The Baron Next Door (Prelude to a Kiss) Read Online Free PDF Page B

and muttered a curse. Damn it all—this was no intimate gathering. Felicity’s cousins had specifically assured him that it would be a small dinner with a handful of their close friends. Judging by the noise, there were likely twenty or more present.
    He reached a hand up to massage the growing stiffness of his left shoulder, tilting his head away in order to stretch the tight muscles bunching at his neck. The familiar build of tension had him closing his eyes and exhaling deeply. The night air was unusually warm and humid, and he suddenly wished he could yank off his bloody cravat and the restrictive wool coat that Jacobson had insisted he wear.
    This was ridiculous. He didn’t need to subject himself to the pointless frivolity of a party he had not agreed to with people he didn’t know or care about, all because his sister-in-law thought it would do him good to socialize.
    Turning abruptly on his heel, he started toward the street when a carriage came to a stop just in front of him. He stepped back several paces as the tiger quickly disembarked and pulled open the door. A rustle of fabric, a feminine murmur, and then one delicate silk and pearl slipper found the step outside the carriage door. A glimpse of a white stocking, and then billowing pale pink skirts were adjusted to obscure the wearer’s trim ankle. He lifted a brow.
Very nice.
    The lady emerged into the lamplight, her face averted as she kept her gaze on the ground. She bent to clear the doorway, allowing him the perfect view of the tops of her breasts above her lace-trimmed bodice.
Very nice, indeed.
He may not be in the mood, but he sure as hell wasn’t dead.
    Once on the ground, she released the servant’s hand, smoothed her skirts a moment, and finally raised her head. In an instant, all thoughts of appreciation for the woman’s form evaporated to dust.
    Bloody hell, he knew that face. Even in the golden light of the lamp, he could see the freckles dotting the bridge of her nose and the tops of her cheeks. Her hair was arranged in a waterfall of curls, mostly secured at the crown of her head before cascading down over one slender shoulder and resting against the pale skin at the hollow of her collarbone. In this light, it looked much darker than it had in the daylight, but the hint of red was unmistakable. Almost immediately, she seemed to sense his presence and her gaze flitted to where he stood a few paces back. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth thinned as all pleasure leached from her face.
    “You.”
The word was curse on her lips.
    He couldn’t have put it better himself.

Chapter Four
    A nd here Charity thought all the trials of this day were behind her.
    The baron lifted his scarred eyebrow in condescension. “Very good, Miss Effington. Proper use of pronouns is always to be admired.”
    Saints above, but the man was insufferable! She cast about for a scathing rejoinder, something to wipe the superior expression from his smug, handsome face, but of course no words would come. As frustration billowed in her chest like a building storm cloud, she crossed her arms protectively and glared at him. “What are you doing here?”
    “I don’t see how that’s any business of yours, but, as it happens, I was just leaving.” He gave a mocking little bow, then turned, preparing to depart before she ever even formulated a proper retort.
Blast it all!
    “Lord Cadgwith! What a lovely surprise.” Grandmama’s booming voice startled them both, making Charity jump and stopping the baron where he stood. She had completely forgotten her grandmother was alighting behind her, thanks to the unwelcome distraction.
    Blowing out a breath, Lord Cadgwith visibly worked to turn his lips up into something vaguely resembling a smile as he faced the older woman. “Lady Effington, how nice to see you.” He spoke loudly, his words carefully formed. Charity begrudgingly conceded that it was well done of him to remember to do so.
Not
that it was enough to make up for his