Read Online The Man in the Buff Breeches by Susan Lodge - Free Book Online

you to dance, then you decided to injure yourself with a fan. After which you proceeded to march over and insult my breeches and compare me to a horse. Actually that bit was okay,” he grins . “Then when that smarmy looking prick Nick monopolized you—well, you looked like you went to heaven.”
    “And ended up in hell,” I say. “I tend to do that with men.”
    “You choose the wrong ones.”
    “Yes, I know that.” I snap. “Anyway, your behaviour was pretty offensive that evening. Staring at my breasts through that quizzing glass, dressed in those provocative breeches.”
    He gives me a look of complete innocence. “They were all that was left at the hire shop. And yes, I was admiring you but if I did linger over your breasts it was entirely unintentional…”
    “Not because you had trouble locating them,” I suggest.
    He looks shocked—then grins. “I had no trouble at all. You looked adorable in that dress. Honestly, I really wanted to ask you to dance. Then Ros arrived and filled me in on the man you were with.”
    “Ros?”
    “DS Shepherd.”
    “Ah! Bo Peep—I thought she was your girlfriend.”
    He laughs. “We trained together years ago. She was working undercover the night of the ball, and we used the hotel room as a base to keep an eye on you and Nick.”
    My phone vibrates. It’s Lyn texting. Drat! She is on her way to my flat. I take a deep breath and stand up. “I have to go. Will you be okay? I mean, have you anyone to look after you when you are discharged?” Oh no, don’t go there .
    “Why, Miss Bennet, is that an offer?”
    “No! I just want to…”
    “Ease your conscience,” he finishes.
    His smile disappears, and it’s like the sun has gone in.
    “I’ll be all right,” he says. “I was due to visit my cousin in Wales. It seems a good place to recover, especially as I’ve been signed off for a week.”
    “Good. That’s fine then.”
    He is looking serious, but the warmth in his eyes caresses me. “When this is all over, Miss Bennet, perhaps you might rethink your type of boyfriend and we could start again. I could take you for a coffee and seduce you with a cream cake.”
    I ponder on the thought as my legs turn to jelly—but I’m off men. I don’t think I will trust them ever again. I store the cake thought for later contemplation and steer the conversation to a subject that will not make my heart flutter. “I am going to become a nun.” He raises his eyebrows, and his mouth falls open.
    “Goodbye.” I turn quickly and head down the ward because I don’t want to hear his reply. I am angry all of a sudden. Sodding men! They make life so complicated.

    I sit on the settee with Lyn and partake in coffee, custard creams, and a couple of paracetamol. My bunny slippers are sleepy eyed and comforting as they curl around my feet.
    Lyn has been stunned into silence with my revelations of the night’s events. Finally she speaks. “Heck, Shona, that was some date. I can’t believe that Nick he seemed so, so—”
    “Regency!” I supply.
    “It’s not funny,” she says. And as for Stephen—well I never really took to him. Too many white teeth and smiles.”
    I glare at her. I really don’t need comments like that as I already feel like the world’s worst idiot. “If only I could find that elephant he gave me.”
    Lyn frowns. “Well, surely it’s here somewhere. What did it look like?”
    It has a long trunk and four legs . “Wooden, about a foot long,” I say wearily.
    She looks around at my collection. “Any other distinguishing features?”
    “Well, you said he was an ugly beast when I unpacked it the day after we flew back from the Caribbean. I can’t remember what happened to it after that…” I stop because Lyn has turned a strange shade and is looking at me with a very guilty expression.
    “Oh heck, Shona, I think I know where it is.” She slams down her mug, causing coffee to rain over the bunnies.
    I stare at her and reach for another