Read Online Touch of a Scoundrel (Touch of Seduction 3) by Mia Marlowe - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mia Marlowe
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girl’s face, but her luxuriant blond curls and vivid eyes were a departure from the original. Obviously this was Theodore’s younger sister.
Lord Devonwood was nowhere to be seen.
Was it possible he was afraid to see her, too?
Not likely. But before Emma could decide to hope so, the girl left Monty and her mother’s company and scampered over to Theodore with her arms spread wide.
“Oh, Teddy,” the girl exclaimed. “You weren’t due home till next week. It’s only dumb luck I came back to town early. Oh, I can’t believe you’re finally home.”
He scooped her into his arms and twirled her around twice. “And I can’t believe it’s you, Louisa. Where’s the little girl I left six months ago?”
“I grew up,” she said, her eyes bright as bluebells in May, her golden ringlets shining. “Something I hear you’re trying to do now, too. Come now. Don’t be shy, brother. Introduce me to your bride.”
Emmaline knew she ought to explain to Louisa that she really wasn’t engaged to be married to Theodore, but she bit back the words. They were both so obviously enjoying their reunion, she didn’t want to ruin the moment.
Louisa kissed the air by both her cheeks in the French fashion. “I’ve always wanted a sister, Emmaline,” she whispered confidingly. “You have no idea the trials I’ve been through growing up with two brothers. This is going to be such fun!”
Emma’s smile was fragile. Before when she and Monty worked a mark, she’d been able to keep a professional distance. She took comfort in the fact that it was impossible to con an honest person. All their games worked only if the mark was greedy for financial gain or selfishly had to have something no one else could have.
Adding a sham engagement to the mix of subterfuge was full of potential complications beyond simply her relationship with Theodore.
When she looked into Louisa’s eyes, all she saw was yet another person who’d be hurt when their scheme was discovered. Then Monty excused himself suddenly and headed for the hallway, covering his mouth with his handkerchief to muffle his cough. Emma’s spine straightened. Pity for a mark was a weakness, a luxury only the affluent could afford.
She was willing to bet Louisa Nash had never wanted for anything in her life. Emma would have traded her left arm for even one brother and all Louisa could do was complain about having two, even if she was speaking in jest. A little hurt might do her a world of good.
“Have you any brothers, Miss Farnsworth?” Louisa asked.
“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “But I’ll be happy to help you even the odds against yours.” The first step in the long confidence game was establishing trust. She smiled at Louisa. “Please, call me Emmaline.”
Eight o’clock, the hallowed time to begin the evening meal, came and went without Lord Devonwood deigning to appear. Finally at half past, the countess ordered Baxter to serve the soup course and the party assembled around the long table glittering with Reed & Barton silver and Limoges china.
Louisa regaled them with tales of the ton and the slightly naughty goings-on among the Upper Ten Thousand. She’d just returned from a house party at the country home of His Grace, the Duke of Kent, where no fewer than three couples had announced their engagements by the end of the fortnight.
“Honestly,” Louisa said with an expressive roll of her eyes, “the way couples were pairing off, you’d have thought it was time to board the Ark.” She sighed dramatically.
“And what of you, my dear?” Monty asked. “Has some beau caught your fancy?”
“Not yet, professor.” Louisa dimpled prettily at him. “But I’m in no hurry. This is only my first Season. You see, until I settle on one fellow, I can flirt to my heart’s delight with all of them. An engaged lady doesn’t have nearly as much fun.”
“Louisa, please,” the countess said, her lips drawn into a prim line. “Dr.
Lord Devonwood was nowhere to be seen.
Was it possible he was afraid to see her, too?
Not likely. But before Emma could decide to hope so, the girl left Monty and her mother’s company and scampered over to Theodore with her arms spread wide.
“Oh, Teddy,” the girl exclaimed. “You weren’t due home till next week. It’s only dumb luck I came back to town early. Oh, I can’t believe you’re finally home.”
He scooped her into his arms and twirled her around twice. “And I can’t believe it’s you, Louisa. Where’s the little girl I left six months ago?”
“I grew up,” she said, her eyes bright as bluebells in May, her golden ringlets shining. “Something I hear you’re trying to do now, too. Come now. Don’t be shy, brother. Introduce me to your bride.”
Emmaline knew she ought to explain to Louisa that she really wasn’t engaged to be married to Theodore, but she bit back the words. They were both so obviously enjoying their reunion, she didn’t want to ruin the moment.
Louisa kissed the air by both her cheeks in the French fashion. “I’ve always wanted a sister, Emmaline,” she whispered confidingly. “You have no idea the trials I’ve been through growing up with two brothers. This is going to be such fun!”
Emma’s smile was fragile. Before when she and Monty worked a mark, she’d been able to keep a professional distance. She took comfort in the fact that it was impossible to con an honest person. All their games worked only if the mark was greedy for financial gain or selfishly had to have something no one else could have.
Adding a sham engagement to the mix of subterfuge was full of potential complications beyond simply her relationship with Theodore.
When she looked into Louisa’s eyes, all she saw was yet another person who’d be hurt when their scheme was discovered. Then Monty excused himself suddenly and headed for the hallway, covering his mouth with his handkerchief to muffle his cough. Emma’s spine straightened. Pity for a mark was a weakness, a luxury only the affluent could afford.
She was willing to bet Louisa Nash had never wanted for anything in her life. Emma would have traded her left arm for even one brother and all Louisa could do was complain about having two, even if she was speaking in jest. A little hurt might do her a world of good.
“Have you any brothers, Miss Farnsworth?” Louisa asked.
“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “But I’ll be happy to help you even the odds against yours.” The first step in the long confidence game was establishing trust. She smiled at Louisa. “Please, call me Emmaline.”
Eight o’clock, the hallowed time to begin the evening meal, came and went without Lord Devonwood deigning to appear. Finally at half past, the countess ordered Baxter to serve the soup course and the party assembled around the long table glittering with Reed & Barton silver and Limoges china.
Louisa regaled them with tales of the ton and the slightly naughty goings-on among the Upper Ten Thousand. She’d just returned from a house party at the country home of His Grace, the Duke of Kent, where no fewer than three couples had announced their engagements by the end of the fortnight.
“Honestly,” Louisa said with an expressive roll of her eyes, “the way couples were pairing off, you’d have thought it was time to board the Ark.” She sighed dramatically.
“And what of you, my dear?” Monty asked. “Has some beau caught your fancy?”
“Not yet, professor.” Louisa dimpled prettily at him. “But I’m in no hurry. This is only my first Season. You see, until I settle on one fellow, I can flirt to my heart’s delight with all of them. An engaged lady doesn’t have nearly as much fun.”
“Louisa, please,” the countess said, her lips drawn into a prim line. “Dr.
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