The Magic of His Touch (May Day Mischief) Read Online Free PDF Page A

paused to tie an intricate fold in his cravat. “Too tall, as well. Not
entirely unbeddable, but close.”
    Fury, as unexpected as it was powerful, boiled up inside Alexis
at this heartless analysis. Peony Whistleby was the perfect height and
wonderfully fair.
    Elderwood met his friend’s eyes in the mirror. “Why do you look
so appalled?”
    “If you’re going to wrinkle your nose at Miss Whistleby as if
she’s a garden slug, then you may as well go home now.”
    “Dear me,” Elderwood said, “how unexpectedly hot under the
cravat you are! I shan’t be so rude, I promise you. I shall merely make it clear
that my only interest in Whistleby Priory is its heritage—as long as you promise
not to get annoyed if I monopolize your knowledgeable Miss Barnes. No offense
meant, but what do you see in her? Apart from the pretty face and curvaceous
figure, needless to say.”
    This was far safer ground. “She’s intelligent and capable, and
she doesn’t need cosseting.” Actually, she was too independent for Alexis’s
taste, but in this instance it was a good thing Lucasta could take care of
herself. She wasn’t the sort to succumb to the charm of a rake. In fact, she
would probably run circles around Elderwood. It would serve him right.
    * * *
    Peony had noticed more and more about Sir Alexis when
he’d stood so close to her. He was lean but powerfully built, with deep brown
hair and warm dark eyes. Something about the way he looked at her, about the
sound of his voice and the intentness of his gaze...made her go all soft and hot
inside.
    And she’d been so rude to him! He made her utterly furious,
which was awfully unfair of her. Insulting as he was, she knew he meant well. It
must be the conclusion he’d drawn that upset her so. She didn’t have a lover and
probably never would. She’d become almost resigned to that dismal fact...until
now.
    What would Sir Alexis be like as a lover?
    A wave of yearning poured over her, so powerful she had to sit
down and take several minutes to compose herself. How could she have such
treacherous thoughts about her cousin’s betrothed? She waited in her bedchamber,
trying to read a novel, but thoughts of Sir Alexis kept sidling into her mind.
By the time Aunt Edna came to fetch her, Peony’s head ached from reminding
herself that he belonged to Lucasta, and that she heartily disliked him
besides.
    When they reached the drawing room, Sir Alexis was talking to
Papa about crop rotation. Firmly, she refused to allow her eyes to do more than
pass over him. She had no true interest in him; her amorous thoughts were an
aberration caused by this morning’s encounter. So what if the memory of his eyes
on her naked body sent shivers through her? Under his attractive exterior, he
wasn’t her sort of man at all. He was Lucasta’s sort. Lucasta’s man.
    Lord Elderwood and Lucasta were arguing about the existence of
buttery spirits, who haunted the houses of the dishonest and ungrateful.
Surprisingly, Lord Elderwood claimed to believe in such creatures. He was
probably just amusing himself, but Peony couldn’t help but be glad he had
Lucasta’s full attention. At least she wouldn’t notice the guilt which must
surely be written all over Peony’s face.
    Aunt Edna disapproved of Lucasta’s scholarly bent and thought
folklore a waste of time. “I hope you found your way without too much
difficulty, my lord,” she interrupted.
    “No difficulty at all,” he said with his typically bored
air.
    Aunt Edna simpered. “Sometimes guests become quite lost in this
rabbit warren of a house.”
    Lord Elderwood smiled at her. “Yes, they would do. It’s because
of the magic. It is by nature convoluted, so it prefers this rambling sort of
environment.”
    An astonished giggle burst from Peony. First buttery spirits
and now magic! Aunt Edna gestured deprecatingly with her fan and laughed. “My
lord, you mustn’t encourage our Peony in such nonsense, even in jest.”
    Lord Elderwood’s gaze