Mary Blayney - [Pennistan 03] Read Online Free PDF Page B

the words as soon as they were said.
    “No!” Amazement robbed her of speech for a moment. “I told you I want nothing to do with him.” She stood up, all feeling of amiability gone. “William, how could you even think I would be involved in something like that?”
    “I’m a Bendasbrook. Machiavelli is required reading.” When she showed no appreciation for his attempt athumor, William went on. “The rumors started directly after you arrived in London, Elena.”
    “You know me.” Elena wished he had thought longer before accusing her. “You know me better than any other relative and better than most people. How could you think that?”
    William stood on the cushion of the settee, which enabled him to look her in the eye. “I know you have a temper, but are much more likely to throw something or slap someone than plot out a more diabolical retribution.”
    “That is hardly a compliment.” She took a step back. “William, I imagine at least a thousand people arrived in London the same week I did. Dozens of them probably have some grudge against Bendas. Why not question them?”
    “Do sit down. I am sorry. I should have trusted my first instincts and not even mentioned it. But there is another reason you should know what is happening. You may hear some of it when you join the party. Someone went out to find the cartoon and it is being passed around.” He sat down after she did and explained the caricature, ending with, “Obviously someone wishes the ton to believe that Bendas’s faculties are failing.”
    “I assure you, William, that I have not said a word to anyone about the Duke of Bendas. No one even expects me to know him. Tell me that you believe me and will no longer consider me the rumormonger.”
    “Of course I believe you.”
    “Thank you, William, and I will thank you even more if you never bring the subject up again.”
    “Never. My apologies for mentioning it at all.”
    “Yes, well, I have read Machiavelli, and I have lived in Italy most of my life. I suppose you had to ask, but let us leave it at that.”
    “Como lo desidera, signora.”
He stood up, bowed to her and kissed her hand.
    “Thank you again. My wish is to be known as Elena Verano.” She kissed his head. “As enlightening as this interlude has been, my twenty minutes has dwindled to a few.” She stood up. “I need privacy so I can practice for a few moments.”
    “Have I upset you too much? How thoughtless of me.” William slapped his head.
    “Not at all. A bit of temper will make my singing better.”
    “Good. Good,” he said with real relief. “I will go to the ballroom and find the perfect vantage point.” He hurried to the door.
    “I would think you would be looking for a woman who is not married.”
    “As would Grandfather. But I do so enjoy defying him even in absentia.” With a wave he left the room before she could comment, which was just as well as there was nothing to say that would change the truth that his grandfather found him an embarrassment. It made as little sense as her father’s unreasonable anger over a piece of music.
    Elena dismissed worries from the trivial to the significant and began the exercises that were as much a part of her performance as the songs she sang. When she finished, she opened her mind. To her dismay it was the shadowed stranger she thought of first, the unknown manwho had shared his hurt and his heart and the sweetest of kisses.
    It happened sometimes that someone other than Edward would be her inspiration. With a
“Ti amo sempre”
to her husband, Elena left the room to make her first singing appearance in England.

4

    W ALKING PURPOSEFULLY down the passage, intent on leaving, Meryon did his best to control his annoyance at being dragged into such a personal discussion with the woman. And to kiss her!
    Meryon could not lie to himself. He knew how that had happened. When she looked at him, her eyes filled with tears, a voice begging for comfort, he could not resist the