To Tempt an Earl Read Online Free PDF Page A

and darted down the hall, passing three doors, till she came
to the one she was looking for. Silently, she turned the knob and
entered one of their many sitting rooms; however, this particular
room had an adjoining door to another sitting room, which opened to
a separate hall. After making her way through both rooms and into
the secluded hall, she exhaled a deep sigh.
    It wasn't to be this way.
    It was her debut; it was her night. It
was to be perfect, and it… was not. Chiding herself for being so
selfish, she'd rather focused on remembering her guardian's pride
as she'd been announced. The duke and duchess had beamed, and the
crowded ballroom had hushed as her moment arrived. Every eye had
been on her, every gaze but the very one she was anticipating the
most.
    Irritated that she was back where she'd
started, she strode down the hall, past the duke's study and out to
a small balcony that few knew existed. The cool night air felt
refreshing on her skin, prickling it with a chill that was welcome
after being confined in the crush earlier. The night was full dark,
the only light a half-moon arched in the sky, offering silver
beams. Her skirts whispered against the marbled floor as she made
her way to the rail. Resting her hands upon the cool stone, she
gazed out into the garden, seeing nothing, but giving her mind
freedom to wander. As a moment passed, her eyes adjusted to the
darkness, and the world began to shimmer.
    "I wasn't aware that this part of the house
was open to the guests." A rich masculine voice startled her from
her musing.
    "Pardon?" Bethanny immediately stood,
straightened her posture, and felt the wild gallop of her
heart.
    This couldn't be good.
    She was alone, with a stranger, on a secluded
balcony.
    The duke was going to murder her.
    If she made it out without being ruined.
    Dear Lord.
    "It is not. What, might I ask, are you doing
here?" she asked in her firmest tone.
    "I only just arrived, and, after the evening
I've had, found I needed a moment to regain my composure. I'm a
friend of the duke and am quite certain I'm allowed on his private
balcony. What about you?" he asked, a slightly teasing tone to his
voice.
    Bethanny narrowed her eyes. They had adjusted
to the dim light, and as recognition dawned, her heart hammered in
her chest.
    Graham.
    "I'm quite certain I'm permitted to be here
as well," she responded, not quite knowing what to say. Did he
recognize her? Was he simply teasing because he already had figured
out who she was?
    "Ah, a friend of the duchess then?" he asked
lightly as he made his way toward her.
    He definitely did not recognize her.
    However, she couldn't determine if this was a
bad thing or a good one. And it was rather dark. After a
moment's deliberating, she decided to play along.
    What could it hurt?
    "You could say that." She shrugged. Then,
feeling mischievous, she lowered her gaze and offered her most
flirtations smile, hoping his eyes had adjusted to the dark, and he
could perhaps notice it.
    At least she hoped it was
flirtatious.
    After a moment, she risked a glance up to his
shadowed features; a playful grin was tipping his lips and showed
off the fairest hint of those beloved dimples she so fondly
remembered.
    She sighed… inwardly, of course.
    "It's quite a nice view, peaceful, if I may
say so." He came to stand beside her.
    He was taller than she remembered, and
possibly broader as well, but she couldn't be sure with the faint
light.
    "Exactly why I came to this very place."
    "Is it quite the crush inside then?" he
asked. There was a slight lilt to his voice, not quite a brogue,
but not the crisp English she was accustomed to hearing. He must
spend quite a bit of time at his estate in Edinburgh to have taken
on the faint accent.
    She would have to thank Lady Southridge later
for all the helpful information regarding her brother.
    "Crush would be an understatement," she
replied too quickly, her tone a bit wry.
    "Not a fan of the crowds?" he asked, his tone
light. "Or