The Infamous Bride Read Online Free PDF

beauty hadn't liked being tossed aside so unceremoniously. He wondered if the other gossip he had heard was accurate. That her sister's marriage to a duke had turned the suddenly well dowered and well connected flirtatious younger sister into a fickle-headed lady who thought only of her own pleasure.
    Certainly he had seen little to contradict the malicious gossip. He noticed, now that they stood so close together, that the tiny buttons decorating her bodice were intricately carved mother-of-pearl. Apparently they served no purpose except for decoration.
    He focused on the buttons, carefully averting his gaze from the swell of her breasts, just visible at the extravagant neckline of her gown. The buttons were unlike any he had seen before, carved in the shape of roses, just as the scent of her that wafted up to him was of roses. Expensive. Frivolous. Like the woman before him.
    He saw her glance sweep the room again. No doubt searching for a glimpse of Freddie. Who would, he realized at that very moment, be jealous if he caught sight of R.J. with Juliet in a dark alcove.
    Abruptly, he had had enough of being a pawn in a misbegotten game of hearts. "I think we should rejoin your sisters, Miss Fenster. I have told you all that I intend to. I am of no more use to you." He knew he should not be so blunt, but he could not help himself. There was something about her careless air that made him want to rein her in before she hurt someone badly.
    She did not argue, but took his arm with a feather light touch. "Really, must you be so unpleasant, Mr. Hopkins?"
    He was tempted to shake some sense into her. For all that she had changed in her manner to him, his words of warning did not seem to have penetrated deeply. She still had not realized she would be better off to give up any foolish quest to assuage her wounded pride. At the very least, she was likely to embarrass herself.
    "I cannot bring myself to believe you want to shame your family. I assume you have not thought of the consequences of your actions." He could not imagine the duke would be pleased if she did publicly corner Freddie. "I wish to make myself absolutely clear so that I can have no blame in this matter. I will be of no use to you in winning Pendrake back."
    To his surprise, Miss Fenster blushed slightly as they moved away from the shelter of the alcove. Unfortunately, her discomfort was quickly overtaken by pique as she said in a low voice, "I assure you, I never thought of you as likely to be of any use at all. After all, you are an American."
    He stopped her once again. "Miss Fenster. I have known Freddie well for years. He has made his decision, and you would do well to accept it and forget him."
    "How can you profess to know him well when you live — "
    He did not want to get distracted into more conversation, so he took her arm and began to move again as he interrupted her to say, "He spent months every year visiting his sister in Boston."
    "Oh, yes, his elder sister. I had heard — " She stopped herself. "But then, as I said, Mr. Hopkins, I do not gossip." Changing her tone to one of bland neutrality, she continued, "I am glad to hear that you did not have to come to London knowing no one."
    "I am most fortunate." As if it would have been possible to enter society without the entree of someone powerful. She was glib with the expected polite fiction that he was accepted for anything more than his fortune.
    For a moment he slowed, wondering if she was offering him an insult. No one in this room would deign to speak to him if his stepmother had not known a few of the right people and acquired the necessary sponsorship. Surely she was not unaware of such a thing. Even his business acquaintances would not necessarily have been enough for an introduction into society.
    She slowed to match his slackened pace. Her glance was curious, but she did not seem to be searching for signs of offense from him. "Is your sister enjoying herself? And Mrs. Hopkins, too?" Her