Read Online Royally Ever After by Loretta Chase - Free Book Online Page B

was more or less in the way they made a pet of Lady Clara. They’d dubbed him Professor Raven, which they soon whittled down to Professor.
    He’d come to Vauxhall’s Second Annual Juvenile Fête because Harry’s father had sent an invitation to join the Fairfax family excursion, and Oliver’s father said he must accept. Oliver had expected to be very bored and irritated but Vauxhall turned out to be fascinating. It offered acrobats and rope dancers and trained monkeys and dogs, and all sorts of interesting optical illusions and devices, as well as music and fireworks. He didn’t mind at all not joining the other boys in the boat.
    He hadn’t planned on playing nursemaid to a little girl, certainly. But Lady Clara hadturned out to be something out of the ordinary, rather like other Vauxhall wonders. She wasn’t nearly as stupid as one would expect, considering she was, firstly, a girl and, secondly, related to Harry Fairfax. No one had ever accused Harry of intellectual prowess.
    She’d pronounced Heptaplasiesoptron correctly by the time they got to it. Equally important, she was perfectly willing to be taught about reflections and optical tricks.
    After exhausting the marvels of the Pillared Saloon, they walked on to the Submarine Cave. After Clara had her fill of that, they were moving on to the Hermitage when a disagreeably familiar voice called out, “That the best you can do, Raven? She hasn’t even got bubbies yet.”
    He was distantly aware of his temperature rising and his heart beating fast and of seeing the world through a red veil. He heard himself speak as though from a great distance to Lady Clara. “Stay,” he said.
    He marched to his cousin Bernard and punched him in his fat gut.
    The fat must have been more solid than it looked, because Bernard only gave a baffled, “Huh,” before punching back.
    Unprepared for the quick reaction, Oliver was an instant too slow to dodge, and the blow made him stumble. Bernard took advantage, hurling his great carcass at Oliver and knocking him down.
    The next he knew, Bernard was sitting on him.
    Oliver was aware of Clara shouting something, but mainly he was aware of his ears ringing and trouble catching his breath.
    Bernard laughed.
    Oliver was trying to dislodge him when he heard a wild cry. Clara launched herself at Bernard in a flurry of punching and kicking. That was so funny that for a moment Oliver forgothe couldn’t breathe.
    Then he saw her lunge at Bernard, and he saw Bernard throw his arm up to shield his face. Oliver wasn’t sure what happened next, but he deduced she’d run into his cousin’s knuckles or elbow, because she fell back, her hand over her mouth.
    Bernard leapt up and yelled, “I didn’t do anything!” and ran away.
    Oliver saw blood on her hand. He looked about, but Bernard had vanished. He’d picked his moment, as usual, when no adult witnesses were about.
    â€œThe bastard,” he said. “The cowardly bastard. At least he could have asked if you were all right. Are you all right?”
    She took her hand away, then tested a tooth with her thumb. “Is it broken?” she said. She displayed her teeth. No blood there. It must be Bernard’s blood on her hand.
    Her teeth were impossibly white and even. Except for the left front incisor.
    â€œDid the one in front always have a chip in it?” he said.
    She shook her head.
    â€œIt does now,” he said.
    She shrugged. “I hope the chip’s stuck in his elbow and stays there forever ,” she said. Then, in a whisper she added, “The bastard.” And giggled.
    Perhaps Oliver fell in love with her then.
    Perhaps not.
    Whether he did or he didn’t, after that night he never saw Lady Clara again.
    Until.

Copyright
    â€œLord Lovedon’s Duel” was originally published in the e-book anthology Royal Bridesmaids , published in July 2012 by Avon Impulse, an Imprint of