Not Wicked Enough Read Online Free PDF

was? Had they even tried to entertain her? To occupy her hours? Introduce her to suitable and compatible gentlemen and women who would befriend her?
     
    “Now that you’re here,” Ginny said, “we’re going to have such a lovely time.”
     
    “Oh, indeed we are. Depend upon it.” Lily crossed her ankles to one side and ate what proved to be a devilishly good watercress sandwich. The rest of the food was just as superlative, better than what her own cook produced, and he was so French she barely understood a word he said. The crackers were crisp and flavorful, the bread fresh, and the Brie and Stilton first-rate. “Does your dairywoman make a Devonshire cream? If she does and it’s as lovely as this, I warn you, I may never leave.”
     
    “She does, it is, and you are welcome to stay here for as long as you like.”
     
    “You’ll regret saying that.” Lily ate another sandwich. “If only it were possible.”
     
    Ginny picked at her food while Lily eyed another watercress sandwich and wondered if she ought to simply get another plate before she’d finished her first. “I shan’t,” Ginny said. She gave her brother a defiant look. “In fact, I wish you would live here.”
     
    “How sweet of you to say so.” The duke ate one of the finger sandwiches. Such a quiet man, and extremely attractivein a visceral manner. Miss Jane Kirk was a lucky woman. “I am very glad to be here.” She slathered Brie on a cracker. “You must eat, Ginny. I insist. I won’t rest until you have.”
     
    Ginny smiled, and that encouraged her. “You needn’t ever go home.”
     
    “Would you eat more if I agreed?” Lily ate her cracker, and the rich, buttery tang of the cheese spread over her tongue. She closed her eyes in bliss. “Oh, my. I shan’t leave until I’ve spoken with whoever obtains this Brie.” Likely the local smugglers supplied the duke’s household. “I must know who you get it from.”
     
    “You have my leave to inquire of the cook.”
     
    “Thank you, your grace. This Brie is astonishingly good. Have some, my dear Ginny.”
     
    “I shall, Lily.” Ginny made no move to do so.
     
    Lily put down her food and stood, hands on her hips. Stern measures were called for. She was not at all in charity with the Duke of Mountjoy for neglecting his sister. “I see I was too conservative before. I’ll fix you a proper plate while you pour more tea.” So saying, she returned to the tea table and selected a slice of bread, butter, crackers, a bit of each of the cheeses, and a small portion of ham. No point overwhelming her with too much food. As she had with her own plate, she settled everything into a pleasing combination of shapes and colors. “I still like my tea sweet,” she said while she perfected her arrangement of Ginny’s plate. She sculpted a pyramid with the butter she put on the plate. “Do be generous with the sugar.”
     
    “I haven’t forgotten.”
     
    Back at the sofa, she accepted her tea and handed Ginny the plate. “Try the Brie.”
     
    Ginny gazed at the plate. “You’ve created a work of art, Lily. This is too lovely to eat.”
     
    “Humph.”
She tapped her foot. Mountjoy snorted, but she ignored him.
     
    “Yes, Mama.” Ginny rolled her eyes.
     
    “So long as you eat, I shan’t take offense.”
     
    While she watched Ginny spread Brie on the corner of a cracker, a blindingly handsome gentleman strolled in. He had Ginny’s coloring, with blue eyes and even blonder hair. Unlike his brother, he knew something about how to dress himself. His clothes fit impeccably and complimented his physique and coloring. He was tall, though not as tall as Mountjoy, and possessed a smile that made her like him before she had any right to have come to that decision. He made his way to Ginny and bent to kiss her cheek.
     
    “Good afternoon, Eugenia,” he said. “Mountjoy.”
     
    “Nigel.” Ginny paused with her cracker halfway to her mouth. “Where have you