Sari Robins Read Online Free PDF

that dreadful Beaumont affair, even though he mauled that one so terribly.”
    Staring blindly at the branches swaying in the wind, Heath gritted his teeth. “The evidence was well positioned to mislead. But that aside, Mr. Dagwood has ensured that the true culprits paid for their crimes.”
    “You needn’t be so tetchy,” Penelope stated, moving to stand beside him and thereby providing him awhiff of rosewater perfume. “Your Mr. Dagwood told Mama that he would discuss the matter with you this afternoon during your customary call. So between the two of you, I’m sure you can find a way to help Mama. And me, of course. For I can only be happy if my mama is.”
    So Dagwood was coming here today. Heath nodded. Knowing his clever superior, Heath surmised that they would somehow turn this “favor” to their advantage. He was inordinately pleased.
    Turning to Penelope, he smiled down at her. Her golden hair gleamed in the pale afternoon sun. She was angelically pretty, like a porcelain doll, and he hoped that their daughters would take after her. Regardless, he knew that they were going to wrap him around their little fingers, and he likewise knew that he wouldn’t mind in the least. “I will do everything in my power to make you happy…Penelope.” It was the first time that he’d used her Christian name. He waited for her reaction.
    She blinked, and then smiled shyly, making him glad. “I know that you will. Mama says that you have good character.”
    That was very nice to hear. Emboldened by the privacy after so many chaperoned visits, he stepped closer, leaving only a couple of inches separating them. Her skin flushed pink and she inhaled a shaky breath, but blessedly, she did not step back. Reaching for one of her golden curls, he smoothed it away from her face. “What do you think of my character, Penelope?”
    She swallowed, her hands fluttering about like nervous butterflies. “Uh, Mama will be here in a moment…”
    “But she’s not here now, is she?”
    “I think…I think…I think that we should call for tea.” Hastily she stepped over to the bellpull and jerked on it, her eyes trained on the floor.
    Though disappointed, Heath smiled; she was too sweet, too innocent even to flirt. A rare find in today’s London, and an excellent contrast to sophisticated, flame-haired widows.
    A flurry of silk swooshed behind him as a high-pitched voice intoned, “Mr. Bartlett.”
    Hiding his smile, Heath turned and bowed. “Lady Bright.”
    Heath took it as a good sign that the lady had put off her full-black mourning garments, but in this instance the new color did not favor. Layers of spinach green ruffles with black lace were a decidedly unflattering style for a woman of her heavy girth and did not compliment a female with graying blond locks and yellow-toned skin.
    Distantly Heath worried that Penelope might someday become like her mother. It wasn’t her physical properties that bothered him; Lady Bright seemed fit and had given birth to five healthy children. It was more the lady’s tendency to control every conversation and refuse to consider alternative viewpoints. That, and her airs. He pushed aside the thoughts, realizing that he was being critical because he was annoyed that his future mother-in-law had tried to snubhim. Once more he sent silent thanks to Dagwood for being so savvy.
    Pressing a white-gloved hand to her forehead, Lady Bright exhaled noisily. “I must sit. I am overcome.”
    Heath grasped her extended hand and eased her to recline on the chaise just as a servant rushed to place a footstool under her lifted feet.
    Adjusting her spinach green layers, Lady Bright was careful not to expose even a hint of ankle. “Thank you, Mr. Bartlett. Your consideration is appreciated.”
    He smiled, trying to ignore the overpowering odor of roses wafting around her. “Think nothing of it, madame. Pray tell, what ails you so?”
    “My cousin George. Poor, poor George. He’s been undone. Completely