Read Online Twice the Temptation by Suzanne Enoch - Free Book Online

would never do to lose it somewhere, with or without the curse.
     
      “In your pocket,” the maid repeated. “May I ask why?”
     
      “It’s a test,” Evangeline returned.
     
      “For pickpockets?”
     
      “No. It’s complicated, Doretta. Just help me with my shoes, will you?”
     
      “Right away, Miss Munroe. But it’s only half eleven. Isn’t your gentleman calling at noon?”
     
      “He’s not my gentleman. He’s an annoyance.”
     
      “A very handsome one. Those blue eyes…”
     
      Evangeline snorted. “Doretta!”
     
      Her maid blushed. “My apologies, miss.”
     
      “No harm done. He is quite well favored.”
     
      The sound of a carriage rattling up the drive drifted in through her open bedchamber window. Her heart skipped a beat. Was he early? And why did the mere thought of him make her muscles shiver? She didn’t even like him, for heaven’s sake.
     
      Leaning a hand on her chair for balance, she stepped into her pearl-colored shoes, a match for her pearl and green muslin gown. As she straightened, the butler scratched at the door.
     
      “You have a caller, Miss Munroe.”
     
      She wanted to smile, and sternly stopped herself. Rawley was dangerous, with his easy wit and charming grin. She would not be dominated, and he clearly didn’t care about anything but his own amusements. “Please tell the marquis I’ll be down in a minute.”
     
      “The earl, miss. I’ll inform him.” He backed out the door.
     
      Evangeline put out a hand to stop the butler’s retreat. “Wait a moment, Clifford. Who is downstairs?”
     
      “Lord Redmond. Shall I still have him wait?”
     
      “Oh. Yes. Thank you.”
     
      Another flutter ran through her. This time it didn’t feel as much like anticipation as it did…annoyance. Evangeline shook herself. No, of course she wasn’t annoyed to have Redmond calling on her. It was only that she hadn’t been expecting him, and her mind had been preparing for a different kind of encounter altogether.
     
      “Come along, Doretta. Let’s see what the earl wants.”
     
      Her maid giggled. “He wants to marry you, miss. That’s no secret at all.”
     
      “I mean this morning.” He’d barely survived Almack’s last night. She’d hoped that he knew enough to stay in bed and rest. If he expired now, he wouldn’t be doing anyone any favors.
     
      She swept into the morning room. The earl rose from his seat and gave a reverent bow. “Miss Munroe. I apologize for calling without making prior arrangements, but I’d hoped you would be available to have luncheon with me today.”
     
      “Goodness,” she said, letting the annoyance she felt color her voice just a little. “I’m so sorry, but I’ve already made plans. I wish you had asked me last evening. You know how I dislike having to tell you no, my lord.”
     
      “Oh, my humble apologies again, Miss Munroe.” He hurried forward and clasped both of her hands in his. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
     
      “It’s of no consequence. If you like, we can sit for a few minutes and you can say complimentary things about me. You did come all this way, after all.”
     
      The earl chuckled, releasing one of her hands to guide her to the couch. “You’ve given me a very easy task. How can I not accept?”
     
      For the next ten minutes he did exactly as she asked, complimenting her features, her hair, her gown, her overall keen sense of fashion, her voice—every insignificant quality she possessed. Evangeline smiled and contemplated the silliness of men that they could be so easily convinced to apologize for having the audacity to appear with a luncheon invitation. Her mother was correct; they needed to be guided, if only for their own sakes.
     
      She glanced at the clock above the fireplace. Rawley was already ten minutes late. Perhaps he’d had another friend in need of assistance and had decided not to come calling at all.