Twice the Temptation Read Online Free PDF

“Did you see my new treasure?” She gestured at her throat.
     
      “I’ve been attempting not to stare at it since you walked in,” her friend returned with a grin. “It’s exquisite!”
     
      “It’s called the Nightshade Diamond. It’s an heirloom, handed down to me from my Aunt Rachel.” And whatever her aunt might claim, Evangeline could already dispute its supernatural powers. Nothing untoward had occurred all evening. Even better, Rawley had yet to make an appearance.
     
      “I see someone else who’s staring,” Leandra murmured, angling her fan past Evangeline’s shoulder.
     
      She turned around, putting on a warm smile as she saw who approached. “Lord Redmond. I’d nearly given up hope of seeing you this evening.”
     
      At one and fifty, Lord Redmond was two years older than her own father, but he fell into the category of what she termed “distinguished,” if a bit portly. He favored her with a deep, reverent bow. “If I’d known for certain you would be here, Miss Munroe, I would have arrived sooner.”
     
      “You are too kind, my lord,” she returned, offering her hand for his kiss.
     
      “Not a bit. You know how I worship you.”
     
      Yes, she did. He said it often enough. “In that case, I think you should ask me to dance.”
     
      He smiled, drawing in his gut as he offered his arm. “My pleasure.”
     
      “Gilly, you aren’t going to save a dance for…your cousin?” Leandra broke in, her lips twisting.
     
      “Certainly not. He’s not even here.”
     
      As she accepted Redmond’s escort to her place in line for the country dance, Evangeline made another swift survey of the crowded room. The Gavistons’ soirees were always notoriously well attended; the baron and baroness seemed determined to invite everyone with an address in the west of London. And yet she still saw no sign of the Marquis of Rawley.
     
      He’d been rather bold, demanding a dance from her and then not bothering to make an appearance. If he thought she would spend the evening doing nothing but anticipating his arrival, he was sadly mistaken. Her only emotion where he was concerned happened to be relief that he’d taken himself elsewhere.
     
      Across the room her mother gave an encouraging nod as the viscountess sent her husband off to fetch her a refreshment. When she’d been younger, Evangeline had spent countless hours in observation and instruction, learning precisely how to go about being the mistress of the house—asking without asking, expecting without demanding, directing without ordering, and seeing very clearly who truly ruled the family.
     
      Using those same methods herself, she’d narrowed down the selection from her multitude of suitors—weeded out the roses from amid the nettles, as her mother said—and found the two men with the right combination of wealth, power, and potential, and ofcourse a hearty need for her guidance. Redmond or Dapney. Either would do, though contrary to her mother’s opinion she thought that with Redmond she would find a usable…desperation to be seen as charming by someone less than half his age, a need to be wanted that Dapney at one-and-twenty simply didn’t yet feel.
     
      As she wound up and down the line of dancers, everyone seemed to be sending admiring looks at her neck. Bad luck, indeed. She’d never felt more admired. Redmond could barely keep his gaze off her long enough to notice where he was going. If everything continued this well, she could expect a proposal from him within the fortnight. And then Lord Rawley wouldn’t dare presume that she’d enjoyed kissing him and might wish to do so again.
     
       
     
      “Explain to me again why you need me to be here?” Connoll asked, flipping open his pocket watch for the third time. “I told you I had a previous engagement.”
     
      “I need you to be here,” his companion said, “because what I know about art wouldn’t fill a snuffbox. My