I Love the Earl Read Online Free PDF Page B

her, and she tore him to shreds. Her blue eyes blazed with scorn as she looked him over as if he were a maggoty side of beef, and she walked away from him and Clyve without so much as a curt nod of farewell. She strode through the ballroom as regally as any queen, twitching her lavishly embellished skirts from side to side to avoid crushing them, and people fell out of her way with bowed heads. He’d never seen the like.
    Lady Charlotte the pursuable heiress was forgotten; so too was any thought of even meeting the other lady on Clyve’s list. Miss de Lacey wasn’t a beautiful, biddable girl. She was something else: a woman of passion and spirit with a sharp, bold wit, and even without forty thousand other charms, Rhys would have felt the pull.
    “A reserve supply of goats!” Clyve was almost strangling on his laughter. “Great God! What an introduction!”
    “Yes, indeed,” he murmured, his mouth beginning to curl in anticipation. “And by God, she’s the one I want.”

 
    C HAPTER F OUR
    M iss Cuthbert was not pleased she had dismissed the Earl of Dowling, but Margaret said he’d been impertinent and that ended the discussion. She felt a bit of shame impugning the earl when in all fairness he had done no more than ask her to dance, but mostly she was so relieved to have one less avaricious suitor, the feeling was easy to ignore. The entire matter was soon forgotten, as Miss Cuthbert secured an invitation to the Countess of Feithe’s spring garden party. Margaret wasn’t sure it was such a triumph as her companion presented it, since the invitation was really to Francis, but Miss Cuthbert assured her it was one of the finest events in the London Season, and the very cream of society would be in attendance. It was quite astonishing how their lives had changed. She had never met a duke before her brother became one, and now Miss Cuthbert swore she would be presented to three this very day.
    Lord Feithe had built an impressive estate on the western edges of town, almost to Chelsea. They went by boat, as it turned out the Durham estate included a small yacht. Margaret caught her brother’s eye as they traveled upriver, but he just grinned and strode off to stand by the helm and direct the captain. Of all the inherited riches and responsibilities of Durham, it was clear Francis liked the yacht best.
    “I beg you to remember your dignity today,” said Miss Cuthbert. Her face was as white as the foam plowed up by the bow of the boat, slicing through the murky waters.
    Margaret lifted her face to the stiff breeze, keeping her dainty chip bonnet from flying off with one hand. Francis was right about the yacht; she liked it, too. Perhaps if Miss Cuthbert would close her eyes and enjoy the breeze, she wouldn’t look so sickly. “Of course,” she murmured. “When have I forgotten it?”
    “This is—this is a very important invitation,” replied the woman with an audible gulp. “One breach of etiquette will mean—mean you are not invited back.”
    “I’m only invited because everyone is so wild with curiosity to see Francis. As long as he is unmarried and willing to accompany me, I doubt I shall be in want of invitations.” Margaret glanced at the older woman. “Miss Cuthbert, do sit down. You look quite green.”
    “You are too careless,” insisted Miss Cuthbert, clinging stubbornly to the rail. Margaret edged a step away, not wanting to risk her crisp skirts if her companion should become violently ill. “Gentlemen care for more than just a lady’s dowry.”
    Margaret faced the breeze and said nothing. Did they truly? Miss Cuthbert meant her demeanor and bearing, her ability to play a proper lady, but Margaret wanted more than that. Did the men she met care for her thoughts, her feelings, her hopes? They certainly hadn’t shown much interest in any part of her before she had a fortune. She didn’t blame Miss Cuthbert, who was only trying to bring her out in society as promised. But she was no longer