Stephanie James Read Online Free PDF

— but the least she could do was amplify what she did have. She grabbed a yellow silk ribbon from her dressing table and tied it tightly around her body just beneath where breasts should be. Perhaps it would make her appear fuller.
    Her hair, she knew, should probably be styled in a bun atop her head, but she preferred to wear it down. When styled in a bun, the heavy strands pulled too sharply on her scalp for her liking, but something had to be done about it. It was still a tangled mess from riding her horse, Emily, earlier. She poured some water in the basin of her washstand and wetted her fingers.
    She smoothed and twisted her curly strawberry strands until they looked like little red-golden ropes. They would cease to lie flat and spring to life once they dried, but she rather liked the effect. It reminded her of a painting she had seen in London of the Roman goddess Diana.
    The goddess had been sitting by a river, bathing naked in the forest with her long, curly blond hair billowing around her. Olivia had been shocked to see the image as all parts of the goddess had been shown. Her father had rushed her away from the risqué piece the moment he’d spotted her looking at it, but the image had already been burned in her mind. Olivia would always remember how strong the goddess had looked, sitting so boldly naked in the forest alone. Olivia wished she had the courage to be equally as strong. She was going to need a bit of strength and courage tonight, for certain.
    How would she get through the meal with a lord? One could not simply chat away with members of the aristocracy the one might with friends. She would just have to mimic the behavior of the ladies she’d observed during her Season.
    The sound of hoof beats reached her ears suddenly and pulled her out of her daydream. They were back. Her pulse quickened and her fingers began to tremble with nervousness. Her hair was still damp and her fingers wet. She grabbed at the towel that hung next to the basin and dried her hands quickly. She should already be downstairs, waiting to greet them when they entered the house. Tardiness would most certainly be an unforgivable offense in the eyes of a duke’s son. She had to beat them to the main door, and fast.
    She rushed out of her room and down the stairs. Half-way down the stairs, she tripped over the hem of her dress and had to cling to the banister to prevent from toppling forward … just as her father and Lord Philip entered the house.
    Olivia knew she looked like a fool standing there as she was in the middle the staircase — bent over forward with her hair flung over her head — but there was nothing she could do but right herself. She slung her hair back and pulled herself upright slowly. They were all silent for a beat, and then her father cleared his throat. “Lord Philip Ravenshaw,” Mr. Winter said as though nothing had happened. “Allow me to present my daughter, Miss Olivia Winter.”
    “It’s a pleasure, Miss Winter,” Lord Philip mumbled and bowed slightly.
    Oh, my, Olivia thought as her heart sunk to the pit of her stomach. Lord Philip Ravenshaw was not the old codger she had predicted. He was quite the opposite, in fact — very young, and also very attractive (if she were to be honest). Olivia shook off the shock of his appearance and extended her foot to walk forward. When cold air rushed between her toes, she remembered she had forgotten her slippers.
    Oh, dear Lord. Not only had she almost fallen on her face before him, but she was barefoot as well. She had her stockings on, true, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the absolute blunder of having no shoes. Lord Philip must think her horridly uncivilized. It was then, in a quick flash of panic, that Olivia realized how severely she had lied to herself.
    She had indeed wanted Lord Philip to form a good opinion of her. In the deepest, darkest, most distant corner of her mind, she had secretly hoped to impress him with flawless manners and an