When a Girl Loves an Earl (Rescued from Ruin Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

distraction was wise for the moment. Her belly was fizzing as though she’d imbibed an entire bottle of champagne. “You are an heiress, Charlotte. Your father could buy you a thousand such habits.”
    A smile lifted Charlotte’s lips, still pale from their jaunt along Bond Street on this chill morning. “If only I could justify such an expense. Surely I could sell nine-hundred and ninety-nine of them and purchase passage to Boston.”
    Although Charlotte had spent most of her life in England—even her diction was indistinguishable from any other Mayfair miss—she was half-American by parentage and entirely American by sentiment. Charlotte’s fondest wish was to return to the land of her birth and enter trade. Charlotte’s father, on the other hand, wished to marry his daughter to an English title. The result was five London seasons during which Charlotte had received not a single offer.
    Frankly, Viola did not begin to understand what the gentlemen of the ton were thinking. They flocked around her but paid no mind at all to Charlotte, who was one of the loveliest women she had ever encountered—honest and kind and sensible and good-natured. Granted, she was absurdly tall and dotted with freckles. And vermillion was not a particularly fashionable color for a lady’s hair. And Charlotte had an unfortunate tendency to trod men’s toes or dislodge their hats or elbow their noses. But these were meaningless trifles. One need only glance into her friend’s intelligent eyes when they lit with knowing humor to be utterly charmed.
    “Why did he not propose marriage to you?” Viola asked, curious about the intriguing gentleman they’d been discussing.
    Green-and-gold eyes flared. “My father?”
    Viola giggled. “Silly goose. Your gallant. Lord Tannenbrook.”
    “Oh! Er, doubtless Papa would be pleased by an offer from an earl.” Charlotte waved a hand dismissively, nearly batting Viola’s nose. “However, James and I are not … that is, Lord Tannenbrook does not view me in such a way. He is simply the sort of man who would defend a woman’s honor.”
    “A woman with whom he was not previously acquainted and in whom he had no prior interest?” Was her voice growing tart? It was. How strange.
    Charlotte shrugged. “Yes, I suppose so. But it was hardly due to a sudden affection. He is honorable, Viola. A genuinely good man. He heard Mr. Maynard’s vile taunt and took it as his duty to—”
    “Break the refreshment table in half with Mr. Maynard’s backside.” Now she sounded sharp to her own ears. Viola found herself frowning. She never frowned. What was wrong with her?
    Charlotte sighed and rolled her eyes. “I hear your implication, you know, and it is not true. Lord Tannenbrook and I are merely friends who have enjoyed a correspondence. There is more romantic sentiment between me and this riding habit.” She waved at the fashion plate.
    Forcing her brow smooth, Viola sniffed, uncertain if she should believe her. Surely any woman who had been defended so heroically could not help falling in love with her rescuer, if only a little. Viola had never met Lord Tannenbrook, but based on Charlotte’s description, she found the protestations of mere friendship dubious, particularly with Mr. Lancaster pressing Charlotte to marry.
    However, Viola had no desire to argue with her dearest friend over romantic sentiments that may or may not exist. “Well, it is a most fetching design,” she conceded, glancing again at the sketch. “If you must have it, take it in blue. Green is lovely but predictable.”
    Smiling, Charlotte nodded. “Your instincts are beyond compare.”
    “I know.”
    Charlotte’s sigh was long-suffering. “Not this again.”
    “Do not question the Inkling. It has never led me astray.”
    “Never?”
    “It guided me to this magnificent bonnet.” Viola waggled her fingers at the elegant confection currently perched upon her head. Covered in midnight silk, the hat was adorned with silver