Accidentally in Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

Mama suspected that she was violently in love with Kit, the connection would have been promptly severed. “Mr. Christopher Culley and Mrs. Culley, Lady Eleanor Kirkland. I believe you have previously met Miss Elaine Montford.”
    The bows and curtseys were performed, Kit looking rakishly godlike throughout. He might be tied rather too tightly to his mother’s strings, but he didn’t look the part.
    “Lady Eleanor,” Kit said, his voice a soothing rumble, “it is a delight to make your acquaintance. Miss Montford.” He bowed. “Your names are hardly strange to me as Emeline has told me something of your adventures.”
    “Adventures?” Mama said. “I was aware only of tea taken at Miss Montford’s and a chaperoned walk through the more populated areas of Hyde Park.”
    Kit had used the word on purpose, she was certain of it. It was a revenge for her making comments about his mother, or more to the point, his attachment to his mother.
    “With the proper company, even Hyde Park can seem an adventure,” Eleanor said, her dark blue eyes sparkling as they always did. Mama seemed slightly settled by that sparkle. Emeline supposed that it was too late in life for her to learn how to sparkle Mama into compliance. “I am so delighted that I have made the proper friends this Season, Mrs. Harlow. I would so hate for any of us to have a dull Season.”
    A dull Season, defined as a Season without at least one solid offer of marriage, was Mama’s personal nightmare.
    “Of course a dull Season would be the worst of outcomes,” Mama said.
    “I hardly think that the three of you should fear to suffer such a fate,” Kit said.
    “Oh? Do we look adventurous to you, Mr. Culley?” Eleanor asked.
    “Of course my son did not mean to imply any insult,” Mrs. Culley said.
    “I should take it as a compliment, Mrs. Culley,” Eleanor said. “I have always wanted to be thought adventurous.”
    “Then I find you very adventurous, indeed,” Kit said.
    This was far too much for Emeline. They sounded moments away from posting the bans.
    “Yes, I suppose some might find taking tea to be an adventure,” Emeline said. She stared at Kit as she said it.
    “Not quite of the homeric standard,” Eleanor said.
    “But then, Homer did not sacrifice his ink on tales of women,” Elaine said.
    “You’ve read Homer, Miss Montford?” Kit asked.
    “Yes, though only one book,” Elaine answered. “I don’t suppose I should admit that, should I? It’s likely not the sort of thing a . . . ” and here she trailed off, clearly realizing that it was not the thing to admit to being on the Marriage Mart, even if it were quite, quite obvious to everyone.
    “It’s quite an adventurous thing,” Eleanor said. “I think it quite wonderful of you to admit to Homer. I wish I had read Homer. I’ve only read Shakespeare and Fielding.”
    “I can claim Moliere,” Emeline said.
    “Emeline!” Mama said.
    Kit smiled.
    “It’s the truth. Should I deny it?”
    “Deny it, no, but it’s also not necessary to admit it without provocation,” Mama said.
    “Oh? Was I not being provoked? How stupid of me. I thought that’s exactly what I was being,” Emeline said.
    Kit grinned, his teeth showing white against his lips.
    “I don’t suppose you read your Homer in Greek, Miss Montford?” Kit said.
    She was being provoked, most definitely.
    “What answer will make me sound most adventurous, Mr. Culley?” Elaine said, smiling at Kit, as if she had every right to do so.
    “On the original scrolls, I should think,” Emeline said.
    Eleanor laughed. Kit stared at her. Mama scowled. Elaine kept her tongue behind her teeth. All in all, a most satisfying moment.
    “Rather too bookish, I should think,” Mama said, “but, of course, Mrs. Montford will be the best judge of what you should reveal whilst in Town, Miss Montford.”
    Mama was quite remarkably good at the most cordial sounding set-downs. She had made not only Elaine Montford look