Lord, she made his head spin. Temptress or innocent? Would he ever know the truth?
Chapter 6
When Violet came in to open the draperies, the morning sun struck Rosie in the face like a thunderbolt. She tried to sit up, but the pain was excruciating.
The headaches were back.
Heavens, she must have sunk so low in dissipation that she had quite forgot about her condition. It was odd, but she had experienced none of the debilitating headaches since she'd arrived in London. Please God, don't let them flare up now, just when she was really enjoying herself for the first time in her life.
She sent Violet away with a flick of her hand. No one at home, not even Violet, knew she had contracted her mother's disease. Rosie did not want Violet to see
"Your young swain is not happy, my dear," he whispered in her ear as he led her slightly away from the crowd. He was not surprised to find Fellowes and Vaughn among the disappointed assembly. He was, though, surprised to discover how thoroughly cocky he felt that Rosalind had singled him out from the teeming hoards. It had been years since he hadn't taken such distinction for granted. "I believe he hoped to have you all to himself," he said.
"Absurd!" she replied, and laughed.
"Yes, I daresay it is absurd. How can he have you to himself with a dozen other gentlemen vying for your attention?"
"Do you know that Mr. Newcombe has offered to let me drive his cabriolet? And Lord Radcliffe wants me to test his new curricle? Isn't that marvelous?"
"My dear minx, you will continue to scandalize all those proper matrons who are shooting disparaging looks your way as we speak."
She quickly glanced in the direction of a glowering Lady Sommerville, then gave a dismissive wave of her hand—a gesture so like her aunt that Max once again began to wonder about the true nature of this young woman.
"Actually, the scandalized matrons brings me to what I wanted to speak to you about," she said.
"Indeed?"
"I hope you have not forgotten your promise. Wednesday is fast approaching and I plan to attend Almack's. I shall expect that waltz."
"You are determined to thumb your nose at the lady patronesses, are you not?"
"Well, it still aggravates me that they dare question my aunt's request for vouchers. I would certainly not mind thumbing my nose at them. But that is not why I want you to remember your promise."
"Oh?"
"I simply want to waltz," she said, amusement twinkling in her eyes. "With you, Max. You did promise."
"My dear minx, there is a legion of men right here in the park who would be willing to lead you out onto the floor, patronesses be damned."
"Oh, but they're just a lot of silly billies. Jeremy Aldrich has been making such calf's eyes at me all afternoon that it was all I could do not to slap him. And all the other gentlemen seem to want to do much the same. But I don't need to worry about that with you, Max. You're much too sophisticated to play those games with me."
"Good God, you think I will not flirt with you as much as any other fellow?"
She laughed. "I am certain you will. You always do. But you do not mean it, not with me. I know you still think me a little country mouse."
"I do not."
"Yes, you do. And that's why I want to waltz with you first. You realize I am a country mouse and will teach me all I need to know."
The sensuous curve of her lips lent a more provocative meaning to her words. Could she truly be innocent of their suggestive double meaning? No, Fellowes and Vaughn must have been right, after all. The woman was a coquette. "I am at your service, Miss Lacey." He lowered his voice to the seductive whisper that had brought countless women into his arms. "In any capacity whatsoever, I shall be happy to teach you all you need to know."
Was that a blush coloring her cheeks?
"Rogue," she said.
"Minx," he replied.
Lord, she made his head spin. Temptress or innocent? Would he ever know the truth?
Chapter 6
When Violet came in to open the draperies, the morning sun struck Rosie in the face like a thunderbolt. She tried to sit up, but the pain was excruciating.
The headaches were back.
Heavens, she must have sunk so low in dissipation that she had quite forgot about her condition. It was odd, but she had experienced none of the debilitating headaches since she'd arrived in London. Please God, don't let them flare up now, just when she was really enjoying herself for the first time in her life.
She sent Violet away with a flick of her hand. No one at home, not even Violet, knew she had contracted her mother's disease. Rosie did not want Violet to see
Similar Books
