The Accidental Courtesan Read Online Free PDF Page B

made a wistful sound and stared off in the distance. “I’d heard the duke had wed. ’Tis a shame.”
    Noelle shook her arm. “He is my sister’s husband.”
    Brenna blinked, and her eyes cleared. “Right. Sorry.”
    A quick glance about revealed several women lingering nearby. Too close for privacy. A tale such as this needed the better part of an afternoon to flesh out fully. “However, that is a story for another time and place. Right now I am in desperate need of a new frock.”
    Brenna accepted the brief explanation, knowing Noelle would eventually give her the entire story.
    They spent the day shopping Bond Street, Noelle doling out pieces of information about her secret sister until the tale was largely told. By the close of the afternoon, Noelle’s back was bent with fatigue and she was weighted down with packages. Brenna was similarly afflicted.
    â€œI think I shall skip the party tonight and spend the evening soaking my feet,” Noelle said with a soft groan. There was a second reason, one that didn’t involve her throbbing feet, for avoiding public activities. The earl.
    The chance was small he’d even remember her, yet there was no telling what the sot would recall. Likely he’d awoken feeling as if his head was cracked into pieces and thought her nothing but a curious dream. Still, she couldn’t be certain. Even though he was not known to enjoy the frivolity of the social whirl since his marriage some five years past, it wasn’t beyond comprehension that he wouldn’t change his behavior and spread his presence throughout the Ton.
    Tripping over him at some party was a risk. Better to let a few weeks pass before venturing out. It would give him time to forget he ever met her, and her, time to forget him.
    As if she could.
    The idea of living shut up in her uncle’s town house for weeks was a grim prospect. Then, there was always Aunt Bernie for company.
    â€œI have spent far too many nights of late playing the flirtatious minx for my own entertainment,” Noelle explained. She did enjoy her amusements. After years of begging her mother to allow her to spend her summers in town, she took this respite from the country to socialize. Seclusion would be a dismal prospect. “Perhaps I should withdraw for a week or three.”
    Brenna watched her skeptically. “You, withdraw from society? The Season will fold in upon itself without the lovely Lady Seymour to amuse the young bucks. Wagers abound over who will finally break your reserve and wed you.” She pondered Noelle’s face. “There is something you’re not telling me, Cousin. I’ve sensed your distraction all day.”
    Noelle considered confiding in Brenna. However, she couldn’t be absolutely certain her cousin could keep the secret from her brothers. The more people who knew of her midnight climb up the trellis, the better her chances of arrest.
    Still, Brenna would not be assuaged by a shrug and some silly excuse. So Noelle decided to produce some weak halftruths.
    â€œThere is a man, an earl, whom I stumbled across last week at the Billbury tea. He was most disagreeable.” She cast her gaze down to her feet. Noelle hated to lie to her favorite cousin, but the truth was worse. “I have tried to avoid him since.”
    â€œI see.” Brenna frowned. “He is married?” At Noelle’s nod, Brenna’s mouth thinned. “Then you should attend the party with your head high and show the cad a Harrington will not be intimidated by his boorish presence. And if he makes an inappropriate advance, I shall summon Simon to beat him senseless.”
    Noelle smiled widely. “That will be entirely unnecessary.” She couldn’t bring herself to see such a handsome face damaged. He might be an unfaithful cad, but he was pleasant on the eyes. “I can handle the earl myself, thank you.”
    â€œThen you will attend the