An Heiress for All Seasons Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Sophie Jordan
throughout the midday meal even though she felt his blue eyes assessing her across the table.
She attempted to listen to the Duchess of Banbury describe the months she had spent in Scotland following her marriage to Banbury. They had eloped and then remained there, returning to Town only a few months ago.
Violet felt certain there was more to the story of their hasty marriage, but none they were sharing.
Lady Peregrine pursed her lips. “Your wedding should have been the event of the year. I’m still most vexed with you. I wasn’t even present!”
“I was,” Lord Camden volunteered. “It was quite lovely. The bride was glowing.” Smiling, he saluted the duchess with a lift of his cup.
“I’m certain Rosalie was beautiful,” Aurelia chimed in, “Although the reminder that you were present while my mother and I were not is of no comfort.” Her eyes gleamed more topaz than brown right then as she glared at the viscount.
His smile slipped and he glared right back at her.
The duchess shook her head. “Be nice, you two. Remember, ’tis the season of goodwill and charity.”
The viscount nodded once at Aurelia. “Tell that to her.”
“Oh, I’m perfectly charitable . . . to those deserving.” Grinning, she lifted her glass at the viscount in mock salute.
“Aurelia, be kind. The viscount is a guest—”
“He’s not a guest, Mama. He’s always underfoot. As common as that old stool in the drawing room in desperate need of refurbishing from the constant abuse of Will’s boots. . . .”
Color stained the viscount’s cheeks and his lips compressed as though he were fighting back a response.
“Aurelia.” Will’s voice rang with quiet command. “Enough.”
With a lift of her chin, she closed her mouth and focused her attention on her plate.
Violet studied the earl, intrigued how one word from him held such command. She doubted there were many people that Aurelia obeyed, but it was clear the girl respected her brother.
As though he felt her stare, his gaze snapped to her. She started with a small jerk to find herself the subject of that intense blue gaze. Even though he only stared at her face, she felt stripped bare sitting there with everyone else surrounding them. As though he could really see her. And perhaps he did.
Even after only just meeting her, he perhaps knew her better than anyone else did in this country. For he knew the one thing she had not told another soul since leaving home. That she would marry no one here. That she would live a spinster rather than marry a man who wanted her for only the fortune she brought him. She would rather be alone than spend her days with such a man. He knew that and still he looked at her as though he would gobble her up, clearly indifferent to the audience around them. She fidgeted on the seat.
Aurelia leaned close to whisper in indiscreet tones, “I believe someone is fond of you. You have achieved the impossible.”
Clearly, she meant others to hear. Titters broke out along the table. Mama and Lady Peregrine beamed, looking back and forth between Violet and Lord Merlton.
“You’re being fanciful,” Violet murmured.
“My sister has been described as many things, but never fanciful, Miss Howard. She’s a bit of a pragmatist.”
Heat scalded her cheeks. It was virtually a declaration. He was implying that his sister was right and he fancied her. Violet bit back the response burning on her tongue: You are fond of my dowry .
His lips lifted in a crooked, irresistible grin.
Oh, why, of all places, had they come here? Why must she be tempted by him? Why not a dim-witted man with putrid breath and missing teeth? The idea that she could have him, his smiles, his attention, was enticing. Only it wouldn’t be real. She would be giving up on herself if she surrendered to the illusion of that. That life would be a lie, and even on the best of days she would always know that.
To be fair, it wasn’t that she didn’t trust him as much as she
She attempted to listen to the Duchess of Banbury describe the months she had spent in Scotland following her marriage to Banbury. They had eloped and then remained there, returning to Town only a few months ago.
Violet felt certain there was more to the story of their hasty marriage, but none they were sharing.
Lady Peregrine pursed her lips. “Your wedding should have been the event of the year. I’m still most vexed with you. I wasn’t even present!”
“I was,” Lord Camden volunteered. “It was quite lovely. The bride was glowing.” Smiling, he saluted the duchess with a lift of his cup.
“I’m certain Rosalie was beautiful,” Aurelia chimed in, “Although the reminder that you were present while my mother and I were not is of no comfort.” Her eyes gleamed more topaz than brown right then as she glared at the viscount.
His smile slipped and he glared right back at her.
The duchess shook her head. “Be nice, you two. Remember, ’tis the season of goodwill and charity.”
The viscount nodded once at Aurelia. “Tell that to her.”
“Oh, I’m perfectly charitable . . . to those deserving.” Grinning, she lifted her glass at the viscount in mock salute.
“Aurelia, be kind. The viscount is a guest—”
“He’s not a guest, Mama. He’s always underfoot. As common as that old stool in the drawing room in desperate need of refurbishing from the constant abuse of Will’s boots. . . .”
Color stained the viscount’s cheeks and his lips compressed as though he were fighting back a response.
“Aurelia.” Will’s voice rang with quiet command. “Enough.”
With a lift of her chin, she closed her mouth and focused her attention on her plate.
Violet studied the earl, intrigued how one word from him held such command. She doubted there were many people that Aurelia obeyed, but it was clear the girl respected her brother.
As though he felt her stare, his gaze snapped to her. She started with a small jerk to find herself the subject of that intense blue gaze. Even though he only stared at her face, she felt stripped bare sitting there with everyone else surrounding them. As though he could really see her. And perhaps he did.
Even after only just meeting her, he perhaps knew her better than anyone else did in this country. For he knew the one thing she had not told another soul since leaving home. That she would marry no one here. That she would live a spinster rather than marry a man who wanted her for only the fortune she brought him. She would rather be alone than spend her days with such a man. He knew that and still he looked at her as though he would gobble her up, clearly indifferent to the audience around them. She fidgeted on the seat.
Aurelia leaned close to whisper in indiscreet tones, “I believe someone is fond of you. You have achieved the impossible.”
Clearly, she meant others to hear. Titters broke out along the table. Mama and Lady Peregrine beamed, looking back and forth between Violet and Lord Merlton.
“You’re being fanciful,” Violet murmured.
“My sister has been described as many things, but never fanciful, Miss Howard. She’s a bit of a pragmatist.”
Heat scalded her cheeks. It was virtually a declaration. He was implying that his sister was right and he fancied her. Violet bit back the response burning on her tongue: You are fond of my dowry .
His lips lifted in a crooked, irresistible grin.
Oh, why, of all places, had they come here? Why must she be tempted by him? Why not a dim-witted man with putrid breath and missing teeth? The idea that she could have him, his smiles, his attention, was enticing. Only it wouldn’t be real. She would be giving up on herself if she surrendered to the illusion of that. That life would be a lie, and even on the best of days she would always know that.
To be fair, it wasn’t that she didn’t trust him as much as she