Midnight Temptations With a Forbidden Lord Read Online Free PDF

lamented the loss of the richly afforded life she’d been accustomed to.
    Leo’s focus returned to them. “I have a bottle of rum in my study that hasn’t been cracked open yet.”
    “You’ll be attending the Carletons’ tomorrow and you think it wise to drink a bottle of rum so late in the evening? You’ll be three sheets to the wind when you wake up in the morning.” Hayden’s tone was stern, though his anger seemed directed at Jez and not Leo or Tristan.
    “You’re turning into your father,” Tristan pointed out as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Leo’s town-house—where they usually congregated when they weren’t causing mischief about Town.
    “You’re simply angry that I lost my temper with that cad, Mr. Torrance,” Jez said defensively.
    “Angry? Simply angry? You’ve bloody well lost your mind to do what you did tonight, Jez.” Hayden remained calm as he lectured Jez, but his gloved hand squeezed the black jade eagle head atop his cane. “You’re your own worst enemy; you cannot be so brash and unpredictable without your husband’s name to protect you.”
    “Come now,” Tristan interjected. “She’ll be excused for any wrongdoing or minor blowouts since her husband has just died. Everyone will think that she is grieving.”
    Hayden glared back at Tristan as he shoved his hat on his head. “I wish that were the truth. I’ll bid you all a good night. Unlike you lot, I have obligations in the morning.” Pointing the top end of his cane in Jez’s direction, he added, “Don’t forget our appointment in the morning. Unless you don’t care that your husband’s fortune may soon be forever out of reach.”
    Jez rolled her eyes, pushed the carriage door open, and grabbed Hayden’s sleeve to drag him down the steps behind her.
    “Stop being so dramatic and join us for one toast. We must celebrate my newfound freedom.” Jez pouted out her bottom lip. “Don’t be mad, darling, I’ve had a dreadful week.”
    Hayden removed his hat again and scratched the back of his blond-topped head. “One drink, Jez. Then I have to be off.”
    Jez gave them all a winning smile and she seemed much more her radiant self for a moment.
    Hayden stayed for three shots and left, and then Tristan, Jez, and Leo sang bawdy songs for God knew how long—until the rum ran out, he thought.
    The better plan would have been to call it a night as Hayden had originally suggested. Tristan wasn’t sure how he made it home, but he woke in a bath of sunlight, his half-clothed body tangled in the sheets, and his head feeling as if it were squeezed in a vise.
     
    Chapter 3
     
     
    Those fortunate enough to receive an invitation for the revered Lady C ____ ’s evening soirees often find themselves embroiled in the gossip of the season. My fingers tingle in anticipation of the scandals to arise from such a motley crew … —The Mayfair Chronicles, May 1846It was unfortunate that Mr. Warren thought it necessary to visit her at all. She’d been daydreaming about her previous evening’s adventure when the maid had come to tell her that he awaited her in the parlor.
    Gathering every ounce of courage she had, Charlotte sat at the vanity, leaned close to the mirror, and pinched her cheeks to bring some color to them. She smoothed out her skirts—she hadn’t had time to change out of her checked walking dress—and spritzed water over her hair to flatten the flyaway strands.
    Why she cared about her appearance at all she couldn’t say. Only, she didn’t want Mr. Warren to make some snide remark about her looking unkempt when she would one day be a countess in a prestigious household.
    Genny was waiting for her when she opened her bedchamber door, and Charlotte released a sigh of relief that she wouldn’t have to go downstairs and face him alone. Her cousin hadn’t had time to change out of her walking dress, either, so hopefully Mr. Warren wouldn’t comment on her being inappropriately attired as he’d done in