Mischief by Moonlight Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t want to have with her.
    He was saved by the sounds of someone beginning a lively tune on the pianoforte. It was young Matthew Cardworthy, who’d taken up the piano as a sort of challenge; he liked to play music at a vigorous pace with an ironic tilt of his head, though Colin perceived that the boy did in fact quite love playing, however much it was meant to be the province of ladies.
    Mr. Biddle and his brother, with Mrs. Cardworthy calling out encouragement from her divan, were pushing aside the furniture in preparation for dancing, assisted by the boys’ hunched, retiring tutor, Mr. Botsford. Colin almost groaned. It was his intention never to dance with Josie—to have her in his arms when she would never be his would be torture. Fortunately, he’d managed to avoid it so far on the few occasions when there’d been dancing.
    She tipped her head up at him. A curly lock of her sable hair was bouncing comically against the blue bandeau she’d tied around her head, a small vulnerability that charmed him. The early summer evening was warm, and her cheeks glowed softly apricot. “Now you will finally have to dance with me, Colin.”
    â€œI must certainly dance with Edwina first, as you are wanting me to ‘lend her consequence.’ And then,” he said lightly, “there is the matter of the cow.”
    This was a game they played, a necessary game for him, through which he’d managed to avoid ever dancing with her by coming up with nonsensical and fanciful excuses. It was part of the joke that each time he had to find a new, polite-seeming reason not to dance.
    She inclined her head, joining in the game. “And which cow is this?”
    â€œThe one who even now is watching at the window—no, don’t look, she’s very testy. I shall have to go over and mutter Greek poetry at her. It’s the only thing that stops her from charging about. Otherwise, she will certainly vault through the window and run about in here, ruining all your furnishings.”
    She laughed and he moved off to find her sister.
    Josie watched Colin bow to Edwina and take her hand while Matthew began a new tune that was almost too fast for dancing. How was it that she’d never thought before tonight of Colin as a suitor for Edwina?
    The more she considered it, the more she believed she could wish no better mate for her sister. The difficulty was going to be that he was such a contented, solitude-loving bachelor.
    He had friends of course—Nick, and any number of other gentlemen. He was not some shy, fumbling rube unable to be in company. No, he was perfectly able to be warm and witty, but he simply didn’t much need company. And he seemed entirely content that after him the title would go to his cousin. But wouldn’t he—wouldn’t Edwina, too—be happier with a companion, someone to share life’s joys and sorrows?
    He was going to be something of a tough nut to crack, marriage-wise. But worth it, if her matchmaking skills could bring it off.
    ***
    Later that night, unable to sleep, Josie took a candle and slipped down to her father’s library. The neglected room had a quietude that seemed to welcome her wayward thoughts, and she went to the brandy decanter and poured a small measure and stood there drinking it.
    It wasn’t quite right, drinking alone, but she felt out of sorts and she didn’t know what she wanted, and the brandy seemed to help.
    Another sip, and with it a mutinous spurt of truth-telling. She did know what she wanted: to leave Jasmine House. She was twenty-two and engaged to the most wonderful man possible, and she wanted to get on with it. Get on with the leaving and the marrying and the life of which she dreamed.
    But she was here, waiting. Existing.
    She traced a heart in the light frosting of dust on the desk, putting in her initials and Nicholas’s. She knew what she needed: patience. He’d been gone for so long, a