Read Online The Lure of a Rake by Christi Caldwell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christi Caldwell
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Street Runner. “Why were you leaning against the wall in that manner?”
Oh, blast, she’d always been relentless. “My toes,” she said with another forced smile. “They’re still deuced awful.”
Her sister said nothing for a long moment and then she nodded. “Mother is looking for you.”
Genevieve silently cursed. If Mother had seen Gillian, she’d well know there had never been a meeting between friends, and the last thing Genevieve cared to answer or could answer without thinking of Cedric, was where she’d been. She looped her arm through her sister’s and made their way to the ballroom. As they reached the end of the corridor, she cast one lingering glance back.
Was he waiting in the shadows even now? Would he seek her out and request a dance?
“What are you staring at?” Gillian asked, furrowing her brow.
Her cheeks warmed. “Nothing, I am merely reluctant to return to the ball.” Which was not altogether untrue. She’d greatly prefer the company of Cedric, alone in the duke’s too-large library.
“Well, I am of like opinion on that,” Gillian muttered as they stepped out into the crowded hall. Together, they skimmed their gaze over the crowd. “There is Mother.” She motioned to Mother’s position alongside Lady Erroll.
She sighed. She’d rather walk through burning coals on a hot summer’s day than spend any time with her always-miserable mother. By Papa’s absence at the same affairs, he was of like opinion. Alas, Genevieve was left alone to endure her mother’s machinations to wed her off to…well, anyone with a respective title. Given her betrayal, one would think Mother would seek out an honorable gentleman for her marriageable daughter. Alas…
Her mother looked to her and frowned.
No doubt, she wondered where her shameful daughter had been off to. With reluctant footsteps, she made her way through the throng of guests over to her mother.
“At last,” her mother said to Gillian through tight lips, ignoring Genevieve altogether. “You might have missed the marquess’ arrival.” Mother’s relentless dedication to see Gillian wed spoke volumes of her desperation. A loud buzz went up around the ballroom. “He is here,” Mother said with an uncharacteristic excitement in her usually bored tones.
As one, ladies throughout the ballroom looked to the entrance of the hall.
Genevieve gave her head a wry shake. How silly they all were, seeking a title and wealth, and not having the sense to crave so much more. And I had a very brief taste of it and now that will never be enough . A tiny fluttering danced in her belly as, unbidden, she sought Cedric amongst the crowd.
“…Oh, my goodness. The marquess is looking directly at you, Gillian.”
“No, he is not, Mother,” Gillian said with a roll of her eyes.
And then their mother blinked. “Why…why…no he’s not! He is looking at… Genevieve .” That furious whisper pulled her attention to her flighty parent.
Was it a wonder a woman with such flawed logic should imagine glances and interest from the rakish marquess? “He is not looking at me,” she said under her breath, resuming her search of the crowd for another. What if she did not see him again? Then, what good could come from seeing him again?
“No. I believe he is.” Her mother’s angry words interrupted her musings.
An exasperated sigh slipped from her lips. Could she not even just have the pleasure of her thoughts? “Why would the marquess be staring at…?” She followed her mother’s none-too-subtle point to the six-foot four-inch, very familiar gentleman at the top of the stairs, standing alongside the Duke of Ravenscourt. Over the heads of the other guests, their gazes locked, and the ghost of a smile hovered on his lips.
Her heart sank. That is why he would stare. And from across the ballroom, Cedric winked.
Well, drat.
Chapter 5
“I t is about bloody time you arrived.” The Duke of Ravenscourt glared at his son. “You missed the
Oh, blast, she’d always been relentless. “My toes,” she said with another forced smile. “They’re still deuced awful.”
Her sister said nothing for a long moment and then she nodded. “Mother is looking for you.”
Genevieve silently cursed. If Mother had seen Gillian, she’d well know there had never been a meeting between friends, and the last thing Genevieve cared to answer or could answer without thinking of Cedric, was where she’d been. She looped her arm through her sister’s and made their way to the ballroom. As they reached the end of the corridor, she cast one lingering glance back.
Was he waiting in the shadows even now? Would he seek her out and request a dance?
“What are you staring at?” Gillian asked, furrowing her brow.
Her cheeks warmed. “Nothing, I am merely reluctant to return to the ball.” Which was not altogether untrue. She’d greatly prefer the company of Cedric, alone in the duke’s too-large library.
“Well, I am of like opinion on that,” Gillian muttered as they stepped out into the crowded hall. Together, they skimmed their gaze over the crowd. “There is Mother.” She motioned to Mother’s position alongside Lady Erroll.
She sighed. She’d rather walk through burning coals on a hot summer’s day than spend any time with her always-miserable mother. By Papa’s absence at the same affairs, he was of like opinion. Alas, Genevieve was left alone to endure her mother’s machinations to wed her off to…well, anyone with a respective title. Given her betrayal, one would think Mother would seek out an honorable gentleman for her marriageable daughter. Alas…
Her mother looked to her and frowned.
No doubt, she wondered where her shameful daughter had been off to. With reluctant footsteps, she made her way through the throng of guests over to her mother.
“At last,” her mother said to Gillian through tight lips, ignoring Genevieve altogether. “You might have missed the marquess’ arrival.” Mother’s relentless dedication to see Gillian wed spoke volumes of her desperation. A loud buzz went up around the ballroom. “He is here,” Mother said with an uncharacteristic excitement in her usually bored tones.
As one, ladies throughout the ballroom looked to the entrance of the hall.
Genevieve gave her head a wry shake. How silly they all were, seeking a title and wealth, and not having the sense to crave so much more. And I had a very brief taste of it and now that will never be enough . A tiny fluttering danced in her belly as, unbidden, she sought Cedric amongst the crowd.
“…Oh, my goodness. The marquess is looking directly at you, Gillian.”
“No, he is not, Mother,” Gillian said with a roll of her eyes.
And then their mother blinked. “Why…why…no he’s not! He is looking at… Genevieve .” That furious whisper pulled her attention to her flighty parent.
Was it a wonder a woman with such flawed logic should imagine glances and interest from the rakish marquess? “He is not looking at me,” she said under her breath, resuming her search of the crowd for another. What if she did not see him again? Then, what good could come from seeing him again?
“No. I believe he is.” Her mother’s angry words interrupted her musings.
An exasperated sigh slipped from her lips. Could she not even just have the pleasure of her thoughts? “Why would the marquess be staring at…?” She followed her mother’s none-too-subtle point to the six-foot four-inch, very familiar gentleman at the top of the stairs, standing alongside the Duke of Ravenscourt. Over the heads of the other guests, their gazes locked, and the ghost of a smile hovered on his lips.
Her heart sank. That is why he would stare. And from across the ballroom, Cedric winked.
Well, drat.
Chapter 5
“I t is about bloody time you arrived.” The Duke of Ravenscourt glared at his son. “You missed the
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