Cupid's Mistake (Cupid Regency Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

never hear the last of it from the mater, and will have to leave town just to get out of earshot. Damned awkward, that, especially when I need to replenish my supply of waistcoats." He shrugged. "I'll just cast a glance at the usual gaggle at Almack's, tell the mater they're not worthy of the Eldon name, then spend the rest of my time at White's." He lifted an eyebrow at Blytheland. "Although I must say, the lady to whom you were so attentive was above the usual run of misses one sees in London these days. Thinking of giving another try at a nursery, Blythe?"
    The marquess turned a sardonic eye to his friend. "Misery loves company, is that it? A nursery—hardly. Why you should think so is beyond me. Just because a man speaks with a young woman, it does not mean he's thinking of matrimony."
    ' True, true. But it seems she was accompanied by her parents . . . and I've not seen you go near a marriageable young thing in a while."
    Blytheland shrugged. "Sir John Hathaway is a classical scholar, as is my father, and they are acquainted. Sir John wished to ask after an ancient manuscript, that is all."
    " Of course." Lord Eldon grinned widely.
    " Stubble it, El." The marquess picked up his violin case and gave his friend an irritated glance before stalking from the room.
    " Anything you say, Blythe," Eldon called after him and chuckled.
    * * * *
    Eros kept himself fairly insubstantial and hovered near the ceiling so that his glow would blend with that of the chandelier's candlelight. Well, he had done it, and he was quite satisfied. He had known for a long time that Miss Cassandra Hathaway would be the right mate for Lord Blytheland, although it had taken him three tries to do it. He had hit the marquess each time, but for some reason, the man had seemed unmoved, as if he had not seen Cassandra at all. Instead, he had had a brief affair with some other woman, over in less than a month.
    The thought that something was quite wrong with the marquess had definitely occurred to Eros, and even now made him feel a little uneasy. He shook his head and grinned. Well, it was of no matter now; Lord Blytheland had seen Cassandra at last, and certainly must have fallen in love with her.
     
     

 
    Chapter 2
    " Cassandra," said Psyche. "Do listen to me."
    Cassandra turned slowly toward her younger sister as if pulled unwillingly from a delightful dream. She looked at the girl blankly.
    "I am sorry, Psyche. Did you say something?"
    " Only that you have knotted your fringe in a terrible tangle"
    " Oh, have I?" Cassandra looked down in her lap at the fringe she was trying to make. Her face suddenly lost its dreamlike expression and she let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh, good heavens! So I have." She turned a rueful smile to her sister. "Dear Psyche, do be a good child and unknot this for me. You know how terrible I am at fringing, and you are so good at disentangling things."
    " I don't know why you even try fringing at all, Cassandra," Psyche said, taking the piecework from her sister and curling up in an armchair by the parlor fire. She carefully started picking it apart. "I thought you had given it up long ago."
    " Well, I thought it might be good for me. Mama says that fine work helps keep one even-tempered."
    " I do not see how she can say that," Psyche replied, cocking her head to one side in a considering manner. "I have always been good at needlework, but Mama always says I am too unruly for words." She gazed assessingly at Cassandra. "And why do you need to be even-tempered?"
    Psyche had always thought that Cassandra must be the best-behaved young lady ever, for she never got into trouble like she herself did.
    "Oh, goodness, I don't know! I truly do not know what came over me—I detest fringing." Cassandra rose from her chair and poked at the fire in the grate.
    " Harry says it's the marquess." Psyche nodded her head wisely.
    " Really, Psyche, how can you say so?" She turned around and faced her sister. Psyche smiled privately to