Read Online Seduce Me Please by Nichole Matthews - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nichole Matthews
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GREETINGS WITH VARIOUS GUESTS, Piper gradually made her way to the far corner of the ballroom. Here she was able to feel the cooling spring breeze that wafted through the open windows and hide for a few minutes to collect her thoughts. She could find no fault with Lord Perceval. He was a perfectly acceptable man. He was tolerably attractive. He wasn’t a fortune hunter. Any other lady would be honored to have his attentions. She was honored to have his attentions, but…she bit her lip. She could have stood before the vicar many times over. She could be the wife of any number of men by now.
Piper wondered if she would ever get married or would she be the spinster sister of the Marquis of Ashford, living out her days in solitude or eccentricity. Why did her desires for the perfect husband seem so far out of reach? All she wanted was a gentleman who loved her, desired her, and who valued family as much as she did. Poppy found one. He was a fine example of tall, dark, and handsome. Was Hawksley the last remaining perfect husband? She was growing depressed dwelling upon that thought. If she continued along this vein, she would wind up depressed and confined to her room easing her tortured mind with laudanum or better yet bon bons. She had heard of many ladies who occupied their time in this manner. What a dreadful existence. She had to do something, and she had to act quickly.
Glancing frantically around, Piper acted upon the first escape that popped into her mind. “Oh, dear!” She snatched up her skirts, looking at the hem anxiously. “Oh, dear! Please excuse me, my lord. I must take care of this tear immediately.”
Bowing, “Of course, my lady.” Lord Perceval held out his arm. “Shall I escort you?”
“ No, my lord.” Piper smiled prettily. “Don’t waste a single moment of this set waiting on me to complete this irksome task.” She looked around the room as if searching for another partner. “I know there are countless ladies anxious for your company, my lord.” She tapped him flirtatiously on the sleeve of his blue superfine coat with her fine bone bris é fan.
A pleased flush spread across Lord Perceval’s round cheeks. “You flatter me unnecessarily, my dear lady.”
“ Stuff and nonsense, my lord. Now shoo!” Piper fluttered her hand in the direction of a colorful cluster of ladies framing the overcrowded ballroom. “Hurry along!” Piper grinned, exceedingly pleased with her dramatic performance. Not bad.
Backing slowly so as not to draw any undue attention her way, she let out a pent up breath when she finally made her way to the long windows and out onto the small terrace. She certainly was not going to stop until she was certain she was safely out of view of the other guests. The ruse of pinning a ripped flounce would only allow her a modicum of freedom.
Taking a deep draw on his cheroot, Graydon’s eyes narrowed as he blew out a long stream of smoke, watching the curling gray smoke rise into the air. He let his gaze drift over the garden watching as guests escaped the overheated ballroom to cool themselves. There was at least the hint of peace and quiet on the terrace. Throwing his cheroot down, he crushed it under his heel. Leaning over the railing, he pondered his future. Finally he had found someone that breached his incessant ennui and as luck would have it, there was nothing he could do about it. A faint smile touched his mouth as he turned around to return to ballroom.
Taking a deep breath she turned around and crashed into a body like granite.
Her eyes flew wide. “Oh.” Her gloved hand landed near the lapel of his black evening jacket her eyes at the exact level of his black onyx stickpin.
Strong hands quickly gripped her arms above the elbows to steady her as she landed against him. Touching the flesh not covered by her gown or her gloves. Sensations flared where his white-cotton gloved hands touched her naked flesh. Her breasts pressed firmly to his chest as her small
Piper wondered if she would ever get married or would she be the spinster sister of the Marquis of Ashford, living out her days in solitude or eccentricity. Why did her desires for the perfect husband seem so far out of reach? All she wanted was a gentleman who loved her, desired her, and who valued family as much as she did. Poppy found one. He was a fine example of tall, dark, and handsome. Was Hawksley the last remaining perfect husband? She was growing depressed dwelling upon that thought. If she continued along this vein, she would wind up depressed and confined to her room easing her tortured mind with laudanum or better yet bon bons. She had heard of many ladies who occupied their time in this manner. What a dreadful existence. She had to do something, and she had to act quickly.
Glancing frantically around, Piper acted upon the first escape that popped into her mind. “Oh, dear!” She snatched up her skirts, looking at the hem anxiously. “Oh, dear! Please excuse me, my lord. I must take care of this tear immediately.”
Bowing, “Of course, my lady.” Lord Perceval held out his arm. “Shall I escort you?”
“ No, my lord.” Piper smiled prettily. “Don’t waste a single moment of this set waiting on me to complete this irksome task.” She looked around the room as if searching for another partner. “I know there are countless ladies anxious for your company, my lord.” She tapped him flirtatiously on the sleeve of his blue superfine coat with her fine bone bris é fan.
A pleased flush spread across Lord Perceval’s round cheeks. “You flatter me unnecessarily, my dear lady.”
“ Stuff and nonsense, my lord. Now shoo!” Piper fluttered her hand in the direction of a colorful cluster of ladies framing the overcrowded ballroom. “Hurry along!” Piper grinned, exceedingly pleased with her dramatic performance. Not bad.
Backing slowly so as not to draw any undue attention her way, she let out a pent up breath when she finally made her way to the long windows and out onto the small terrace. She certainly was not going to stop until she was certain she was safely out of view of the other guests. The ruse of pinning a ripped flounce would only allow her a modicum of freedom.
Taking a deep draw on his cheroot, Graydon’s eyes narrowed as he blew out a long stream of smoke, watching the curling gray smoke rise into the air. He let his gaze drift over the garden watching as guests escaped the overheated ballroom to cool themselves. There was at least the hint of peace and quiet on the terrace. Throwing his cheroot down, he crushed it under his heel. Leaning over the railing, he pondered his future. Finally he had found someone that breached his incessant ennui and as luck would have it, there was nothing he could do about it. A faint smile touched his mouth as he turned around to return to ballroom.
Taking a deep breath she turned around and crashed into a body like granite.
Her eyes flew wide. “Oh.” Her gloved hand landed near the lapel of his black evening jacket her eyes at the exact level of his black onyx stickpin.
Strong hands quickly gripped her arms above the elbows to steady her as she landed against him. Touching the flesh not covered by her gown or her gloves. Sensations flared where his white-cotton gloved hands touched her naked flesh. Her breasts pressed firmly to his chest as her small
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