Stephanie James Read Online Free PDF Page B

expert sense of propriety. Perhaps with his approval, she would finally gain absolution for having been such an abysmal failure in London.
    A wave of depression very nearly drowned her resolve and she almost began to cry. She banished her tears as quickly as they came upon her when she saw Lord Philip’s confused expression. She had already embarrassed herself profusely in front of him. She would not make herself a ninny as well.
    This man was not God, after all. He was just a man; the same as any other, no matter who his father happened to be. She clung to that thought as she lifted her chin a notch and walked towards him proudly, bare feet and all.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Lord Philip,” she said calmly as she curtsied. Then she felt — and heard — a seam in her bodice pop and she remembered something else she’d forgotten.
    Her lovely blue gown, with its pale pink silk roses, was one of the dresses that had become too small for her in the past year.
    So that’s why it had been buried in the back of her armoire.

Chapter Three
    They waited the meal for her, much to Philip’s agitation. His stomach had grumbled three times in the last minute. He could smell the roast beef and the roast potatoes. The scents slithered around his nose and teased his hungry body. What the devil could be taking her so long?
    To his way of thinking, the process of changing gowns should consume a span of time no greater than five minutes. At present, Miss Winter had kept them waiting for well over thirty minutes. It was all very improper. What the hell was she doing? Sewing a new dress?
    He exhaled deeply to calm himself. Olivia was the daughter of his business partner. It did not do well to think badly of the relatives of one’s partner, no matter how dreadfully hungry one happened to be. He should not be so critical of her, either. He doubted Olivia and Mr. Winter received many visitors this far in the country. With a guest finally in the house, particularly one of standing, the girl was naturally going to behave nervously. Nevertheless, even if she were in possession of the worst nerves in all of Britain, she had already done quite a few unforgivable things.
    She had virtually fallen down the stairs in front of him … and without slippers for God’s sake! The site of her stocking-clad feet had been shocking. How could a proper lady forget her slippers? All the ladies he knew back in London would certainly never forget something as elemental as slippers .
    Then the seam in her gown had popped … loudly, in fact. She had laughed and excused herself as if such a thing happened every day. At that point, Philip didn’t think the girl could possibly be any more ridiculous. But then she had proven him wrong by ascending the stairs backwards! Apparently, one of the seams at the back of her dress had popped.
    Christ above. He had been horribly embarrassed for her. Someone had to be. She hadn’t appeared to be flustered even once. Miss Olivia Winter was either tough as nails, or as crazy as a loon. And as far as Philip was concerned, neither characteristic was very appealing in a lady.
    Finally, after nearly forty-five minutes, Miss Winter entered the dining room. Philip rose from his chair out of habit. Mr. Winter hastily followed suit soon after. Olivia’s new dress was a deep maroon and, Philip noted, very outdated. Not that Philip possessed extensive knowledge of current women’s fashions, but he did have a mother and a sister who were obsessed with keeping up with all the latest trends.
    She had left her unruly hair free to hang past her shoulders and down the length of her back. Philip had been surprised to see it unbound when she’d nearly tumbled down the stairs, but other events soon stole his attention away from her chosen coiffure. He was equally surprised now to see she hadn’t fashioned it into a bun after all that time in her bedchamber. But there was nothing, save for his hunger, to keep his attention from