Chasing Raven Read Online Free PDF Page A

not keep her out of trouble for long.
    She closed her eyes, thinking back to that afternoon— the uncomplicated pleasure of riding at wild speed, the wind scoring her face, excitement rattling through her body. If only she could find a man who made her feel like that, she mused.
    Alas, he would probably not be a gentleman or deemed "suitable" by her mama.
    Raven lifted her lashes and the room ceased to spin as the dance ended and her gaze met a pair of eyes amid the crowd that watched. A pair of eyes that were almost black, not dull, bored or empty, but very much alive. Heated, angry eyes. Challenging eyes. Stripping her bare.
    Hale.
    His name sliced crisply and ruthlessly through her daydreaming, as if he carved it through her consciousness with a spear of flint.

Chapter Four
    "Who is she?" he demanded, his voice low. He didn't need to point her out. His gaze had been fixed upon the woman in green silk for the past fifteen minutes and he was certain the men beside him would know who caught his eye.
    They did.
    "Raven Deverell. Not a creature to be courted by the faint of heart."
    "Deverell?"
    "The daughter of True Deverell— who, of course, needs no introduction."
    Hale took a deep breath, the first one he'd been aware of since he first set eyes on her again. There was no doubt in his mind that this was the woman rider who winked at him earlier that day.
    He observed her smiling flirtatiously at several men around the room while she danced. Her first partner was too busy trying to keep up with the steps to notice how her attention wandered away from him. The second and third partners made more attempt to keep the flighty woman's eyes upon them, but she seemed increasingly annoyed with each man as the dances wore on, her smile becoming strained. He saw her lips move, although of course he could not hear her conversation. When she laughed, it was an exaggerated gesture in which she tipped her head back, as if what they had just told her was the most humorous remark she'd ever heard. But Hale sensed she was not laughing with her partners at all. Her eyes were too clever, too wily, too restlessly searching for other amusements.
    "Miss Deverell is in London for the season with her mother — Lady Charlotte Rothsey," another man whispered. "You must have heard all about her parents' divorce years ago, and the family scandals before and since. Really, I'm shocked the Winstanleys still invite Lady Charlotte. She's burned most of her bridges in society. Torched them with relish, it might be said."
    As a member of Deverell's, the most exclusive gentleman's gaming club in London, Hale had met True Deverell on several occasions. He knew there existed a litter of children, some born to Deverell's former wife, Lady Charlotte, and some to his mistresses. Abruptly now he recalled the black-haired girl who once appeared at his side and then, having tried to instruct him on how to play his cards, cunningly spirited away his fob watch.
    Had he been more interested in the social season, he might have seen her again before now, but his usual avoidance of London this time of year meant that he'd missed her growing up. Until today.
    Raven Deverell who had, for so long, remained nothing more than a naughty child running away from him and trailing a green ribbon through his memory, was suddenly there before him again. As a woman. Very much grown up.
    When had that happened? Had so much time passed?
    Each time she looked up at the chandelier, light caught flame in the small emeralds hanging from her ears and a long tail of midnight hair trickled down her back.
    His whispering informant continued, "The elder brother was mixed up in some woman's death a few years ago, down in the west country. He was never tried for any crime, but there are folk who believe he got away with murder. The other brothers aren't much better. None are shining examples of morality. Not that anyone is these days."
    Hale shot him a quick glare.
    "Present company excepted, of