Andrea Kane Read Online Free PDF Page B

quick clarification. “And I raced back to Elinore’s carriage the moment her footman came to retrieve me—that is, after I’d viewed White’s grand bow window and squinted my way through one game of whist.”
    “How reassuring,” Slayde bit out.
    “Safety was never an issue, Slayde,” Elinore repeated. “Nor was cruelty. After all—in Aurora’s defense—despite the rashness of her methods, she’d assumed you’d read her note and were apprised of her whereabouts. Had either of us known otherwise, we would have rushed right home. Surely you believe that.”
    The helpless fury raging inside Slayde banked, and he turned to the viscountess, abruptly realizing how boorishly he was behaving. “Elinore, forgive me. This argument has nothing to do with you and should not be taking place in your presence. Thank you for taking such excellent care of Aurora and for introducing her to the fashionable world that she was evidently determined to experience.”
    “I’m twenty years old, Slayde,” Aurora reminded him. “And you’ve never even brought me out. Is it so wrong for me to want to—”
    “We’ll discuss this later, Aurora,” Slayde broke in, jaw clenched in warning. “For now, I want the viscountess to know how much we appreciate her excellent care-taking.”
    “You needn’t thank me for spending time with Aurora,” Lady Stanwyk demurred, waving off Slayde’s thanks. “Your parents were Theomund’s and my closest friends; Aurora is like a daughter to me. Anything I can do for her—for either of you—is my pleasure.”
    Again Slayde brought his irritation under control, reminding himself that Elinore wasn’t responsible for his sister’s reckless nature. “In which case, I’ll merely ask how you’ve been.”
    “For an aging widow?” A faint smile touched the viscountess’s lips. “Quite well, thanks to my refreshing and delightful excursion with Aurora.”
    “Aging?” Slayde cocked a brow. “Elinore, you’re scarcely older than I.”
    “How gallant of you, Slayde. However, if memory serves me correctly, you’re one and thirty, nearly a decade my junior.”
    “You look and act like a young girl,” Aurora defended at once.
    Elinore patted her arm. “That’s because you kept me young this week. It’s been eons since I’ve dashed from ball to ball like a wide-eyed child fresh from my Court presentation. In fact, during the two years that Theomund has been gone, I’ve seldom taken part in a London Season, much less immersed myself in one.” Her fingers brushed the stones of her necklace. “In truth, the excitement felt rather good.”
    Slayde’s gaze followed her motion. “Was that a gift from Theomund?” he inquired politely.
    “Yes.” She glanced down at herself. “His last before he died. Lovely, isn’t it?”
    “Yes.” Slayde’s expression grew thoughtful. “Actually, it reminds me very much of a necklace Mother owned.”
    “It should. It’s almost identical. Your father commissioned a jeweler to design your mother’s as a Christmas gift. I admired it so often that, some years later, Theomund contacted the same jeweler to design one for me.” A worried pucker formed between the viscountess’s brows. “That doesn’t disturb you, does it? That I wear something similar to your mother’s?”
    “Of course not. I’m sure it pleased Mother greatly.”
    “It did. But that’s not what I meant. ’Twasn’t your mother’s reaction I was pondering.” A slow indrawn breath. “You’re away so often, I lose sight of the fact that you might still…” Her voice trailed off.
    “My parents have been gone for over a decade now, Elinore,” Slayde supplied. “My wounds have healed, I assure you. However,”—he cast a sideways look at Aurora—“that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how they died. Nor have I abandoned my intentions to shelter my sister from harm.”
    “Of course. I understand.” Elinore turned to Aurora. “ ’Tis time for me to take my leave.