Forsters 04 - Romancing the Runaway Read Online Free PDF Page B

said, convinced that would put paid to the ridiculous idea.
    “Oh, don’t you worry about that. We’ll soon fix you up with something suitable.”
    Miranda closed her eyes and wished she really had died. How the devil was she supposed to sit across a table from Lord Gabriel and explain her behaviour? He’d never understand and, even if he did, he’d probably think that she was three-farthings short of a shilling.
    Jessie woke Miranda again two hours later with a cup of tea and a cheerful smile. “We found a gown that ought to fit you, miss. It belongs to Lady Robert.”
    “Won’t she mind?”
    “All the family are up in town for the season, apart from Lord Gabriel. But I’m sure Lady Robert won’t mind in the least.”
    Miranda allowed herself to be dressed and fussed over by Jessie.
    “You’re the same height as Lady Robert, but slimmer. I shall have to pull these ties a bit tighter.” Jessie did so, stood back and smiled. “Yes, that’s perfect.”
    In spite of her concerns over the forthcoming meal, Miranda couldn’t help but gasp as the lovely silk slithered over her chemise and clung to her form as though it had been made for her. When Jessie was finally satisfied with her handiwork Miranda glanced in the mirror and hardly knew herself. Gone was the girl freshly graduated from Miss Frobisher’s Academy. In her place stood a tall young lady who looked vaguely familiar. Except she couldn’t be Miss Miranda Cantrell because this creature was dressed in sumptuous cerise silk, her hair piled on top of her head, silk slippers on her feet.
    With the exception of her riding habit, which was of vital importance, Miranda had never paid much attention to clothing. At school she was obliged to wear a uniform. The rest of the time, it hardly mattered how she looked. It wouldn’t occur to the self-obsessed Mrs. Peacock that their ward might be in want of clothes. Even if it had, Mr. Peacock would have insisted that the cost be deducted from Miranda’s inheritance, being too tight-fisted to provide anything without expecting recompense. Miranda had plans for her inheritance that didn’t include unnecessary clothing. Even so, wearing a silk evening gown for the first time, she at last understood why some ladies took such pleasure from their wardrobes. It made her feel…
    Sensuous.
    Yes, that was it. Sensuous, and imbued with much-needed confidence to survive the evening to come.
    “Come along then, miss,” Jessie said. “You look a picture. Take my arm and I’ll help you down the stairs.”
    Tobias followed her from the room. She didn’t know whether she ought to tell him to stay and in the end kept him with her. The sound of his familiar panting gave her courage. The upstairs corridors were grand beyond imagination, as was the wide, sweeping staircase. A horde of butterflies had taken up residence in Miranda’s stomach. If she could have thought of a reason to delay, she would have grasped it with both hands. But her active imagination had chosen a most inconvenient time to desert her and her mind was a complete blank. A footman opened a door for them when Jessie and Miranda reached the ground floor.
    “Miss Cantrell and Tobias, my lord,” Jessie said, curtseying and then withdrawing.
    A superbly attired gentleman rose athletically from a chair beside the fire, shook a shock of dark blond hair away from his eyes and sent her a penetrating look. He was quite the most handsome men she’d ever encountered in her admittedly sheltered existence. It took all the training that had been drummed into her at Miss Frobisher’s establishment to withstand his exacting scrutiny without revealing her inner discomfort at being examined by someone so closely resembling a decadent god.
    He didn’t seem especially pleased to see her, which brought her down to earth with a resounding thump. In inviting her to dine he was simply being gentlemanly. What else had she expected? He probably intended to ring a peel over her in a