To Charm a Naughty Countess Read Online Free PDF

society. But was that the fault of the man or of the corner into which he didn’t fit? “You make a fair point, though. We must not discount the power of reputation.”
    “We?” He darted a glance at her. It might have been a trick of the feeble light, the deep shadows, but Caroline could have sworn something kindled in his expression.
    “Yes, we .” The idea was sudden but perfect. If she could make him need her, why, he wouldn’t be a mystery anymore, or a fascination. He’d be nothing but a man, and one under her power. It would be easy, then, to lift him from her heart and mind. As neatly as a cook coring an apple. “I shall help you, Wyverne. Give me a free hand and five outings in society, and we shall have every woman in London wanting you.”
    “Every woman?”
    Caroline raised her eyes to heaven. “All right, give me six outings, then. And give me more than two words by way of reply.”
    “I don’t need to be wanted. I only need to be accepted.”
    “Ah.” So simple, so tragic. Caroline had always needed both. “Well, we can arrange that too.”
    When he turned away from the starlit garden to regard her again, his attention made her insides swoop. She wanted to reach out a hand, stroke the fine, high planes of his face, but as soon as her hand lifted, she thought better of it. She had felt his tension earlier when she only touched his sleeve.
    “Why should you do this for me?” His tone was clipped, suspicious.
    “Consider it a token of the friendship we long ago abandoned.” He abandoned. He would not leave her again, not unless it was on her terms.
    “I cannot accept that honor from you.”
    “Why not?”
    “No matter what one desires, I neither expect nor offer something for nothing.” His lashes lowered, shadowy crescents on his cheekbones.
    “Did you think I would help you for nothing?” Caroline’s trill of laughter sounded breezier than she felt. “You give me too much credit for selflessness. Wyverne, if I find you a bride, I shall be the toast of London society. Not to put too fine a point on the matter, but it really will be quite a challenge as long as the caricaturists keep creating their abysmal prints of you. With my aid, though, I am certain you will gain the hand of a suitable bride.”
    It would be perfect. Perfect. The man who had almost destroyed her reputation eleven years earlier would now become the making of it.
    “You are certain, you say.” His jaw clenched, and Caroline again felt the slippery urge to run a finger over the clean angles of his profile.
    “Yes.”
    In actuality, she was not. Wyverne was not like other men, and for this reason, the world thought him mad. Maybe Caroline was mad too, for she sought to repeat history, even though her plans had gone so far awry the first time.
    “Then I would be honored by your assistance. I shall call on you tomorrow.” His mouth bent into an awkward shape that approximated a smile. He looked down at his gloved hand, then slowly extended it.
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Wyverne.” Caroline covered a swell of glee with briskness. “Don’t bother. I know you don’t like to shake hands.”
    At once, his expression relaxed and his hand dropped to his side. Caroline could not resist adding, “Instead, we shall seal our bargain with a kiss. Isn’t that what this terrace is for?”
    She stepped closer to him, and his chin drew back, his brows furrowing.
    “I’m only teasing,” Caroline murmured—not that she had truly expected him to step closer instead of away.
    “I know,” Wyverne replied, soft as a sigh. “I was merely surprised. When I spoke of desires earlier, I referred not to your own responses, but to mine.”
    His lips twisted, though the expression looked more sad than joyful. He sketched her a bow before excusing himself and withdrawing into the shadows.
    He had not touched her at all. And yet, he had.

Four
    To Michael’s eye, Caroline’s house was a tall stucco tooth in the chattering mouth of