The Promise in a Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page A

to make the introduction myself, but she finally crossed his path. It went as Uncle Fabien predicted—he came to her.”
    â€œIndeed, m’sieur. Your uncle is uncannily prescient in such matters.” Villard came to help Louis out of his coat.
    â€œI will write to him tomorrow—he will want to hear the good news.”
    â€œRest assured, m’sieur, that I will make certain your missive is dispatched with all speed.”
    â€œRemind me of it tomorrow.” Unbuttoning his waistcoat, Louis murmured, “Now for the next stage.”
    H elena met monsieur le duc de St. Ives at Lady Montgomery’s drum, at Lady Furness’s rout-party, and at the Rawleighs’ ball. When she went walking in the park, by sheer chance he was there, strolling with two friends.
    Indeed, wherever she went in the next four days, it seemed he was present.
    She was, consequently, not the least bit surprised when he joined the group with whom she was conversing in the Duchess of Richmond’s ballroom. He loomed on her right, and the other gentlemen spinelessly gave way, as if he had some claim to the position. Hiding her irritation—at them as well as him—Helena smiled serenely and gave him her hand. And steeled herself against the reaction that streaked from her fingers to her toes when, his eyes on hers, he pressed his lips to her knuckles.
    â€œ Bon soir, my dear.”
    How such simple, innocent words could be made to sound so wicked was a mystery. Was it the light in his blue eyes, the seductive tenor of his voice, or the reined strength in his touch? Helena didn’t know, but she did not approve of having her sensual strings so skillfully plucked.
    But she continued to smile, and let him stand by her side and join them. When the group dispersed to mingle, she dallied. She knew he was watching, always alert. When, after a fractional hesitation, he offered his hand, she laid her fingers across his with a genuine smile.
    They strolled; they had gone only a few yards when she murmured, “I wish to talk with you.”
    She didn’t look at his face but was quite sure his lips would have quirked.
    â€œSo I had supposed.”
    â€œIs there some place here—in this room—in view of all but where no one will hear?”
    â€œThere are open alcoves along one side.”
    He led her to one containing an S-shaped love seat, currently empty. He handed her to the seat facing the room, then lounged in the other.
    â€œYou perceive me all ears, mignonne .”
    Helena narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you about?”
    His finely arched brows rose. “About?”
    â€œPrecisely what do you hope to gain by hounding me in this fashion?”
    His eyes held hers, gaze-to-gaze direct, but his lips were not straight. He raised a hand, languidly laid it across his heart. “ Mignonne, you wound me deeply.”
    â€œWould that I could.” Helena held on to her temper—just. “And I am not your mignonne !”
    Not his pet, not his darling.
    He merely smiled—patronizingly—as if he knew so much more than she.
    Helena clenched her fingers about her fan and fought the urge to hit him with it. She’d anticipated such a response—a nonresponse—and had come prepared. She was, however, surprised by the depth of her irritation, by how easily he could make her temper soar. She was not normally so quick to prickle, to react.
    â€œAs you will no doubt have guessed, omniscient as you are, I am searching for a husband. I am not, however, searching for a lover. I wish to have this clearly understood between us, Your Grace. Regardless of your intent, regardless of your expertise, there is no likelihood whatever that I shall succumb to your legendary charms.”
    She’d heard enough about these from a worried Marjorie and surmised even more from the whispers and wondering looks. Even talking in public as they were—if it weren’t for the fact