Read Online Touch of a Scoundrel (Touch of Seduction 3) by Mia Marlowe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mia Marlowe
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Farnsworth will think you shockingly fast.”
“Nonsense, my dear lady.” Monty leaned across the table and gave Teddy’s sister an avuncular pat on the hand. “She’s perfectly delightful.”
“But she’s likely to taint Emmaline with her unladylike ideas,” Theodore complained.
“Oh, that’s right. I keep forgetting dear Teddy is engaged,” Louisa said. “Pay no attention to me, Emmaline. I’m sure you have more excitement as a betrothed lady than you know what to do with.”
If being kissed into incoherence by Theodore’s brother qualified as excitement, Emmaline was forced to agree.
“We’re not quite engaged yet, sister,” he said with a wink to Emma. He caught her hand under the table and squeezed. “But I’m working on it.”
“Careful, Miss Farnsworth,” Lord Devonwood’s voice came from behind her. “If Teddy claims to be working, lightning strikes will no doubt commence shortly. You’d do well to move down a chair or two.”
He took his place at the head of the long table without a word of apology for his tardiness. The countess, however, apologized for starting the meal without him.
Devon waved off her words and signaled for the footman to fill his soup bowl. The servants nearly stumbled over each other in an effort to see that his wine goblet was brimming with a golden Reinish vintage and that his napkin was arranged just so over his impeccable finery.
The rest of the party had polished off their lamb and were ready for dessert. However, it was obvious they’d simply have to sit there digesting and sipping the burgundy that had accompanied the meat entrée, while Lord Devonwood ate his leisurely way through the five courses they’d just finished.
How the world adjusts itself to please an earl with no effort on his part at all, Emma thought.
And yet his lordship had the temerity to berate his brother for not working. Emmaline’s enterprising soul rankled at the way Lord Devonwood felt himself above honest labor or even common courtesy for those who engaged in it.
“Actually, your lordship, Theodore worked very hard indeed while he was in Egypt,” she said with a surreptitious glance in Devon’s direction. The earl was definitely wearing his station, resplendent in a cloth of gold waistcoat and elegantly tied cravat starched to perfection. But even without the trappings of his title, the man himself was enough to make her insides caper about like a troop of drunken faeries in the garden, not quite balanced on the daisy stems.
“It’s true,” Teddy said with a laugh. “At the dig outside of Thebes, I developed a genuine blister.”
“A blister! Don’t be gauche, Theodore.” The countess frowned at him.
“Sorry, Maman . But you can’t imagine what fun it was to muck about in the dirt and hope to turn up something astonishing.”
The earl’s spoonful of white soup halted halfway to his mouth. “And did you turn up something astonishing?”
Ted caught Emma’s hand and brought it quickly to his lips for a kiss. “Not until I boarded the British Star and met Emmaline.”
“Well put, Teddy. You’ll win her yet.” Louisa beamed at her brother’s gallantry.
Emma’s cheeks heated as she disengaged her hand from Theodore’s grasp. She didn’t feel astonishing. She felt lower than shoe leather. Even though Theodore showered her with compliments, she’d caught herself reliving that blasted kiss with his brother in the library more times than Egypt had dynasties.
Since Egypt had poked its way into her mind, it was high time she made use of it. “Actually, I think Theodore is referring to the Tetisheri statue and the academic work he did on that piece.”
“No, I’m not.” He tossed her a hopeful grin. “I was talking about you and you know it.”
“Theodore, please,” she murmured. It was bad enough that he was determined to court her. It was unconscionable that it should all play out before his family. The public nature of his coming humiliation would
“Nonsense, my dear lady.” Monty leaned across the table and gave Teddy’s sister an avuncular pat on the hand. “She’s perfectly delightful.”
“But she’s likely to taint Emmaline with her unladylike ideas,” Theodore complained.
“Oh, that’s right. I keep forgetting dear Teddy is engaged,” Louisa said. “Pay no attention to me, Emmaline. I’m sure you have more excitement as a betrothed lady than you know what to do with.”
If being kissed into incoherence by Theodore’s brother qualified as excitement, Emmaline was forced to agree.
“We’re not quite engaged yet, sister,” he said with a wink to Emma. He caught her hand under the table and squeezed. “But I’m working on it.”
“Careful, Miss Farnsworth,” Lord Devonwood’s voice came from behind her. “If Teddy claims to be working, lightning strikes will no doubt commence shortly. You’d do well to move down a chair or two.”
He took his place at the head of the long table without a word of apology for his tardiness. The countess, however, apologized for starting the meal without him.
Devon waved off her words and signaled for the footman to fill his soup bowl. The servants nearly stumbled over each other in an effort to see that his wine goblet was brimming with a golden Reinish vintage and that his napkin was arranged just so over his impeccable finery.
The rest of the party had polished off their lamb and were ready for dessert. However, it was obvious they’d simply have to sit there digesting and sipping the burgundy that had accompanied the meat entrée, while Lord Devonwood ate his leisurely way through the five courses they’d just finished.
How the world adjusts itself to please an earl with no effort on his part at all, Emma thought.
And yet his lordship had the temerity to berate his brother for not working. Emmaline’s enterprising soul rankled at the way Lord Devonwood felt himself above honest labor or even common courtesy for those who engaged in it.
“Actually, your lordship, Theodore worked very hard indeed while he was in Egypt,” she said with a surreptitious glance in Devon’s direction. The earl was definitely wearing his station, resplendent in a cloth of gold waistcoat and elegantly tied cravat starched to perfection. But even without the trappings of his title, the man himself was enough to make her insides caper about like a troop of drunken faeries in the garden, not quite balanced on the daisy stems.
“It’s true,” Teddy said with a laugh. “At the dig outside of Thebes, I developed a genuine blister.”
“A blister! Don’t be gauche, Theodore.” The countess frowned at him.
“Sorry, Maman . But you can’t imagine what fun it was to muck about in the dirt and hope to turn up something astonishing.”
The earl’s spoonful of white soup halted halfway to his mouth. “And did you turn up something astonishing?”
Ted caught Emma’s hand and brought it quickly to his lips for a kiss. “Not until I boarded the British Star and met Emmaline.”
“Well put, Teddy. You’ll win her yet.” Louisa beamed at her brother’s gallantry.
Emma’s cheeks heated as she disengaged her hand from Theodore’s grasp. She didn’t feel astonishing. She felt lower than shoe leather. Even though Theodore showered her with compliments, she’d caught herself reliving that blasted kiss with his brother in the library more times than Egypt had dynasties.
Since Egypt had poked its way into her mind, it was high time she made use of it. “Actually, I think Theodore is referring to the Tetisheri statue and the academic work he did on that piece.”
“No, I’m not.” He tossed her a hopeful grin. “I was talking about you and you know it.”
“Theodore, please,” she murmured. It was bad enough that he was determined to court her. It was unconscionable that it should all play out before his family. The public nature of his coming humiliation would
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