Read Online Raven's Ransom by Hayley Ann Solomon - Free Book Online Page B

malicious tongue run riot and pointing to the knot of fortune hunters who were currently besieging the remaining two.
    She would have to do something to quash the nonsense, of course. The future marchioness of Rochester could not be permitted to be the subject of idle gossip and speculation. And Gareth, too. She would have to work on him. A small matter, for he was already halfway gone if the darkling glances he threw Miss Chartley’s way was anything to go by. The knack would be getting him to realize it.
    “Mama! You are not concentrating!”
    “Indeed I am!” The marchioness permitted her tones to sound indignant, though in truth her mind had been wandering. It had been exploring quite delicious avenues that had more to do with cherubic grandchildren than with getting Primrose out of her most immediate fix. Now, she fixed her attention squarely where it belonged.
    “I shall return indoors with Miss Chartley. No one need know we have left the ballroom. If rumor should perchance rear its ugly head, I shall thank her profusely for accompanying me to my chaise and applying spirit of lime to my aching forehead. As far as the world knows, Lord Rochester did not attend this evening. Gareth! Climb out the chaise at once and take the coachman’s seat.”
    “Now? It is cold!”
    “Excellent! You shall be well served for serving me such a trick this evening! You dress like a coachman, you shall be one! What is more, I have no notion how long I shall take, for it might take hours before we scotch any rumors. You know what they can be like.”
    Gareth did know. Accordingly, he suppressed a thousand muttered oaths and the annoying suspicion that his mother was enjoying herself thoroughly, and obediently moved to the door.
    “Good-bye, Miss Chartley.”
    Primrose felt a terrible pain that she could not quite place. Her voice was quite steady, however, when she calmly replied.
    “Good-bye, Lord Rochester.”
    The marchioness, privy to this polite exchange, shook her head quietly. Children! How tiresome they could be at times! Gareth could have swept her off her feet and kissed her till she swooned. He could have taken the reins reins and driven straight to Gretna. But no! He mildly says good-bye and chooses, instead, to gnash his teeth all night and shiver with cold. Gentlemen could be so dull-witted.
    The marchioness shrugged her shoulders and allowed Primrose to help her with her shawl. It had got jammed in the door, somehow, and was now looking sadly crushed. Still, she had to reflect, the calamity had been worth it. She’d found Gareth a gem of a bride and he was being well punished for his earlier sins. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his cheek twitch in the moonlight Good! Rochester men only twitched if they were deeply moved.

Six
    “Miss Chardey!” Miss Pemberton’s voice was coy as she playfully wagged her gloves at Primrose. “I had not thought to see you after the second quadrille.”
    Primrose kept her tone light as she smiled politely and adjusted the delicate bow of her shimmering organdy.
    “No?”
    “No, we had all quite thought you otherwise occupied!” The insinuation was clear in Miss Pemberton’s inquiring eyes. Primrose felt her cheeks burn, slightly, but she managed an eloquently quizzical brow as she feigned an interest in the delicacies. They were being circulated on fabulous salvers of sparkling crystal and silver. She chose a light pastry filled with salmon and a delicate pinkish cream, then bit into it slightly before formulating her response.
    “How intriguing! I cannot imagine what you think might have been occupying me so mysteriously?”
    “Can you not?” Miss Pemberton almost snickered, particularly as she noted a small collection of young debutantes gathering about her. Primrose felt decidedly hot, but was sufficiently self-collected to keep her back straight and her brows arched.
    “How short your memory must be. If I were caught clambering into Gareth, Lord Rochester’s