Miss Pymbroke's Rules Read Online Free PDF

the gathering with an air of perplexity. “Good day to you, Lady Iris. Miss Pymbroke, I hope I have not called at an inopportune time?”
    Smiling sweetly at him, Verity hastily introduced Mr. Sedgewick to his lordship, noting with indignation how the marquess merely gave a fleeting nod at the aspiring cleric.
    For his part, Mr. Sedgewick bowed and turned beet red upon hearing the marquess’s name.
    Lady Iris begged leave to be excused, but Carrisworth lingered. He gazed down at Verity as his hand reached for hers. In a voice full of meaning, he murmured, “I shall be next door should you require assistance of any kind.”
    Verity’s large brown eyes sparkled with anger.
    Mr. Sedgewick coughed and turned away.
    Carrisworth’s thumb gently moved in circles across the back of Verity’s hand, sending a rush of warmth up her arm. She pretended not to feel anything, positive this was another of his rakish accomplishments, and with what she thought was a brilliant air of unconcern, removed her hand from his and dropped him the briefest of curtsies.
    He chuckled, startling her. “You know, Miss Pymbroke, when you purse your delectable lips that way, I find myself hard pressed to refrain from kissing them.”
    Wisely, he strolled from the room before Verity could form a response. She found she had been holding her breath and now released it in a long sigh. She stood for a moment, holding her hands to her warm cheeks. To one used to being in total command of her emotions at every moment, it was disturbing to find her feelings swung back and forth like a pendulum by none other than a careless pleasure-seeker. She resolved not to let him affect her so in the future. After all, toying with her feelings was but the merest game to him.
    Mr. Sedgewick moved toward her from where he had retreated by the window and eyed her sternly. “Miss Pymbroke, I cannot imagine why a lady of your good sense would allow London’s premier rake to cross her doorstep.”
    “London’s premier rake? As bad as that?” Verity asked faintly, motioning the gentleman to a chair near the tea table. When they were seated and Mr. Sedgewick, was fortified with a cup of tea, she continued. “I judged his character at once, of course. But, he is a relation of Lady Iris, and as such I could not but treat him courteously.”
    “I daresay many noble families have a black sheep,” Mr. Sedgewick ventured. “It is most unlike Lady Iris, though, to foist unwanted company on you.” His pale, magnified eyes peered curiously over his teacup at Verity. “You appear agitated, Miss Pymbroke. Was there a purpose to his lordship’s unpleasant visit?”
    Verity quelled the notion that Cecil Sedgewick was like a ferret when it came to gossip. It was simply, she told herself, because of his desire to serve people that he concerned himself with their troubles. And she had landed herself in a muddle, agreeing to let her house to Lord Carrisworth. Not that she had precisely agreed. The sneaksby had tricked her into capitulating.
    Placing her teacup carefully on the table, Verity folded her hands in her lap. She spoke with a quiet dignity that belied the emotional turmoil inside her that the marquess had caused. “I find myself in circumstances that require me to practice economy. The Ladies Iris and Hyacinth have opened their home to me, and I shall be renting out my house for the Season. Lady Iris brought his lordship here as he requires temporary lodging, and we reached an agreement. I shall remove next door presently.”
    Verity watched the growing astonishment on Mr. Sedgewick’s face as she imparted this news. She wondered briefly if he would be brought up to scratch by the knowledge that she had been reduced to leaving her home to gain an income, but this hope of a matrimonial proposal was quickly dashed.
    “By all that is holy, Miss Pymbroke, could you not have dissuaded him? Why, every feeling must be offended by a man of Carrisworth’s reputation calling on