Devil's Embrace Read Online Free PDF Page A

would bring a shocked squeal from that lady. Only that afternoon, Becky had called Cassie to her room and, after some roundabout conversation, had stiffly inquired if Cassie understood what would be demanded of her on her wedding night.
    Cassie stifled a laugh and displayed what she hoped was maidenly shock. “I believe I do have a very general idea, Becky.”
    Miss Petersham breathed an audible sigh of relief. “A very general idea is all that is necessary. Your husband will see to the specifics.”
    “I daresay Edward does have sufficient experience to be able to carry everything off smoothly.” She gazed up apprehensively at Miss Petersham after her unthinking comment, and saw that she was regarding her oddly, her expression serious and her hazel eyes narrowed in concern.
    “I am sorry, Becky, to tease you so,” Cassie said quickly, her hand on her companion’s arm.
    “No, child, you are not teasing me.” She looked as if she would have said more. Quickly, she was behaving in much her old way, briskly reminding Cassie not to chew on her thumbnail like some peasant child.
    “You look beautiful, Cassie.”
    Cassie looked up to see Edward standing at the foot of the stairway, dressed elegantly, without affectation, in black and silver, his chestnut hair powdered like hers and drawn back with a black ribbon at the nape of his neck.
    “And very grown up.”
    “It’s all this dratted white powder,” she said, smiling up at him as she rested her hand in the crook of his arm.
    “What? My lady doesn’t want to be fashionable?”
    “If that is what you wish, my lord,” she said demurely. “Realize though that it all must be brushed out at night—before one can go to bed.”
    “An irrefutable point. Ah, Eliott and Miss Pennworthy.” Eliott’s fair curls were powdered and brushed in artful disarray. He took Miss Pennworthy’s small hand in his, thinking that she made the perfect foil to Eliott’s blond handsomeness, with her pert oval face framed with rich black curls.
    “Well, one more week, old boy, and she’s all yours.” Eliott cast a critical eye over his sister and gave her a wink.
    “Take care, Eliott, else Eliza will think that you don’t care for your poor sister.” Cass turned and smiled down at the diminutive Miss Pennworthy. “I am so abused, my dear. Eliott throws me at the first gentleman who offers marriage.”
    “Oh no, Cassandra, you disremember,” Miss Pennworthy said in great seriousness. “Eliott told me that he’d been plagued for the past six months by your suitors. Why, there was Oliver Claybourne, somewhat of a slowtop, I admit, but still—”
    Eliott groaned and firmly took Miss Pennworthy’s hand in his. “She’s teasing you, Eliza, don’t heed a word she says.”
    “Well, I know, Eliott,” Miss Pennworthy said. “But itamuses you so to see me teased. Come, my dear, I must return to my mama.”
    “You mean that it is marriage that I offered?” Edward said in an appalled voice after Miss Pennworthy had removed Eliott.
    “If you want my money, my lord, then you must first place a wedding ring on my finger.”
    “Since I am a fortune hunter—at least in Miss Petersham’s eyes—I suppose I am doomed to take the chaff with the wheat.”
    Cassie suddenly felt the baleful eyes of Edward’s mother turn in her direction. She held out her hands to the short, sparse little woman.
    “I am delighted that you could come, ma’am. We shall see to it that you do not overtire yourself.”
    “Dear child.” Lady Delford sighed. “Though I am unwell, I felt it my duty to stand together with you as one family this evening. How very white you look, Cassandra. I vow I would not have recognized you. And look at Miss Petersham. Such energy she has. She tells me that she has never been ill for a single day in her life.” Lady Delford sighed again and gazed up at her son.
    “You must be brave this evening, Mama, else people might think that your illness is not really illness at