Worth Winning Read Online Free PDF

to.”
    Julia sighed. “To what end?” Over the years, Julia had often daydreamed about what it might be like to meet Archie again, to have Archie realize the mistakes he’d made, to have Archie grovel, apologetically, at her feet, to . . .
    Well, in truth, Julia’s fantasies had never evolved past abject, profuse groveling.
    Claire spoke carefully but in a bland tone that was completely unlike her normal self. “Don’t tell me you’re not even a little interested? The long-lost love? It’s got all the makings of one of those gothic novels you’re always pretending not to read.”
    Julia laughed a little, a bit surprised at the answer she was about to give. “I thought I would be. I’ve dreamed of what it’d be like to meet Archie again, after all this time. I certainly hoped I’d look better and . . .” She shook her head. “He’s quite handsome now.”
    She had hoped for some sort of feminine sympathy, for wouldn’t it have been far better for Robeson to have returned a fat and slobbering mess? Wouldn’t she then have felt, if not justified, at least a tiny bit vindicated in all her past decisions and actions? Instead, all Claire said was, “I can’t wait to meet him.”
    Julia rolled her eyes. “You know what he’s like, or at least what I’ve told you. You wouldn’t really try to make him one of your admirers, would you?”
    “Oh, of course not. For one, he’s yours by right. You met him first, and had him once, so there’s definitely a proprietary stake there. For another, I mean, even accounting for the whole woman-scorned thing, I’m not sure I understand at all what you saw in him.”
    “Then you want to meet him because . . .”
    “Well, I’m as curious as the next girl. To meet the one man you were ever interested in . . . and, I’ll admit, it will be interesting to practice on a viscount.”
    “Right. Of course the viscount’s just target practice as far as you’re concerned.”
    “The safest and best kind. He’s lived in London for years, you’ve told me he’s handsome, and given your past history with him, there’s not the slightest chance I’d ever feel anything other than disgust. It’s an amazingly unique opportunity for me to practice.”
    “Oh God,” Julia said, before muttering an apology, for she was enough of a vicar’s daughter occasionally to feel guilty. “Don’t tell me this is your whole Art of Seduction thing again?”
    “What else?” She patted her hair quite unnecessarily before continuing. “Enough about me, tell me more about what it was like, meeting your Archie again after all these years.”
    “He’s not mine anymore, and he’s not Archie, either.” Julia paused, trying to gather her thoughts. “Robeson is quite, quite handsome now. I don’t think even your artist’s eye would find fault with his physique or appearance. I’ve no doubt he’ll be the cynosure of the entire town.”
    “But you didn’t feel even one small, minute iota? After carrying a torch for him all—”
    Julia interrupted her stepsister, feeling righteously indignant. “I have not carried a torch!”
    Claire let the silence stretch out between them. Though she was the younger of the two, she’d always been far more adept at all manner of social machinations. As such, she knew when to let silence stretch, and when a telling look accomplished just as much as a monologue. “You haven’t pined in the traditional sense, but you certainly haven’t allowed yourself to be pursued, either. As long as I’ve known you, it’s like you’re . . . men-repellent.”
    “That’s not a word or a phrase or . . . anything, really.”
    “That doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
    Though Julia could have cheerfully argued Claire into the ground on the first point, she couldn’t, truthfully, say anything about the latter. After Archie had left, and she’d finally admitted to herself that he was never coming back, she had . . . changed. Before him, she’d assumed