A Family Affair Read Online Free PDF Page A

a strange feeling, something she’d never felt before.
    When he made a small movement toward her, her heart flipped, and she felt like she had to drag herself out of a ditch full of quicksand before she could regain her ability to think.
    Again.
    She made a small curtsy, the sort one gave an elderly person out of respect, before she turned to leave.
    He moved impressively fast. One moment he stood leaning against the wall, watching her leave, and the next she bumped into his chest.
    Again.
    “H-h-how...” she stuttered, losing all her ability to think.
    Again.
    It was quite frustrating that he had the gift of turning her into some blubbering idiot, too awed by him to know how to behave. She wasn’t used to feeling like this. Usually it was the men, too impressed by her dowry to remember how to woo a woman when they met her; it was never she who didn’t know what to say or what to do.
    “Maybe,” he said, sounding slightly irritated, “I should make sure you are safely returned to your parents.”
    She was impressed; he actually sounded sincere.
    And he was irritated with her.
    Somehow it felt better knowing she wasn’t the only one who was affected.
    Having him escort her to her parents’ side could not be an option, though. She didn’t want to appear in the balcony doorway at his arm. What a scandal that would cause.
    Even so, it would certainly put Charmaine’s nose out of joint. Fanny lingered at the fantasy for a moment, enjoying the vision of Charmaine in the throes of jealousy.
    It would have been delicious to know everyone was talking about Fanny and Devlin and discussing their behavior. Is there anything between them? Will there be a wedding?
    Poor Charmaine. If she was secretly being courted by Devlin, she would suffer. O joyous thought.
    “How kind of you, Your Grace. I thank you,” Fanny repeated, silently cursing at being unable to think of something astoundingly intelligent and charming to say to him. It would have been so nice to overwhelm him with her wit, but she knew she would never pull it off; he affected her too much; she became a scatterbrained fool.
    She swallowed twice and continued, “I can manage by myself, thank you. I can see where my companions are, and I don’t think it is such a good idea for you and me to walk through those doors together. Too much talk about nothing, you know.”
    And, after another insulting curtsy, she put her chin in the air and left him standing there, his mouth wide open.
    It was annoying that he should be as beautiful while looking totally dumfounded as he was otherwise.
    The warmth of the crowded ballroom hit her, and it was only the thought of otherwise having to face Devlin that made her continue inside. She saw her parents at the other end of the ballroom, talking to some friends of theirs, and love filled her heart as she watched her handsome father give her beautiful mother a smile full of happiness and contentment. It wasn’t common for married couples of the ton to love each other. Most of the society marriages were more business affairs, arranged to join two noble families or for financial gain.
    But her parents were exceptional. George had promised Fanny he would never force her to marry if she didn’t find someone she liked. If she wanted to die an old spinster, her parents wouldn’t argue with her. They wanted what was best for her, and a loveless marriage was not an option. A rather comforting thought to a mere eighteen-year-old nowhere near the spinster shelf.
    As she stood smiling lovingly toward her parents, she suddenly realized the entire ballroom had turned quiet; even the music seemed lower. The dancing couples closest to her stood motionless, staring at her.
    The smile slowly faded from her face as she felt a touch at her elbow. She glanced down, and the large manly hand holding her left arm lightly was no surprise.
    She groaned, realizing who held onto her, and heard his chuckle in response. His grip became firmer when she tried to