Read Online Redeeming the Deception of Grace by Kristin Vayden - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kristin Vayden
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That goes without saying . What kind of fool do you think I am ? " h e questioned slightly offended. He paused for a moment before adding , " And I expect the same from you. "
" Of course. " She tossed him a glance that spoke of her irritation at his assuming anything else .
" Brilliant. " Ewan smiled as he began to formulate the plan in his mind . " Now, here ' s what we ' ll do… "
****
Grace had tried all evening to avoid Ewan , but after that waltz, where she nearly lost all control and kissed him before the entirety of the ton, she hadn ' t been able to take her eyes from him for more than a moment . Her heart stuttered when she saw him speaking to the lovely Miss Rachel . Wasn ' t she the one he had run into, knocking her over? With a heavy sigh that earned her a quizzical gla n ce from Shiply , she forced her gaze to her escort. As she eyed Shiply , she found herself wishing she could find at leas t half of the attraction toward him as she felt for Ewan . Then maybe her heart wouldn ' t feel so fragile.
Even as she danced with Shiply when she first arrived, she had been watching Ewan , causing her to trip twice . Shiply, ever the gentleman , hadn ' t even remarked on her clumsiness. In contrast, her heart had been in her throat the entire time she had waltzed with Ewan , c ausing her prickly barriers to recede ever so slightly . B ut now she erected them again, knowing she was only asking for pain should she let down her guard.
Resolving to keep her attention away from Ewan and on Shiply , she pasted on a joyful smile and entered the conversation taking place between Shiply and Lord Heath. As she struggled to focus her attention on the two men , she began to impatiently toy with her fan.
" Lady Grace ? " c ame a soft , caressing voice from behind her .
Ewan. Closing her eyes , she allowed the soft tones work their magic over her heart, but only for a moment. Steeling herself against the coming onslaught of devastating charm, she turned.
" Yes? " Grace turned to see Ewan escorting Miss Rachel . Her heart pinched with the unwelcome pangs of jealousy.
" Grace … " Was it just her wishful thinking, or did he speak her name differently? She searched his blue eyes and found them soft and mesmerizing.
" I ' d like you to meet a new friend of mine . Miss Rachel . I don ' t know if you are acquainted . After feeling a need to apologize once more to her for my clumsiness, I discovered that she hadn ' t been introduced to you earlier. I wanted to remedy my oversight. " Ewan spoke the words , never breaking eye contact .
Had he been speaking about her to Miss Rachel ? Why would he? She scolded her self for finding hope in the smallest details .
" A pleasure to meet you , Miss Rachel . I trust you ' re not too injured from your fall? " Grace asked graciously . After all, it wasn ' t Miss Jacobsen ' s fault she had been run over by Ewan or caught in the middle of Grace ' s jealous imagination.
" Oh, I ' m quite al l right . And please , call me Rachel. " Her blue eyes twinkled with merriment , and Grace found she didn ' t harbor any resentment toward the beauty. Her eyes were not cool and calculating like many of the other debutant e s, but they were warm and joyful.
" Of course , Rachel. " Grace responded with more warmth than she had originally offered.
" I was thrilled when the Duke of Greys said he had known you since you were children! Imagine! I once knew a boy who was my best friend when I was a young girl. " Her eyes were bright as she spoke.
" You did? Are you friends still? " Grace inquired politely.
Rachel ' s blue eyes were sad as she replied , " No, we lost touch with his family as I grew older . It ' s been about ten years or so… " Her voice trailed off , but not before Grace noticed her cast ing a longing glance toward Shiply.
" I am sorry . I t is difficult to lose friends . " Grace murmured with empathy.
" Yes, but it ' s also lovely to make new ones. " Rachel spoke with sincerity as
" Of course. " She tossed him a glance that spoke of her irritation at his assuming anything else .
" Brilliant. " Ewan smiled as he began to formulate the plan in his mind . " Now, here ' s what we ' ll do… "
****
Grace had tried all evening to avoid Ewan , but after that waltz, where she nearly lost all control and kissed him before the entirety of the ton, she hadn ' t been able to take her eyes from him for more than a moment . Her heart stuttered when she saw him speaking to the lovely Miss Rachel . Wasn ' t she the one he had run into, knocking her over? With a heavy sigh that earned her a quizzical gla n ce from Shiply , she forced her gaze to her escort. As she eyed Shiply , she found herself wishing she could find at leas t half of the attraction toward him as she felt for Ewan . Then maybe her heart wouldn ' t feel so fragile.
Even as she danced with Shiply when she first arrived, she had been watching Ewan , causing her to trip twice . Shiply, ever the gentleman , hadn ' t even remarked on her clumsiness. In contrast, her heart had been in her throat the entire time she had waltzed with Ewan , c ausing her prickly barriers to recede ever so slightly . B ut now she erected them again, knowing she was only asking for pain should she let down her guard.
Resolving to keep her attention away from Ewan and on Shiply , she pasted on a joyful smile and entered the conversation taking place between Shiply and Lord Heath. As she struggled to focus her attention on the two men , she began to impatiently toy with her fan.
" Lady Grace ? " c ame a soft , caressing voice from behind her .
Ewan. Closing her eyes , she allowed the soft tones work their magic over her heart, but only for a moment. Steeling herself against the coming onslaught of devastating charm, she turned.
" Yes? " Grace turned to see Ewan escorting Miss Rachel . Her heart pinched with the unwelcome pangs of jealousy.
" Grace … " Was it just her wishful thinking, or did he speak her name differently? She searched his blue eyes and found them soft and mesmerizing.
" I ' d like you to meet a new friend of mine . Miss Rachel . I don ' t know if you are acquainted . After feeling a need to apologize once more to her for my clumsiness, I discovered that she hadn ' t been introduced to you earlier. I wanted to remedy my oversight. " Ewan spoke the words , never breaking eye contact .
Had he been speaking about her to Miss Rachel ? Why would he? She scolded her self for finding hope in the smallest details .
" A pleasure to meet you , Miss Rachel . I trust you ' re not too injured from your fall? " Grace asked graciously . After all, it wasn ' t Miss Jacobsen ' s fault she had been run over by Ewan or caught in the middle of Grace ' s jealous imagination.
" Oh, I ' m quite al l right . And please , call me Rachel. " Her blue eyes twinkled with merriment , and Grace found she didn ' t harbor any resentment toward the beauty. Her eyes were not cool and calculating like many of the other debutant e s, but they were warm and joyful.
" Of course , Rachel. " Grace responded with more warmth than she had originally offered.
" I was thrilled when the Duke of Greys said he had known you since you were children! Imagine! I once knew a boy who was my best friend when I was a young girl. " Her eyes were bright as she spoke.
" You did? Are you friends still? " Grace inquired politely.
Rachel ' s blue eyes were sad as she replied , " No, we lost touch with his family as I grew older . It ' s been about ten years or so… " Her voice trailed off , but not before Grace noticed her cast ing a longing glance toward Shiply.
" I am sorry . I t is difficult to lose friends . " Grace murmured with empathy.
" Yes, but it ' s also lovely to make new ones. " Rachel spoke with sincerity as
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