Once an Innocent Read Online Free PDF

favorite of the ladies. Indeed, Naomi considered Lord Freese to be perhaps the most attractive gentleman of her acquaintance — truly
attractive
, in that he drew females to him like shards of iron to a lodestone. Women could not help but lose their heads over Jordan — and they did so in droves.
    And he’d never looked at her twice.
    Well, she amended mentally, that wasn’t quite true. He had looked at her numerous times — countless, even. But only as the younger sister of his friend. Never as a young woman of marriageable age might wish to be looked upon.
    Which was why Naomi had resisted the urge to lose her own head over the man. When a god descended from on high to mingle amongst mortals, one was wise to keep one’s distance. She contented herself in enjoying the view from afar and relishing the brief exchanges they shared when he visited Marshall. Their one dance at her debut ball was a highlight of her first Season. But she knew Jordan was not interested in making a match with someone as ordinary as Naomi. No, her own husband would be a man more of this sphere than the Adonis-like Lord Freese.
    “Now, there’s a gentleman who could pay me court anytime,” Emily said in a low, lusty tone.
    Naomi’s eyes widened at her friend’s statement. Her eyes cut to Lord Gerard. “Em, you’ve not been married two months!” she whispered.
    Emily crossed her arms and clucked her tongue. “Oh, Naomi, you’re still such a girl. You’ll understand one day.” Her lips turned up in a smile that held a hint of meanness. “Or not. I’m sure your marriage will be perfection, just like everything else you touch.” Emily sauntered off to join her husband and the other gentlemen.
    Naomi blinked, stung by her friend’s lowering words. She glanced back to where Jordan had been, just in time to see him depart. The well-lit room seemed dimmer somehow. Why was he leaving so soon? Her mood sank, but when Sir Simeon greeted her, she gave him her most dazzling smile. Tonight, she had to help Isabelle and Lily. There was no time for sulking.
    After a while, Naomi was able to discount Emily’s hurtful words and enjoy herself.
She probably didn’t mean anything by it at all,
she reasoned. Naomi was in an odd mood and had probably misinterpreted Em’s comment.
    As she chatted with the Holliers and the Bachmans, Naomi’s neck prickled as though someone was watching her. She shrugged it off as another symptom of her own aberrant frame of mind and concentrated all the harder on her brother’s guests. The sensation persisted, however.
    Even as Mr. Gladstone paid her copious compliments on her appearance, she could no longer ignore the feeling of being watched. Naomi glanced over her shoulder. Lord Freese had returned, she saw, but he was not looking at her, of course. He stood talking to Marshall, with Isabelle, Lily, and Ethan all looking on.
    With a start, she realized the sensation had gone away.
It was just a fancy
, she told herself. “Mr. Gladstone,” she said at a pause in the man’s profuse praises of the faux blossom adorning her hair, “do you have the time?”
    The gentleman fished a gold watch from a pocket. “It’s ten minutes before eight o’clock, my lady.”
    “The auction will begin at the hour,” Naomi said. “If you’ll please excuse me, I must see to rounding up the guests who have stepped out for air.”
    Just outside the salon, she bumped into the Holliers. “My lord, my lady, the auction will commence momentarily, if you’d like to go ahead and take seats.”
    “Thank you, m’dear.” Lord Hollier patted his wife’s hand, tucked into the crook of his arm. “We shall do so. I saw a group of young people go toward the library.” He pointed an unsteady finger down the hallway.
    Naomi thanked him before searching for the others. The library door stood open and she heard Emily’s laughter. Smiling, Naomi started forward, but the sound of her own name halted her before she appeared in the