The Decadent Duke Read Online Free PDF Page A

In that case, have mine.’’ She set Mary’s feet to the carpet, removed her large-brimmed straw with its pretty ruched satin ribbons, and placed it on her niece’s head. "You look absolutely divine, Lady Mary.’’
    "Why, thank you, Lady Georgy.’’
    "I hate to break up your mutual-admiration society, but I need you to come upstairs and decide which bedchamber you prefer.’’
    "We prefer the pink room,’’ Mary said without hesitation.
    "Thank you, Mistress Know-all,’’ Charlotte declared.
    "Come on.’’ Georgina took hold of Mary’s hand, and they followed Charlotte. The three younger children trailed after them, navigating the stairs on hands and knees. "Be careful you don’t fall,’’ she cautioned over her shoulder.
    "If they fall, they’ll pick themselves up. How else are they to learn?’’ Mary said wisely.
    "Nobody picked up you and me,’’ Charlotte reminded her sister, "and look how self-sufficient we turned out to be.’’
    "We were undisciplined hellions.’’ Georgina chose the pink bedchamber.
    Mary gazed up at Georgina with a rapt look of adulation. "Will you teach me to be an undisciplined hellion?’’
    "I shall,’’ she solemnly promised. "Your lessons start tomorrow.’’
    An hour later, Georgina had finished unpacking, and she joined the children in the nursery for their tea. By this time young Charles had returned from the stables.
    "Hallo, Aunt Georgy. Will you play a game with us tonight?’’
    "Of course. What shall we play? Hide-and-seek?’’
    "No, the babies always hide in plain sight. We’ll play tag.’’
    "Ha! You think you can catch me?’’ Georgina challenged.
    "I’ll give it a good shot,’’ Charles declared, cramming half a scone into his mouth.
    "Oh, well, if you’re going to use a gun, that’s taking unfair advantage.’’
    He choked with laughter, and Georgina thumped him on the back.
    "I don’t like raspberry jam. It has too many seeds,’’ Mary complained, determined to regain her aunt’s attention.
    "Raspberry seeds give you magical power,’’ Georgina said as she spooned jam onto Mary’s scone.
    Her eyes went round as saucers. "I need some of that.’’ Mary changed her mind about the jam and proceeded to eat the scone.
    Charles wrinkled his nose. "Warm milk is for babies.’’
    "I’ll ask your father to send some ale immediately.’’
    The young heir laughed so hard, he fell off his chair.
    The moment the nursery maid cleared the table, Charles said, "I’ll count to ten to give you a head start.’’
    Georgina jumped up, and ran like the wind. The nursery was located on the ground floor, where the late-afternoon sunshine flooded in through the west windows. She raced down the hallway, through the formal dining room, rushed past the library, and on into a large sitting room.
    George Finch, Earl of Winchilsea, a great friend of Lennox who was also a cricket enthusiast, stepped from the library to view the runners. He was amazed to see a beautiful young hoyden climb up and over the backs of two sitting room chairs in a mad dash to escape from two squealing children in wild pursuit.
    "Don’t mind the racket, George. It’s always bedlam when my young sister-in-law visits.’’
    "A tempting sylph I wouldn’t mind pursuing.’’
    "A sticky wicket, George. She’s not out yet.’’
    The earl cocked a rueful eyebrow. "Forbidden fruit.’’
    "She’s not ripe for plucking—as you can see, Lady Georgina still prefers children’s games.’’
    "Just my luck.’’ Winchilsea held out his glass for a refill.
    Â 
That night at dinner the elegant young woman in the tasteful gown presented a very different picture from the madcap creature that had been vaulting over the sitting