Read Online The Nobody: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) by Diane Farr - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Diane Farr
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firm clasp and they exchanged bows and pleasantries.
Lord Kilverton, bowing to Miss Campbell, was experiencing a similar impact. Because he had so obviously admired her sister, he turned to catch Caitlin smiling humorously up at him in an irresistibly frank and friendly way; one couldn’t help but return such a smile. He found himself shaking hands with a girl whose flaming hair and creamy skin was gorgeously set off by the primrose silk of her gown. A few bright curls dropped across her shoulders and softly framed her face. It was a face he somehow felt he knew. The slant of her auburn brows, the laughter in the depths of her eyes, the smile on her generous mouth, all seemed oddly familiar to him. He had heard Miss Emily Campbell described as the Beauty of the two, and could only wonder at the perversity of people’s taste. His instant and overwhelming impression was that once one beheld Miss Campbell’s brilliant coloring, dazzling smile, and air of well-bred elegance, the other girls in the room faded like candles in the sunshine. He found it difficult to take his eyes off her. But where on earth could he have seen her before?
The group stayed and chatted a few minutes, and as Caitlin was speaking with Lady Selcroft she felt Lord Kilverton’s eyes on her. She finally turned to him inquiringly, and caught him regarding her with a slight, puzzled frown. Seeing her raised eyebrow, he laughed and begged pardon.
“Am I staring at you, Miss Campbell? You will hardly be appeased when you hear my excuse. I have a strong impression that we have met before, and I am trying to recall where or when that may have been.”
“How very original!” observed Miss Campbell in a congratulatory tone, surprising a snort of laughter from his lordship. Unfortunately, this drew Lady Elizabeth’s attention.
“May I share the joke?” she inquired archly, taking Kilverton’s arm with a proprietary air. He turned courteously to include her in the conversation, but the laughter left his eyes.
“I am afraid Miss Campbell caught me staring at her rather rudely, and has given me a well-deserved set-down,” he said lightly. “Behold my discomfiture!”
“Indeed?” said Elizabeth frostily. She was clearly offended It was unclear, however, whether she was offended more by the idea of the plebeian Miss Campbell giving a set-down to one so far above her, or by the unwelcome picture of her fiancé staring at another woman. “And what is there to laugh at in that? Whether you have been rude to Miss Campbell or she has, in fact, been rude to you, I see nothing humorous in either event.” Elizabeth smiled thinly. “You will think me old-fashioned in my notions, I suppose. I do not find modern banter amusing.”
There seemed to be nothing to say to this. Kilverton bowed, and Caitlin bit her tongue to keep from uttering a crushing retort. Her aunt then claimed her attention and drew her off to present her to other acquaintances. Caitlin gratefully escaped before she could be betrayed yet again into unladylike conduct by Lady Elizabeth’s condescension.
Lord Kilverton watched her walk away. He was struck anew by something familiar in Miss Campbell’s graceful carriage. He frowned in an effort of memory.
Suddenly his expression changed to one of startled speculation. “Good God!” uttered Richard Kilverton, raising his quizzing glass and staring after Miss Campbell’s departing figure. Could it be possible—?
Chapter VII
T hroughout the evening, Caitlin was aware from time to time of Lord Kilverton watching her, and was puzzled and astonished to find herself so aware of him. It was completely unlike her to notice a man’s eyes upon her. When she glanced up to find her eyes meeting his across the room for perhaps the fourth or fifth time, she deliberately held his gaze, with so much reproof in her expression that he colored slightly and looked away.
There! she thought triumphantly. At least he won’t stare at me again! She
Lord Kilverton, bowing to Miss Campbell, was experiencing a similar impact. Because he had so obviously admired her sister, he turned to catch Caitlin smiling humorously up at him in an irresistibly frank and friendly way; one couldn’t help but return such a smile. He found himself shaking hands with a girl whose flaming hair and creamy skin was gorgeously set off by the primrose silk of her gown. A few bright curls dropped across her shoulders and softly framed her face. It was a face he somehow felt he knew. The slant of her auburn brows, the laughter in the depths of her eyes, the smile on her generous mouth, all seemed oddly familiar to him. He had heard Miss Emily Campbell described as the Beauty of the two, and could only wonder at the perversity of people’s taste. His instant and overwhelming impression was that once one beheld Miss Campbell’s brilliant coloring, dazzling smile, and air of well-bred elegance, the other girls in the room faded like candles in the sunshine. He found it difficult to take his eyes off her. But where on earth could he have seen her before?
The group stayed and chatted a few minutes, and as Caitlin was speaking with Lady Selcroft she felt Lord Kilverton’s eyes on her. She finally turned to him inquiringly, and caught him regarding her with a slight, puzzled frown. Seeing her raised eyebrow, he laughed and begged pardon.
“Am I staring at you, Miss Campbell? You will hardly be appeased when you hear my excuse. I have a strong impression that we have met before, and I am trying to recall where or when that may have been.”
“How very original!” observed Miss Campbell in a congratulatory tone, surprising a snort of laughter from his lordship. Unfortunately, this drew Lady Elizabeth’s attention.
“May I share the joke?” she inquired archly, taking Kilverton’s arm with a proprietary air. He turned courteously to include her in the conversation, but the laughter left his eyes.
“I am afraid Miss Campbell caught me staring at her rather rudely, and has given me a well-deserved set-down,” he said lightly. “Behold my discomfiture!”
“Indeed?” said Elizabeth frostily. She was clearly offended It was unclear, however, whether she was offended more by the idea of the plebeian Miss Campbell giving a set-down to one so far above her, or by the unwelcome picture of her fiancé staring at another woman. “And what is there to laugh at in that? Whether you have been rude to Miss Campbell or she has, in fact, been rude to you, I see nothing humorous in either event.” Elizabeth smiled thinly. “You will think me old-fashioned in my notions, I suppose. I do not find modern banter amusing.”
There seemed to be nothing to say to this. Kilverton bowed, and Caitlin bit her tongue to keep from uttering a crushing retort. Her aunt then claimed her attention and drew her off to present her to other acquaintances. Caitlin gratefully escaped before she could be betrayed yet again into unladylike conduct by Lady Elizabeth’s condescension.
Lord Kilverton watched her walk away. He was struck anew by something familiar in Miss Campbell’s graceful carriage. He frowned in an effort of memory.
Suddenly his expression changed to one of startled speculation. “Good God!” uttered Richard Kilverton, raising his quizzing glass and staring after Miss Campbell’s departing figure. Could it be possible—?
Chapter VII
T hroughout the evening, Caitlin was aware from time to time of Lord Kilverton watching her, and was puzzled and astonished to find herself so aware of him. It was completely unlike her to notice a man’s eyes upon her. When she glanced up to find her eyes meeting his across the room for perhaps the fourth or fifth time, she deliberately held his gaze, with so much reproof in her expression that he colored slightly and looked away.
There! she thought triumphantly. At least he won’t stare at me again! She
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