The Wrong Woman Read Online Free PDF Page A

Cat,” Aunt Hetty spoke calmly, setting aside her book.
    “Then tell Izzy to be civil to Lord Revere!”
    “Be civil to Lord Revere, Isobel dear. It will make your sister happy.”
    “Oh, by all means, aunt. Cat must be happy. But I still insist I was not being uncivil to the man.”
    “Then what was that horrid snort you uttered?”
    “I told you. I had something in my throat.”
    “Izzy, stop.” Cat stamped her foot. “I can tell by your glaring and your noises when he is in the room that you do not like Lord Revere. And I know you have your reasons for it. But you must see that Lord Revere is trying to be polite to you. And I rather like him for it. You do not make it easy and yet he persists. If you have any other objections to him, besides what I already know about, tell me now before I decide to throw myself into loving him.”
    “Love!” Isobel was startled to hear Cat put it so plainly. But yes, that was what she would expect, wouldn't she? All Cat knew of marriage she'd learned from fairy tales and romances and from watching their parents' own happy marriage. She knew little of how society marriages were actually conducted. “But how could you love...”
    “How could I love him?” Cat repeated the question, some anger in her voice.
    “Yes, you don't know him at all.”
    “And you do?” The question hung in the air. “It would be easy enough to fall in love with the man. He is very handsome and wealthy. And he has treated me very nicely.”
    “Yes, he has, hasn't he,” Isobel could feel her cheeks flushing with emotion. “Because you are a very beautiful young woman. You will make a nice prize on his arm. Your dowry helps, too.” Isobel immediately regretted her angry speech. They sat in silence for a moment.
    “Isobel Masters, are you jealous ?” Cat began to laugh. The sound broke the tension that had built in the room. Aunt Hetty and Isobel joined in the laughter. “I do not want you to be jealous of me, dear sister.”
    “Oh, Cat. Of course I am not jealous. I do want you to be happy.”
    “But I do not want my happiness to come between us. I will forget Lord Revere if it means that much to you.”
    “No,” Isobel sighed, “you should not. I promise to be more civil toward him.”
    “And you will try to see the good things about him?”
    “I will try,” Isobel agreed. “Though it might be hard for me. I am so used to seeing him as my nemesis.”
    “Oh, thank you, Izzy.” Cat kissed her sister's cheek. “You will have your first chance to try liking him when we go driving in two days!”
    “Indeed,” Isobel gave her sister a weak smile. “I shall begin to prepare myself this very moment.”
     
     

Chapter 5
    Miles was still puzzling over his disconcerting visit to Catherine Masters when he arrived home that night. He'd spent the afternoon and evening at his club – where he had managed to lighten Blume's pockets by a considerable amount. Webster, his butler, greeted him with the news that a visitor awaited him in the library.
    Miles was puzzled. Who would visit at this hour? He opened the door to see a young man of five and twenty kicking at the ashes that had escaped from the fireplace.
    “Jack.”
    The man turned and, in the same emotionless tone of voice, said, “Miles.”
    The two looked wary of each other. Then Jack rushed forward and embraced Miles with strong arms and a magnificent smile dimpling his youthful cheeks.
    “Brother, it is good to see you!” Jack effused. Miles returned the exuberance in a show of emotion that felt quite unnatural here in this place in town. The muscles of his face pulled themselves into a genuine smile, an expression he had not made in a month or more.
    “What trouble are you in now, Jack, that you grace my doorstep so late?” Miles asked when they had broken their embrace.
    John Shepherd – or Jack as he had always been called by family and friends – was seven years younger than Miles and had always looked up to his older