Unveiled Read Online Free PDF Page B

companion agreed.
    “We both look forward to it.”
    “Humph.” Mrs. Mitchell nodded, then stalked away, aware that some devilry was going on, but not quite sure what. As soon as she was out of hearing distance, Charles laughed openly.
    “You’ve got to stop that, Chris. You can’t antagonize the mothers and expect to do well with the daughters.”
    Christopher frowned. “I know, but have you met them? Her daughters are enough to drive a man to drink. Such silly, vapid females…isn’t there one woman here with some character, one who isn’t afraid to have a real thought? My God, they are like cookie-cutter imitations of women.”
    Charles shrugged, glancing toward the crowd. There was some justification for Christopher’s remarks. Born to a life of leisure, the debutantes were not the most interesting women he’d ever met either, but for himself, beauty and a nice disposition were enough. It was Christopher who wanted more, and Charles could understand his difficulty.
    “May I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen?” Mrs. Drexel clapped her hands and the murmurs of conversation died. “We’ve persuaded Miss Chester, one of our lovely guests, to entertain us tonight on the piano while Miss Mitchell sings.”
    Everyone clapped while Christopher rolled his eyes as if in pain. Charles nudged him as one young lady took a seat at the piano and the other stood before it. The music began softly. Margaret Chester was a decent enough pianist and she managed to get through the first few bars without error. Christopher was just beginning to relax when Nellie Mitchell opened her mouth and began to sing, her voice like nails scraping on a chalkboard.
    He wanted to cover his ears, but everyone else in the room listened with polite attention as the girl positively screeched. This was even worse than he’d anticipated. As always, no one reacted negatively. It was considered the height of bad manners to criticize a young lady’s talents. Even Charles was maintaining a polite visage, seemingly oblivious to the girl’s tone. When she tried to hit a high note and her voice broke, Christopher winced, unable to hide his reaction. In desperation, he glanced around the room, searching for an exit.
    All of the people were smiling politely; all of them clapped softly and encouraged the young girl to perform once more when the torture finally ended. Miss Mitchell giggled, then launched into a second song that was equally atrocious. Christopher was about to retreat in disgust when a woman caught his attention. Seated in the center of the room, she clapped a handkerchief to her face, her body silently shaking.
    She was laughing.
    Intrigued, he watched her. Clad in a yellow silk dress with a bit of demure lace at the wrist and throat, she struggled to hide her chuckles while her eyes danced with hilarity.
    Who was she? Christopher grinned at her, well aware of her source of amusement. She was next to a dowager, and he saw the elderly woman give her a disapproving look as she discreetly wiped a tear from her face. Raven-haired with a nose that was sprinkled with freckles, she stood out from her blond-haired companions like a rose in a field of daisies, but it was her eyes that captivated him. Brimming with mischief, they betrayed her, revealing the thoughts that the handkerchief would have hidden. Feeling his gaze on her, she glanced up, and their eyes met and held for one brief second.
    He felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach. The reaction was instantaneous and bewildering, as potent as the strongest whiskey. Perplexed, he saw the same confusion on her face, replaced a moment later by laughter as Miss Mitchell lost another note. Scolded by the elderly woman again, she obediently turned back, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her.
    The music finally died and the assembly clapped politely. Christopher breathed a sigh of relief as Miss Mitchell departed from the piano and the ladies fought among themselves as to who was