A Rake's Vow Read Online Free PDF

much narrower hips. She didn’t want to notice how precise, how wondrously elegant his white cravat, tied in a simple “Ballroom,” appeared. And as for his legs, long muscles flexing as he moved, she definitely didn’t need to notice them.
    He paused just inside the door; Gerrard stopped beside him. As she watched, Vane made some smiling comment, illustrating with a gesture so graceful it set her teeth on edge. Gerrard, face alight, eyes glowing, laughed and responded eagerly.
    Vane turned his head; across the room, his eyes met hers.
    Patience could have sworn someone had punched her in the stomach; she simply couldn’t breathe. Holding her gaze, Vane lifted one brow—challenge flashed between them, subtle yet deliberate, quite impossible to mistake.
    Patience stiffened. She dragged in a desperate breath and turned. And plastered a brittle smile on her lips as Edmond and Henry reached them.
    “Isn’t Mr. Cynster going to join us?” Angela, oblivious of her mother’s sharp frown, leaned around to stare past Henry to where Vane and Gerrard still stood talking by the door. “I’m sure he’d be much more entertained talking to us than to Gerrard.”
    Patience bit her lip; she did not agree with Angela, but she fervently hoped Angela would get her wish. For an instant, it seemed she might; Vane’s lips curved as he made some comment to Gerrard, then he turned—and strolled to Minnie’s side.
    It was Gerrard who joined them.
    Hiding her relief, Patience welcomed him with a serene smile—and kept her gaze well away from the chaise . Gerrard and Edmond immediately fell to plotting the next scene in Edmond’s melodrama—a common diversion for them. Henry, one eye on Patience, made a too-obvious effort to indulgently encourage them; his attitude, and the too-warm look in his eye, irked Patience, as it always did.
    Angela, of course, pouted, not an especially pretty sight. Mrs. Chadwick, inured to her daughter’s witlessness, sighed and surrendered; she and Angela, now beaming with delight, crossed to join the group about the chaise .
    Patience was content to remain where she was, even if that meant withstanding Henry’s ardent gaze.
    Fifteen minutes later, the tea trolley arrived. Minnie poured, chatting all the while. From the corner of her eye, Patience noted Vane Cynster discoursing amiably with Mrs. Chadwick; Angela, largely ignored, was threatening to pout again. Timms looked up and offered some comment which made everyone laugh; Patience saw her aunt’s wise companion smile affectionately up at Vane. Of all the ladies about the chaise , only Alice Colby appeared unimpressed—not, however, unaffected. To Patience’s eyes, Alice was even more tense than usual, as if holding back her disapproval by sheer force of will. The object of her ire, however, seemed to find her invisible.
    Inwardly humphing, Patience tuned her ears to her brother’s conversation, currently revolving about the “light” in the ruins. Undoubtedly a safer topic than whatever glib sally caused the next wave of laughter from the group about the chaise .
    “Henry!”
    Mrs. Chadwick’s call had Henry turning, then he smiled and nodded to Patience. “If you’ll excuse me, my dear, I’ll return in a moment.” He glanced at Gerrard. “Don’t want to miss any of these scintillating plans.”
    Knowing full well Henry had no real interest in Gerrard or in Edmond’s drama, Patience simply smiled back.
    “I’d actually favor doing that scene with the arch in the background.” Gerrard frowned, clearly picturing it. “The proportions are better.”
    “No, no,” Edmond returned. “It has to be in the cloister.” Looking up, he grinned—at a point past Patience. “Hello—are we summoned?”
    “Indeed.”
    The single word, uttered in a voice so deep it literally rumbled, rang in Patience’s ears like a knell. She swung around.
    A teacup in each hand, Vane, his gaze on Edmond and Gerrard, nodded toward the tea trolley. “Your