Educating Caroline Read Online Free PDF Page A

sorely misplaced. And when I get the name of the fellow, I’ll be only too happy to prove it, in a court of law, if necessary. You might mention that to her, when next you see her.”
    Quite openmouthed at this extraordinary declaration—and at the thought that she and Jacquelyn Seldon were anything but the most distant acquaintances— Caroline fought to think of some sort of reply.
    She was saved, however, from making any when the door to Dame Ashforth’s private sitting room opened and the Marquis of Winchilsea stepped into the corridor.
    “Oh,” Caroline said, finding her voice at last. “Dear.”
    2
    C aroline was not at all certain which man looked the most surprised: the Marquis of Winchilsea, who appeared quite shocked at seeing his fiancée with her face being pressed into her lap by a man to whom she was not related, or Braden Granville, who removed his hand from her neck at once and said, “Winchilsea,” in a tone of voice which suggested Hurst was not one of his favorite people.
    “Granville.” Hurst’s voice made it clear that the feeling was mutual. Then, in a very different tone, he said, “Caroline, darling, whatever are you doing, sitting on those dirty servants’ steps?”
    Caroline narrowed her eyes at him through the banister-bars. How dare he call her darling when . . .
    She shook herself. Now was not the time.
    “I,” she stammered. “I was l-looking for you. And it seems I grew a little faint. And Mr. Granville was very kindly helping me.”
    She couldn’t help glancing, several times, behind Hurst, to see whether or not Lady Jacquelyn would fol low him out. Please, she found herself praying. Please, please stay where you are, Lady Jacquelyn.
    “And why,” Hurst inquired, pleasantly, “would you go and do something as foolish as faint, Caroline?” He stretched a gloved hand toward her. Caroline took it, and allowed him to draw her from the steps. She was perfectly unable to take her gaze from his face. Why, not so long ago, Lady Jacquelyn Seldon’s tongue was in that mouth, was all she could think.
    “You’re generally made of much sturdier stuff than that,” Hurst was saying. “That’s what I admire most about you, you know, my dear.”
    “Mr. Granville thought it might have been because of my corset,” Caroline murmured, hardly aware of what she was saying.
    “Oh, he did, did he?” Hurst laughed. Though the laugh was distinctly humorless, it took away most of the heat of his next words, which were, “I’ll thank you, Granville, to keep your comments about my fiancée’s undergarments to yourself. And your hands, too, while you’re at it.”
    Braden Granville didn’t say anything right away. He was looking at the marquis very curiously, Caroline thought. Almost as if . . . almost as if he knew!
    But that was impossible. He couldn’t possibly know. It wasn’t as if Hurst hadn’t remembered to tuck in his shirttail, or tighten his cravat. He was perfectly presentable. Maybe there was a bit more color than usual in his cheeks, but surely that wasn’t indicative of anything—
    “I’d be happy to,” Braden commented, lightly. “If you’d be willing to return the favor.”
    Hurst looked startled. He said, “What? What are you talking about, Granville?”
    Braden nodded toward the closed door. “That’s Dame Ashforth’s private sitting room, is it not?”
    “Yes,” Hurst said, with obvious reluctance. “What of it?”
    Braden laid a hand upon the doorknob. Quite suddenly, Caroline found it difficult to breathe again. “ Nothing,” he said. “I am merely looking for someone.”
    On the word someone, Braden Granville threw open the door. Caroline’s knees promptly went out from under her. She sank back down onto the step and buried her face into her lap again, telling herself to breathe, just breathe, while wondering if this was the last time she would ever see her fiancé alive. . . .
    And if, really, his untimely death would be such a bad thing, after