Heaven Scent Read Online Free PDF

stand where she was and stare at
him mutely. The urge to check her clothing was overwhelming, her
dress suddenly too snug.
    “I believe you missed a spot, sir,” she
said with an arched brow.
    “Did I?” he asked with his own arched
brow, as he bowed to take her hand in his. “I’m usually very
thorough, Lady Worthington – especially in all things
female.”
    His lips were soft against her fingers,
lingering a touch longer than propriety dictated.
    “A part of your Ranger instruction, Mr.
Sutherland?” she asked, pulling her hand from his grasp. A tingle
remained where his lips had touched her skin.
    His grin grew devilish. “Nothing so
official – merely an old habit I’ve had no desire to
break.”
    Tarin bit her cheek. The man was an
absolute scoundrel.
    How refreshing.
    “Yes, well…” Patrick said, clearing his
throat as Isabel took Tarin by the elbow.
    “Come, Tarin,” she said, guiding her
away. “Lillian and Margaret were just about to fill me in on the
Emerson ball.”
    With reluctant steps, Tarin allowed
herself to be led away from the men and what was sure to be the
only excitement of the evening. Once she moved away from Rafe’s
presence, she felt more herself. Like she had been splashed in the
face and woke from the shock. Tarin took a seat beside Isabel on
the blue velvet settee.
    “Isabel,” Lillian Evans said, “Rafe is
adjusting to civilized society well. He acts as though he never
left.”
    Isabel glanced over at Rafe standing
amongst the men across the parlor. “He has recovered remarkably
well,” she commented with a frown.
    “He always was so popular with the
young ladies,” Olivia Alexander added with a sly glance at Tarin.
“Why every girl in Boston was attracted to him. They were all just
heartbroken when he left.”
    And here sat Tarin, just one of many.
The idea rankled.
    “I don’t believe that changed down in
Texas either,” Isabel announced with a chuckle. “I found a perfumed
sash amongst his belongings.”
    Lillian sat up in her chair, her
notorious penchant for gossip clearly piqued. She leaned forward
and placed her hand beside her mouth. “Oh, does he have a special
lady back in Texas?”
    To Tarin’s dismay, she was suddenly
interested in the petty gossip, too.
    “Not that he has mentioned,” Isabel
replied. “But you never know with Rafe. He has never been one to
talk of his personal life.”
    Probably because he knew his mother’s
ears would burn. His ability to maneuver innocent young girls in
and out of dark gardens without notice undoubtedly aided his
nocturnal war strategy, Tarin mused.
    “I am sure he will soon find a nice
young girl who will overlook his scars,” Olivia declared over the
top of her wineglass, “after all, he is from a good Brahmin
family.”
    What a narrow-minded wretch. Tarin knew
Isabel would not upset her soiree by standing up for her son. All
Brahmin women had been taught to bite their tongues, then vent
after all of the guests were gone.
    Lucky for Tarin, she was not a Brahmin
first - she was British nobility.
    “I think his scars lend a mysterious…
dangerous air,” she said, leaning forward as if in confidence. “How
many men in Boston can boast of surviving Indians? It’s most
exciting, don’t you agree?”
    Tarin sat back on the settee, her back
ridged in irritation. Isabel placed her hand over Tarin’s and
squeezed, as Lillian and Olivia studied Rafe across the
room.
    “Yes, it is rather exciting,” Lillian
said distractedly before turning her attention back to Isabel and
Tarin. “He will find himself even more popular than before, I
declare.”
    A part of Tarin wondered if she had
just done herself a disservice while standing up for Isabel and her
son. Then again, now was not the time to finally admit interest in
a man – especially one in which her father approved. She would find
no peace from him then, and fight an unwanted distraction on her
path to becoming a physician. Besides, who’s to say Rafe