Read Online Too Sinful to Deny by Erica Ridley - Free Book Online

bodice, as the porcelain doll performed a perfect pirouette to show off her fashionable gown (and no doubt the ankles beneath). A blush as deep a red as her flyaway hair stole up the witch’s pale cheeks as she curtsied behind her closed parasol. Neither one of them had bothered to introduce themselves.
    Susan’s jaw clenched. In London, she knew every face worth knowing and they all knew her. In London, hers were the cheeks being bussed by this viscount or that countess. In London, a thick ring of admirers stayed well within her orbit, eager to hear whatever words might fall next from her lips. But she was in Bournemouth.
    Well, while she was stuck here, she’d show these “ladies” how quickly a Stanton could surpass their supposed popularity. Father’s escape money should arrive within the week, but Susan doubted she required half that long to have the town salivating for her company. After all, she was queen of the world’s one irresistible sweet: gossip.
    First, however, she had to make her presence felt. She straightened her glasses and stepped forward. Mr. Forrester glanced up, but instead of smiling at her as all men did, his cherubic brow furrowed in a frown.
    “I keep feeling we’ve met before, Miss Stanton. Have you been in Bournemouth long?”
    “I’m afraid I arrived last night.”
    The witch leaned forward on her parasol, her pale white fingers gripping the ebony handle. “Do you drink, Miss Stanton?”
    She shook her head. “I do not.”
    “What a relief,” the porcelain doll cooed with false sweetness. “We were afraid you and an unfortunate blond girl who collapsed this morning in Sully’s tavern might have been one and the same.”
    Susan’s head swam. They’d been gossiping. About her. And it was true! (If not for the reasons they assumed.)
    Mr. Forrester’s lips rounded into an O. “ That’s where I saw you.”
    Her face flamed.
    The two ladies tittered. They’d known precisely who she was—most likely from the moment she’d stepped into the shop—and had chosen this method of revealing their knowledge so as to provide maximum humiliation before a handsome gentleman.
    Susan knew this trick well. She had just never been on the receiving end of it.
    No matter. She would rise above. So long as her name was never again linked to gossip-worthy behavior, talk would quickly die down. In the meantime, she would simply need to appear the veriest paragon of respectability and normalcy.
    She opened her mouth to reply before she realized they’d moved on without bothering to wait for her response. They stood in a closed circle, heads bowed together. Short bursts of laughter punctuated their murmured conversation.
    Susan stood off to the side. Cut.
    Harrumph. The least these country bumpkins could do was provide a newcomer clear instructions on how best to return to her lodgings. Susan stepped forward again, piqued enough at their sophomoric behavior to interrupt their conversation, despite the rudeness of such an act.
    Before she could do so, however, a fifth joined their midst. He entered by floating through the far wall.
    The bearded ghost.
    There was nowhere to run. The scarecrow could still be outside, waiting for her with his shovel poised behind his head. Even if the scarecrow had crept back home, mere walls would not prevent the bearded ghost from pursuing her.
    Of course, whiling away the morning with this trio was no more palatable.
    What she needed to do was get directions back to Moonseed Manor without letting the presence of a ghost in the room cause her to appear distracted (or insane).
    “Ho there!” the bearded ghost exclaimed, catching sight of her. He ran a meaty hand over his bald pate and stared at her expectantly. “Don’t you recognize me?”
    She didn’t answer.
    He hopped up and down in front of her. Careful not to touch her, he waved his hands in front of her face.
    Susan ignored him as best she could and tried to determine the best way to catch the others’