Candice Hern Read Online Free PDF Page B

. On this particular evening, Luckett had selected black pantaloons, a black superfine jacket, a subtly striped dark gray waistcoat, and snowy white linen shirt and cravat.
    As he entered the drawing room, Robert found Miss Townsend as its only occupant. The dowager was uncharacteristically late.
    "Good evening. Miss Townsend," he said. "Ah, I see Barnes has provided us with sherry. May I pour you a glass?"
    "Thank you, my lord. I would enjoy a glass of sherry," Emily replied. She watched as the earl moved with languid catlike grace toward the ormolu-mounted console table. Catlike was an appropriate description, she thought, as the earl looked every inch the sleek panther in his stark black evening clothes. Even his dark hair was sleek, as it was now combed straight back from the forehead. As it was thick and slightly long, Emily suspected that by an evening's end it would inevitably fall over his brow in the deep wave of earlier this afternoon.
    Emily shuddered as she suddenly realized that all the tales she'd ever heard about the Earl of Bradleigh must indeed be true. It was a good thing that she was no green girl susceptible to the charms of a notorious rake.
    She was mesmerized by his long elegant fingers, which seemed to caress the sherry decanter.
    Robert felt Miss Townsend's eyes on him as he poured the sherry. His every action was the slow and deliberately seductive movement of one used to the appreciative gazes of women. He handed the glass to Miss Townsend, allowing his fingers to brush hers for an instant, then poured one for himself. He leaned against the fireplace mantel and watched her as she took a dainty sip. She was wearing a plain dark gray silk dress with a prim, high neck trimmed in vandyked lace. Only slightly more attractive than the dark kerseymere round gown of the afternoon, it was no less severe. He nevertheless was convinced of a spirited nature beneath the prim exterior, certain he had glimpsed a flash of wicked amusement in her eyes after his grandmother had boxed his ears earlier that afternoon. That, along with her surreptitious scrutiny of his person as well as the rumors reported by Luckett, so intrigued him that he was determined to draw her out After all, he must find some diversion while in Bath.
    "How long have you been Grandmother's companion, Miss Townsend?" he asked, breaching what he realized had become an awkward silence. "I do not recall meeting you when I last visited Bath a little over a year ago."
    "No, my lord," Emily replied, instinctively retreating into her normal scrupulous composure, somewhat embarrassed that she had allowed it to slip in front of the earl. She hoped he had not noticed her staring at him while he poured the sherry, or felt the slight tremor of her fingers at the touch of his own. She really must compose herself. It was ridiculous to allow the earl to have such an effect on her simply because he was so attractive. She had certainly been in the presence of attractive men before. It must be the idea of his slightly dangerous reputation that caused her to feel so ill at ease. Well, she was not a schoolgirl, and he was probably not dangerous at all. He was only trying to make polite conversation. Her good breeding and manners rose to the surface.
    "I was not yet employed by Lady Bradleigh at that time," she continued. "She graciously offered me a position after the death of my last employer, Lady Fitzhugh. That would have been almost twelve months ago."
    "I remember Lady Fitzhugh," he said, frowning slightly. "She had been a friend of Grandmother's since they were girls, I believe. I am sorry to hear of her death."
    A few more silent moments passed while neither spoke. Finally the earl moved away from the mantel and approached Emily. "Do you like it here in Bath?" he asked.
    "Very much so, my lord," she replied. "I have been used to the quiet life of the country, and so Bath seems a grand city to me. And, of course, Lady Bradleigh has been more than kind to me.