The Harlow Hoyden Read Online Free PDF

thought she could trust him not to play fast and loose with her sister-in-law, but nevertheless Emma would do well to stay out of his way. There was no point in playing with fire. She looked at Emma’s shining face. Now, if only she could convinceher feckless charge of that.
    “Sarah,” said the duke, remembering his duty, “tell me, how is Andrew?”
    “He’s very well, sir. Much to my surprise, he’s taken to the country like to the vicarage born, which he was, I suppose.” Sarah smiled fondly as she recalled her townish brother tramping around country fields talking about crop rotation.
    “And Martha?”
    “The proud mama of another boy, namedOliver after my father.”
    “He must be pleased.”
    “Both my parents are very happy with how well Andrew turned out. I think they were both worried that he would gamble away the fortune before he was four and twenty.”
    Emma listened to these pleasantries impatiently. She wanted to talk to the duke—alone. She had a plan to put into action.
    “Your grace,” she said, forestalling whatever reply hehad been about to make, “don’t I hear the first strains of a waltz?”
    The duke cocked his ear. “No, that is a minuet.”
    “I believe, then, that you promised me a minuet. I left it empty on my dance card specifically for you.” Of course, much was left empty on the Harlow Hoyden’s dance card.
    “I am positive it was a waltz and am happy to wait.”
    Emma made a moue of annoyance and was about toinsist on a minuet when Sarah intervened. “Your grace, I’m feeling parched. Perhaps you could get us something to drink?”
    There was no way for Trent to refuse, and he graciously went off in search of refreshments. When he had disappeared amid the crowd, Sarah said, “Explain yourself.”
    Emma pressed her lips together and tried to look innocent. “Explain what?”
    “You know very well. How familiaryou are with the duke. What has passed between you?”
    “It’s nothing of note, Sarah dear. Do not tease yourself over it.”
    “He is not a suitable parti for a woman your age.”
    Although Emma was not interested in the duke for herself, she took exception to these words. “Really, Sarah, you speak as though I’m still in leading strings. I’m three and twenty, you know. I do have a little experience.”

    That was what disturbed Sarah the most. A little experience was a dangerous thing. “My dear, you are ill prepared to deal with someone like Trent. He’s a rake.”
    “I know. That is why he’s perfect.”
    Sarah’s alarm escalated. “Perfect for what?”
    “For what I have in mind.”
    “And that is?” There was something like fear in her voice.
    Emma looked at Sarah and realized for the first time thather sister-in-law was indeed worried. She laughed. “Sarah, whatever are you imagining? Whatever I have in my mind, I assure you, it’s not nearly as bad as what you have in yours. Trust me, all will be well.”
    “It’s hard to trust you when you have that look in your eye.”
    “What look?”
    “That look. That Harlow Hoyden look, the one you got in your eyes just before you went tearing down Bond Streetin your tilbury.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous, dear. Only a ninny would go tearing down Bond Street in a tilbury. It was a stanhope, of course.”
    Sarah rolled her eyes. “That’s very beside the point, Emma. I do wish you would tell me what you’re up to.”
    “I cannot tell you because you will get all disapproving of me and that would only serve to make me cross with you. I don’t feel like being crosstonight.”
    Having dealt with Emma for more than three years, Sarah knew further discussion would bear little fruit. Emma would reveal her plan only when she felt she must, which was usually ten minutes or so before the gossipmongers got ahold of it. “Just promise me you won’t do anything to disgrace the family.”
    “Disgrace the family. The way you talk you’d think I had no sense of proprietywhatsoever.”
    “You don’t,