Read Online To Love a Wicked Scoundrel by Anabelle Bryant - Free Book Online
Authors: Anabelle Bryant
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were sent for one of the largest balls of the season and while the Windlesham affair would not be held for two months, Meredith fretted she would not receive a card.
Meredith brushed away her daughter’s attempt to display the wagtail feather, and summoned a maid to take Lily into the kitchen for a snack. Isabelle removed her gloves and gauged which sensible words to share before her stepmother worked herself into a full-blown panic.
‘We have just arrived. You must give it a little time before your expectations climb so high.’
‘That could be true.’ Meredith’s woeful tone sounded too self-indulgent to be considered sincere. ‘But I will double my efforts to make acquaintances and participate in all social circles. By my doing, we live across the street from the most popular man in London.’ She jerked her gaze to the window. ‘I wish I could accompany the ladies who linger in the square but those dreadful flowers make me sneeze. If I dare to venture out there, I will look wretched in no time; my eyes red rimmed and my nose horribly runny.’
‘I doubt his lordship gives a care to the conspicuous women who mill about his corner. I suspect he hardly takes them seriously.’ A twinge of unbidden guilt chased her words but she refused to offer credence to the preposterous situation in the gardens.
‘In truth, I cannot depend upon your advice.’ Meredith’s tone expressed complete exasperation. ‘When you venture into the square, you actually look at the scenery, not the fashion and definitely not the gentlemen. So lost in your botanical explorations, I wonder if you see anything beyond the flowers in your path.’
An image of Lord Highborough’s flexed muscles beneath the fabric of his lawn shirt rose with startling clarity.
Flowers, indeed.
Meredith’s flippant remark struck a sensitive chord and all charity evaporated. She did not want to believe her stepmother meant the unkind words with intention, so she did her best to disguise the emotion in her voice in a practice born of habit. A change of subject was in order. ‘I plan to take Lily to Hyde Park tomorrow. The botanical sights promise to be uncommonly rare.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Meredith offered a distracted nod. ‘Enjoy the day. I must work harder to further my pursuit. I am having tea with three ladies I met at the Rochester ball. By association, if in no other way, I will obtain the Windlesham invitation. The event remains several weeks away. There is plenty of time for me to garner Lord Highborough’s attention, but a fool would take unnecessary chances. If I have not managed to attract him before then, it will be imperative I attend.’ She stopped pacing and placed a finger against her chin in deliberation. ‘I suppose you are right. It has been less than a week. It may take a little more effort on my part. You possess such a practical way of looking at things.’
With her stepmother mollified, Isabelle climbed the stairs to change her clothes and consider her spontaneous decision to visit Hyde Park in the morning. Certainly, it had nothing to do with Lord Highborough and his very blue eyes and charming likeability. He did seem at ease with Lily when he brought her up to discover the bird’s nest, but his goal was likely to disprove her immediate assumption he was a wicked seducer of women. If only when they stood together, she could ignore his delicious mouth, then she’d keep a thought in her head and manage a sensible conversation with the man.
She sat down on the corner of her bed with a sigh. Why would he choose to tease her with such persistence? In most ways, the male mind remained a mystery to her, although she did understand resentment and cruelty due to the years spent with her father. Lord Highborough’s jests were nothing like that. Somehow his cutting words managed to please, even while she knew he wished to get the better of her.
Isabelle fell backward and hit the mattress, deep in thought. She promised herself as
Meredith brushed away her daughter’s attempt to display the wagtail feather, and summoned a maid to take Lily into the kitchen for a snack. Isabelle removed her gloves and gauged which sensible words to share before her stepmother worked herself into a full-blown panic.
‘We have just arrived. You must give it a little time before your expectations climb so high.’
‘That could be true.’ Meredith’s woeful tone sounded too self-indulgent to be considered sincere. ‘But I will double my efforts to make acquaintances and participate in all social circles. By my doing, we live across the street from the most popular man in London.’ She jerked her gaze to the window. ‘I wish I could accompany the ladies who linger in the square but those dreadful flowers make me sneeze. If I dare to venture out there, I will look wretched in no time; my eyes red rimmed and my nose horribly runny.’
‘I doubt his lordship gives a care to the conspicuous women who mill about his corner. I suspect he hardly takes them seriously.’ A twinge of unbidden guilt chased her words but she refused to offer credence to the preposterous situation in the gardens.
‘In truth, I cannot depend upon your advice.’ Meredith’s tone expressed complete exasperation. ‘When you venture into the square, you actually look at the scenery, not the fashion and definitely not the gentlemen. So lost in your botanical explorations, I wonder if you see anything beyond the flowers in your path.’
An image of Lord Highborough’s flexed muscles beneath the fabric of his lawn shirt rose with startling clarity.
Flowers, indeed.
Meredith’s flippant remark struck a sensitive chord and all charity evaporated. She did not want to believe her stepmother meant the unkind words with intention, so she did her best to disguise the emotion in her voice in a practice born of habit. A change of subject was in order. ‘I plan to take Lily to Hyde Park tomorrow. The botanical sights promise to be uncommonly rare.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Meredith offered a distracted nod. ‘Enjoy the day. I must work harder to further my pursuit. I am having tea with three ladies I met at the Rochester ball. By association, if in no other way, I will obtain the Windlesham invitation. The event remains several weeks away. There is plenty of time for me to garner Lord Highborough’s attention, but a fool would take unnecessary chances. If I have not managed to attract him before then, it will be imperative I attend.’ She stopped pacing and placed a finger against her chin in deliberation. ‘I suppose you are right. It has been less than a week. It may take a little more effort on my part. You possess such a practical way of looking at things.’
With her stepmother mollified, Isabelle climbed the stairs to change her clothes and consider her spontaneous decision to visit Hyde Park in the morning. Certainly, it had nothing to do with Lord Highborough and his very blue eyes and charming likeability. He did seem at ease with Lily when he brought her up to discover the bird’s nest, but his goal was likely to disprove her immediate assumption he was a wicked seducer of women. If only when they stood together, she could ignore his delicious mouth, then she’d keep a thought in her head and manage a sensible conversation with the man.
She sat down on the corner of her bed with a sigh. Why would he choose to tease her with such persistence? In most ways, the male mind remained a mystery to her, although she did understand resentment and cruelty due to the years spent with her father. Lord Highborough’s jests were nothing like that. Somehow his cutting words managed to please, even while she knew he wished to get the better of her.
Isabelle fell backward and hit the mattress, deep in thought. She promised herself as
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