A Summer Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page A

every time she saw the man, a ripple of something raw and tantalizing ran through her.
    “The pleasure is mine, I assure you.” The slight movement of his mouth could hardly be called a smile, yet it shifted the planes of his face and lit his pale eyes in a way that was distinctly warmer. His gaze held hers a moment longer than was strictly polite before he shifted and went on. “Pray, allow me to introduce you to my sister, Lady Genevieve Stafford. Genevieve, this is Mrs. Howard. She is a friend of Lady Morecombe. We met in Chesley.”
    “Mrs. Howard.” The fair-haired woman on Rawdon’s arm nodded toward Damaris. Her attractive, strong-boned face was as smooth and difficult to read as her brother’s, but Damaris was certain that it was curiosity she read in the other woman’s blue eyes. “I am afraid I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Lady Morecombe. My brother speaks highly of her.”
    Damaris smiled at the thought of Thea. “He is quite right to do so. Lady Morecombe is delightful. I hope you will become acquainted with her soon. Please, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Portland.”
    There was another exchange of pleasantries. Damaris was very aware of Rawdon’s gaze on her throughout. She wondered what he was thinking; it was impossible to tell from his face. Finally the polite greetings and comments regarding the weather and the play dwindled down, and a lull fell upon the conversation. Genevieve glanced at her brother, then faintly cleared her throat. Damaris wondered if Rawdon was not paying attention or was simply refusing to take the girl’s hints. Damaris started to say something in order to keep them there a moment longer, but Rawdon spoke first.
    “I was recently at the Priory,” he told Damaris. “Lord and Lady Morecombe send their regards.”
    “How nice. Thank you. And did you find Master Matthew well?”
    His smile was more definite now, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Indeed. Hale and hearty. He is walking.”
    “Oh, yes.” Damaris chuckled. “He leads everyone in a merry chase. I find I quite miss him.”
    “Have you been in London long?” Rawdon asked.
    “No. Only a fortnight. I have taken a house for a month.”
    “Indeed? So short a time?” Did he looked disappointed, or was that merely her imagination? “That will be London’s loss.”
    “Very prettily said, my lord.” Damaris’s eyes twinkled. She had almost forgotten how invigorated she felt when crossing verbal swords with this man. The challenge of making his controlled face spark with humor or surprise or even irritation was almost irresistible. “Still, one cannot help but think that such finely honed compliments must come from frequent repetition.”
    She was rewarded by the faint widening of his eyes in surprise, and his voice lifted with a hint of laughter.
    “You imply that I am a flirt, madam?” Beside him, Rawdon’s sister looked startled, but he did not seem to notice her slight involuntary movement as he went on. “I fear you would find yourself alone in that opinion.”
    “I would never call you a flirt,” Damaris demurred. “’Twould be most uncivil of me.”
    “And are you always civilized?” he retorted. The light in his eyes was unmistakable now.
    “Indeed, one must always try to be.” A small, slightly wicked smile curved her lips. “But I fear that I do not always succeed.”
    Lady Genevieve was openly staring at Rawdon now. She cleared her throat, then turned to Damaris, offering her a quick, polite smile. “Pray excuse us, Mrs. Howard. Mr. Portland.It was a pleasure to meet you. But I fear we must speak to Mrs. Haverbourne.”
    Damaris nodded. “The pleasure was mine.”
    Lord Rawdon remained rooted to the spot despite his sister’s discreet tug at his elbow. “I am sorry my grandmother did not get a chance to meet you. She remained in our box.”
    “Pray convey my regards to her.”
    “I will. Thank you. But perhaps you will come to Genevieve’s party tomorrow