WitchofArundaleHall Read Online Free PDF Page B

admonish him in public. And his brother left
him to deal with his curse alone. Yet he did not break. He is a good catch for
any woman, ambitious or not.”
    “That is exactly what I told him,” a deep, husky voice interrupted
Sarah’s tirade.
    Sarah whirled around and saw a beautiful, tall woman with
silky black hair flowing over her shoulder. She wore the latest fashion, a
plunging neckline revealing perfect curves. Her eyes were smoky gray and her
face had few lines to mar its perfection. This woman in her forties? Impossible.
    Quickly Sarah tried to regain her composure. “Madame. I
don’t know if you remember me—”
    The woman swept toward Sarah and took both her hands. “But
of course I remember. Lady Sarah Ayers. Your mother was my second cousin,
Mathilde. She and I shared a common grandfather. Please come in.”
    Somehow Madame’s warm welcome made Sarah’s throat tighten. It
was her mother’s kindness that made Madame treat her with courtesy. “Madame,
please don’t feel obliged to take me in.”
    The woman stopped short and stared at Sarah. “Obliged?” She
seemed puzzled for a moment then her brow smoothed. “Oh, I see.” She cupped
Sarah’s chin. “Child, no amount of gossip would keep me from helping a relation
in need. I am well aware of who Lord Robert was, and avoided him as much as
possible.” Her smile only made her more beautiful. “You are most welcome in my
home.”
    It was a stunning residence, with three staircases and a
large dining room. They climbed the first staircase to the drawing room. When
they entered, Sarah was amazed by the sheer number of books that dominated the
room.
    A deep male voice startled Sarah. “Am I to play second
fiddle to the written word yet again?”
    “Miss Sarah Ayers, this is Mr. Cyril Asher,” Madame de Laval
said with a flourish, then she laughed. “I don’t think I’ve said your full name
in years.”
    He grinned and his handsome face transformed into something
resembling that of a Greek God. “It was worth meeting Miss Ayers to hear you
repeat it.”
    The heat between them was instantly apparent. For Sarah it
was a painful reminder that the one she loved did not return that love.
    Jaimison bowed and Sarah curtsied to their new acquaintance.
    Mr. Asher raised one eyebrow. “And who is this gentleman?”
    Sarah, stricken, cast a quick silent apology at Jaimison. “Sir,
this is Mr. Edward Jaimison, who is a man of business and my escort.”
    Mr. Asher, surprisingly, shook Jaimison’s hand. “I’ve heard
of you, of course. You and the men in your employ are respected by the ton for
your discreet handling of delicate matters.”
    “You do me too much credit, sir,” Jaimison said calmly.
    “Jaimison and I have met before,” Madame de Laval said with
a twinkle in her gaze. “I believe it was a gaming house, was it not?”
    “I believe it was, Madame. Your assistance was invaluable.” Jaimison
bowed.
    Madame de Laval smiled and ran a daring finger across Jaimison’s
cheek. “I was compensated.”
    Sarah stared at Jaimison as his face turned a deep red and
he cleared his throat. “Madame, the pleasure was all mine.”
    “I doubt that,” Mr. Asher said with a wicked grin.
    She was out of her depth and Sarah knew it. Jaimison had
clearly enjoyed a sexual encounter with Madame de Laval, and Sarah was a
foolish child playing with adults.
    Madame led her to a settee and kept her close. “Ring for
tea, Cy. I’ve had my fun.”
    “I must go, Madame,” Jaimison said. “I shall return if that
would be convenient.”
    “I insist on it, my old friend,” she said, and held out her
hand. Jaimison was more suave than Sarah had ever seen him as he bent over the
beautiful woman’s hand.
    Even more surprisingly he winked at her as he did it. Then
he was gone and Sarah was alone with these dubious patrons.
    “Now,” Madame said with relish. “You must tell me the whole
story. How in the world did you end up engaged to Mr. Perry Arundale? How