Read Online Regency Innocents by Annie Burrows - Free Book Online

attempt to speak. I will do all the talking for us both. Providing—’ he fixed her with a stern eye ‘—you make an attempt to look as though you are enjoying yourself tonight.’
    â€˜Oh, I am sure I shall—in my own way,’ she assured him.
    She loved studying how people behaved in social situations. Their posturing and jostling both amused and inspired her with ideas that went straight into her sketchbook the minute she got home.
    A vague recollection of her sitting alone at a table littered with empty glasses, a rapt expression on her face as she observed the boisterous crowd at the
guingette
that Felice had dared him to take her to, sprang to Charles’ mind. He began to feel a little calmer. The theatre was the best place he could have chosen for their first outing together
à deux
. She would be content to sit quietly and watch the performance.
    Then she alarmed him all over again by saying mournfully, ‘It was a stupid idea. I wish I had never mentioned it. Nobody looking at the two of us together will ever believe you wish at all to marry me.’
    â€˜Well, they will not if you carry on like this!’ It was bad enough that Felice had jilted him; now Heloise was exhibiting clear signs of wanting to hedge off. What was wrong with the Bergeron sisters? He knew of half a dozen women who would give their eye teeth to be in their position. Why, he had been fending off females who wished to become his countess since his first foray into society!
    â€˜You came up with this plan, not I. And I expect you to play your part now you have wheedled me into it!’
    â€˜Wheedled?’ she gasped, desperately hurt. She had not wheedled. She had put her proposition rationally and calmly … well, perhaps not calmly, for she had been very nervous. But he was making it sound as though she had put unfair pressure on him in some way.
    â€˜If that is what you think—’ she began, sliding the ring from her finger.
    His hand grabbed hers, thrusting the ring back down her finger.
    â€˜No,
mademoiselle,’
he said sternly, holding her hands captive between his own, his steely fingers keeping the ring firmly in place.
    She took a breath, her brow furrowing in preparation for another round of argument.
    There was only one sure way to silence her. And Charles took it.
    She flinched when his lips met hers, rousing Charles’ anger to new heights.
    What was the woman doing proposing marriage if she could not even bear the thought of kissing him? Leaving goof her hands, he grasped her by the nape of the neck, holding her still, while he demonstrated his inalienable right, as her betrothed, to kiss her as thoroughly as he pleased!
    Charles had taken her completely by surprise. She didn’t know what to do. No man had ever kissed her before. Du Mauriac had tried, once or twice, but she had been expecting it from him, and had always managed to take evasive action.
    But she didn’t want to evade Charles, she discovered after only a fleeting moment of shock. What she really wanted, she acknowledged, relaxing into his hold, was to put her arms about him and kiss him back. If only she knew how !
    Well, she might not know anything about kissing, but there was nothing to stop her from putting her arms about his neck. Uttering a little whimper of pleasure, she raised shaky hands from her lap and tentatively reached out for him.
    â€˜My God,’ he panted, breaking free. ‘I never meant to do that!’
    Leaping to his feet, he strode to the very far side of the room. Hearing her little cry of protest, feeling her hands fluttering against his chest in an attempt to push him away, had brought him to his senses.
    â€˜I can only offer my sincere apologies,’ he ground out between clenched teeth. He could not think what had come over him. What kind of blackguard chose that particular way to silence a woman?
    He had accepted intellectually that one day he would have to get