A Night Like This by Julia Quinn Read Free Book Online Page B

point, but before he could say anything, Sarah turned her head sharply toward the door. “Ah, perfect timing,” she said, cutting through his words. “I do believe I hear someone coming down the stairs. Who could it possibly be, I wonder.” Daniel stood. “My dear young cousins, I’m sure.” He waited until he saw one of them galop past by the open doorway, then caled out, “Oh, Harriet! Elizabeth!
    Frances!”
    “Don’t forget Miss Wynter,” Sarah muttered.
    The one who had walked past backed up and peered in. It was Frances, but she did not recognize him.
    Daniel felt a pang in his chest. He had not expected this. And if he had, he wouldn’t have thought it would make him feel quite so wistful.
    But Harriet was older. She had been twelve when he’d left for the Continent, and when she poked her head into the drawing room, she shrieked his name and came running in.
    “Daniel!” she said again. “You’re back! Oh, you’re back you’re back you’re back.”
    “I’m back,” he confirmed.
    “Oh, it is so lovely to see you. Frances, it’s Cousin Daniel. You remember him.”
    Frances, who looked to be about ten now, let out a dawning, “Oooooh. You look quite different.”
    “No, he doesn’t,” remarked Elizabeth, who had come into the room behind them.
    “I’m trying to be polite,” Frances said out of the corner of her mouth.
    Daniel laughed. “Wel, you look different, that’s for certain.” He bent down and gave her a friendly chuck on the chin. “You’re nearly grown.”
    “Oh, wel, I wouldn’t say that,” Frances said modestly.
    “She’ll say everything else, though,” Elizabeth said.
    Frances whipped her head around like a shot. “Stop that!”
    “What happened to your face?” Harriet asked.
    “It was a misunderstanding,” Daniel said smoothly, wondering how long it might take for his bruises to heal. He did not think he was particularly vain, but the questions were growing tiresome.
    “A misunderstanding?” Elizabeth echoed. “With an anvil?”
    “Oh, stop,” Harriet admonished her. “I think he looks very dashing.”
    “As if he dashed into an anvil.”
    “Pay her no attention,” Harriet said to him. “She lacks imagination.”
    “Where is Miss Wynter?” Sarah asked loudly.
    Daniel gave her a smile. Good old Sarah.
    “I don’t know,” Harriet said, glancing first over one shoulder and then the other. “She was right behind us coming down the stairs.”
    “One of you should fetch her,” Sarah said. “She’ll want to know why you’ve been delayed.”
    “Go on, Frances,” Elizabeth said.
    “Why do I have to go?”
    “Because you do .”
    Frances stomped off, grumbling mightily.
    “I want to hear all about Italy,” Harriet said, her eyes sparkling with youthful excitement. “Was it terribly romantic? Did you see that tower everyone says is going to fall over?”
    He smiled. “No, I didn’t, but I’m told it’s more stable than it looks.”

    He smiled. “No, I didn’t, but I’m told it’s more stable than it looks.”
    “And France? Were you in Paris?” Harriet let out a dreamy sigh. “I should love to see Paris.”
    “I should love to shop in Paris,” Elizabeth said.
    “Oh, yes.” Harriet looked as if she might swoon at the prospect. “ The dresses .”
    “I wasn’t in Paris,” he told them. No need to add that he couldn’t have gone to Paris. Lord Ramsgate had too many friends there.
    “Maybe we won’t have to go for our walk now,” Harriet said hopefuly. “I’d much rather stay here with Cousin Daniel.”
    “Ah, but I would rather enjoy the sunshine,” he said. “Perhaps I will accompany you to the park.” Sarah snorted.
    He looked over. “Something in your throat, Sarah?”
    Her eyes were pure sarcasm. “I’m sure it’s related to whatever it was that befel me yesterday.”
    “Miss Wynter says she’ll wait for us in the mews,” Frances announced, trotting back into the room.
    “The mews?” Elizabeth echoed.