Brazen Temptress Read Online Free PDF Page A

fathers won't take it lightly if you toy with their affections."
    "Never fear, I have designs elsewhere tonight, but I want my quarry to wait a bit longer." He knew this bit of information would delight Lady Jersey.
    "The poor girl. You'll probably send her and her chaperone home with a case of vapors. But I'm dying to find out who this newest victim of your affections is to be, so of course, you wily cad, you've tricked me into helping you once again."
    If Lady Jersey was affronted, it was hard to tell by the gleam in her eye as she steered Julien toward the clutch of waiting girls. "You are the worst, Julien D'Artiers, the worst."
    They stopped before the open-mouthed group of girls. All stared wide-eyed at Julien, as if they expected him to devour one of them as an evening snack.
    Lady Jersey made the introductions, ignoring the dark looks from several of the matrons at the sidelines. One mother hustled up and hauled her protesting daughter away before the fateful introduction could be made.
    The others grinned with malicious delight at their friends misfortune.
    Julien bowed low to his new conquests. "Ladies, it is an honor to meet you. I can see I've been away from London far too long."
    They tittered behind their gloved hands and wavering fans.
    "Now, tell me, which of you are spoken for, so I don't have to meet any angry betrotheds at dawn? It's been at least a month since I've been in a duel, and I fear I might be rather rusty."
    This delighted the girls, and they all shook their heads.
    "Not one of you is betrothed?" he asked. "Have the young men in London gone blind?" He winked at the girl at the end, a Lady Annabelle, if he remembered correctly.
    Lady Annabelle's face turned bright pink and then went white, as her legs started to give out beneath her.
    Julien knew all the signs only too well. It happened at least once a night when he was in attendance at Almack's. He immediately stepped forward and caught the unsteady girl in his arms.
    "Oh, Mr. D'Artiers, you saved me," she whispered, while the other girls surged forward, offering their fans and advice, ranging from burnt feathers to a good pinch. Each one seemed pea green with envy at not having thought of the stunt first.
    Lady Jersey rolled her gaze heavenward.
    He carefully righted Lady Annabelle and smiled at her. "I think you should be steady now."
    "Oh, yes, quite fine," she said, her words ending in a soft little sigh. It was said her father, the Marquis of Sandre, had numerous investments with Lloyd's. Lady Jersey's introduction might net some added dividends to his plans for the evening.
    "Oh, Mr. D'Artiers," Lady Annabelle said. "May I ask another favor of you?"
    "Anything."
    "A personal question. A matter we were discussing before you came over."
    Several of the girls looked at their daring friend with alarm. Julien could only guess what their diabolical schoolgirl minds had been concocting. "What is it?"
    Lady Annabelle smiled, her long golden lashes fluttering with all the coquetry of a high-priced mistress. "Is it true that no lady has ever held your heart? That you've never loved anyone?"
    Her daring took him aback, used as he was to the truly inane chatter of young girls in their first Season. Even her friends appeared stunned, silenced and aquiver like a group of birds having spotted a hawk on the wing.
    "That happens to be two questions, my Lady Annabelle," he told her, trying to think of a way to extricate himself. But at his side Lady Jersey seemed to be just as taken with the question as the girls.
    "Yes, Julien," she said. "Do tell. You did promise the girl anything, after all."
    "Has a lady ever caught my heart?" he repeated.
    "Oh, yes, have you been in love?" another girl begged.
    "No, never," he lied.
    All at once their faces fell into dismay. "I can't believe that," Lady Annabelle said. "Everyone falls in love once, especially when they are young. You were young once, weren't you, Mr. D'Artiers?"
    Beside him, Lady Jersey was doing a