The Unexpected Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

Darleston’s close friends was out oftown. Carstares and Carrington together might manage to spike her guns!
    She kept the conversation to neutral topics until the end of the meal.
    When Darleston reached for the brandy decanter she rose to her feet and said with a smile, ‘Perhaps you would excuse me briefly, Peter.’
    He stood up and said, ‘Only very briefly, Caroline! I’m sure you would not wish to keep me waiting!’ After escorting Lady Caroline to the door and closing it behind her Darleston returned to the table and poured himself a glass of the late Sir Neville’s very fine old brandy. Sipping it reverently, he sat down to give some thought to Caroline’s scheme to visit Paris. He suspected that her main reason for finding London dull was simply that she had been subtly but effectively ostracised by quite a number of influential society hostesses.
    Caroline had not been quite discreet enough with one or two of her lovers. It was even said that she had entertained a number of gentlemen at her Scottish home during her period of strict mourning. The Patronesses of Almack’s had let it be quietly understood that for her to apply for vouchers would be useless. Nothing was said openly, of course, but Lady Caroline did not make the attempt. To be publicly denied would be insupportable.
    Although she vowed that such entertainments were insipid and not at all to her taste, Darleston was perfectly aware that she wanted that entrée, even if only for the pleasure of spurning it. Obviously if she were in Paris there was no question of Almack’s, and her reputation would not be such a barrier where she was not so well known.
    The excellence of the brandy gave rise to more thought, and to a great degree mitigated against his lordship’s rising impatience at the inordinate length of time Lady Caroline was taking. It did not occur to him that she wanted him to be extremely eager or that she wanted to give him time to think over her plans.
    It suddenly struck Darleston that if Caroline decamped for Paris it would be deucedly inconvenient for him. He enjoyed her favours very much and was loath to go to all the effort of finding and setting up a new mistress. His own married experience led him to eschew all married women. Something in his nature revolted at the thought of offending another man as he had been offended. Unfortunately his preference was for women of his own order, which therefore meant a widow, and he was damned if he could think of another likely candidate to fill the position which would be left vacant by Lady Caroline’s departure.
    He had no illusions about the quality of Caroline’s affection for him. She might go to Paris alone but she would certainly not return so. Not that she needed a protector in financial terms for she was quite well off! In fact that was one of the things that Darleston found agreeable about the relationship. It was conducted on equal terms with none of the necessity to buy expensive presents to keep his mistress happy.
    He was just beginning to toy with the notion of following Lady Caroline to Paris when she returned. Her elegant gown of deep blue satin had been replaced by a dressing gown which consisted of floating layers of pink gauze. It was quite evident to Darleston that her ladyship was not wearing a stitch beneath it. He said nothing, but tossed back the last of his brandy with scant respect for so noble a vintage and stood up.
    Lady Caroline glided to the sofa and seated herself with an inviting smile. The dressing gown fell open, exposing one elegant white leg which Caroline did not bother to cover. Darleston shrugged himself out of his coat and removed his cravat without taking his eyes from her face. He walked over to the sofa unhurriedly, but Lady Caroline could see the tension in every line of his athletic body. He stood before her, looking down at her voluptuous curves with increasing lust.
    ‘Do you like my dressing gown?’ she asked provocatively. ‘It’s a