Stolen Kisses Read Online Free PDF Page B

be off to sleep, and by the time he arose Father would be gone on his “political” visits, trying to resume relations he’d cut off when he’d left London six years earlier.
    “Lil?”
    She looked up. The breakfast room door creaked open, but no one appeared through the narrow opening. “Good morning, William. No one else is awake.”
    “Thank goodness.” The door opened farther, and her brother sauntered into the room. “I’m far too disguised to listen to Father bellow at me.”
    William’s cravat was thoroughly wilted and hung listlessly down both sides of his collar, and his eyes were red and ringed with dark lines of fatigue. He positively reeked of liquor and cigars, and—unless Lilith was mistaken—women’s perfume. Worst of all, he was grinning. That didn’t bode well.
    “I assume you had a good time last night?”
    She poured her brother a cup of tea as he slumped into the chair beside her. Sometimes it was difficult to believe that William was three years her elder, for he had never been much for responsibility and common sense. Father said that he took after Mama, just as strongly as he insisted that Lilith would not do so. Lilith remained unconvinced of William’s apparent foolishness, though; she thought he’d simply rebelled against applying himself. On occasion, she wished to do the same thing herself.
    “Oh, it was splendid. You know, I don’t think even the lads at school who’d been to town had any idea what sort of fun could be found here.” He cradled the hot cup of tea in his hands and slouched further. “It all relies on becoming acquainted with the right people, you know.”
    “Ah.” Lilith watched him out of the corner of her eye, less than enthusiastic. “And you have become acquainted with the right people, then?”
    William chuckled. “Absolutely. They know everything about London, and all the cracks and crevices therein.” He sipped his tea, then leaned forward to capture a slice of toasted bread. “Hell’s bells, Lil, there are private card parties here that almost no one knows about, and even fewer people are invited to attend!”
    “Really?” she said in mock amazement, and propped her chin in one hand. “Do tell.”
    “You can make fun if you want, but it was prime. And Jack says even Prinny attends Antonia’s card parties at least once a Season.”
    Something very unpleasant wrenched Lilith’s insides. “Jack?”
    William nodded. “Jack Faraday. The Marquis of Dansbury. He knows everything about gambling, but Ihave a few tricks up my sleeve, as well.” Her brother set down the tea and grinned. “I took him for thirty quid last night, and he never figured out how I did it.”
    “The Marquis of Dansbury,” Lilith repeated numbly. William truly did have absolutely no sense at all. “The Marquis of Dansbury.”
    Her brother took her hand in his. “Don’t fret, Lil,” he cajoled. “Dansbury’s a good sort. Really, he is. Top of the trees. He took me to Jezebel’s Harem, night before last. He and Ernest Landon and Price.”
    “He took you to Jezebel’s Harem.”
    “What’s wrong, Lil? You’re echoing, you know.” William grinned again. “You need to have a bit more fun, I think.”
    “I need…” Lilith stopped when she realized she was continuing to echo. “William, do you have any idea what you’ve gotten yourself into?”
    He furrowed his brow. “No idea. Why?”
    “Dansbury is a very base character,” she said earnestly. “He—”
    William shook a finger at her. “Nonsense. You’re only flying off because he overset you the other night.”
    “He did what ?”
    “You know, when he came up to introduce himself, and you went all wobbly on him.” William chuckled. “Said he was afraid you might faint right there in the ballroom, but I told him you’d never do such a silly thing. You weren’t much better at the opera, though, I must say.”
    That was simply too much. Lilith pushed to her feet. “I did not go all wobbly when