A Proper Companion Read Online Free PDF Page B

cravat, as
did many fashionable gentlemen of the ton . On this
particular evening, Luckett had selected black pantaloons, a black
superfine jacket, a subtly striped dark gray waistcoat, and snowy
white linen shirt and cravat.
    As he entered the drawing room, Robert found Miss
Townsend as its only occupant. The dowager was uncharacteristically
late.
    "Good evening. Miss Townsend," he said. "Ah, I see
Barnes has provided us with sherry. May I pour you a glass?"
    "Thank you, my lord. I would enjoy a glass of
sherry," Emily replied. She watched as the earl moved with languid
catlike grace toward the ormolu-mounted console table. Catlike was
an appropriate description, she thought, as the earl looked every
inch the sleek panther in his stark black evening clothes. Even his
dark hair was sleek, as it was now combed straight back from the
forehead. As it was thick and slightly long, Emily suspected that
by an evening's end it would inevitably fall over his brow in the
deep wave of earlier this afternoon.
    Emily shuddered as she suddenly realized that all
the tales she'd ever heard about the Earl of Bradleigh must indeed
be true. It was a good thing that she was no green girl susceptible
to the charms of a notorious rake.
    She was mesmerized by his long elegant fingers,
which seemed to caress the sherry decanter.
    Robert felt Miss Townsend's eyes on him as he poured
the sherry. His every action was the slow and deliberately
seductive movement of one used to the appreciative gazes of women.
He handed the glass to Miss Townsend, allowing his fingers to brush
hers for an instant, then poured one for himself. He leaned against
the fireplace mantel and watched her as she took a dainty sip. She
was wearing a plain dark gray silk dress with a prim, high neck
trimmed in vandyked lace. Only slightly more attractive than the
dark kerseymere round gown of the afternoon, it was no less severe.
He nevertheless was convinced of a spirited nature beneath the prim
exterior, certain he had glimpsed a flash of wicked amusement in
her eyes after his grandmother had boxed his ears earlier that
afternoon. That, along with her surreptitious scrutiny of his
person as well as the rumors reported by Luckett, so intrigued him
that he was determined to draw her out After all, he must find some diversion while in Bath.
    "How long have you been Grandmother's companion,
Miss Townsend?" he asked, breaching what he realized had become an
awkward silence. "I do not recall meeting you when I last visited
Bath a little over a year ago."
    "No, my lord," Emily replied, instinctively
retreating into her normal scrupulous composure, somewhat
embarrassed that she had allowed it to slip in front of the earl.
She hoped he had not noticed her staring at him while he poured the
sherry, or felt the slight tremor of her fingers at the touch of
his own. She really must compose herself. It was ridiculous to
allow the earl to have such an effect on her simply because he was
so attractive. She had certainly been in the presence of attractive
men before. It must be the idea of his slightly dangerous
reputation that caused her to feel so ill at ease. Well, she was
not a schoolgirl, and he was probably not dangerous at all. He was
only trying to make polite conversation. Her good breeding and
manners rose to the surface.
    "I was not yet employed by Lady Bradleigh at that
time," she continued. "She graciously offered me a position after
the death of my last employer, Lady Fitzhugh. That would have been
almost twelve months ago."
    "I remember Lady Fitzhugh," he said, frowning
slighdy. "She had been a friend of Grandmother's since they were
girls, I believe. I am sorry to hear of her death."
    A few more silent moments passed while neither
spoke. Finally the earl moved away from the mantel and approached
Emily. "Do you like it here in Bath?" he asked.
    "Very much so, my lord," she replied. "I have been
used to the quiet life of the country, and so Bath seems a grand
city to me. And, of