An Offer from a Gentleman with 2nd Epilogue by Julia Quinn Read Free Book Online

leave me to that pack of she-devil debutantes, I swear I shall exact revenge to my dying day.”
    â€œA chance I’m willing to take,” her gentleman said.
    â€œWell, I covered up for you with Penelope,” the other man grumbled. “You’re just lucky that I happened to be standing by. The poor girl’s heart looked broken when you turned away.”
    Sophie’s gentleman had the grace to blush. “Some things are unavoidable, I’m afraid.”
    Sophie looked from one man to the other. Even under their demi-masks, it was more than obvious that they were brothers, and she realized in a blinding flash that they must be the Bridgerton brothers, and this must be their house, and—
    Oh, good Lord, had she made a total and utter fool of herself by asking him how he knew of a private terrace?
    But which brother was he? Benedict. He had to be Benedict. Sophie sent a silent thank-you to Lady Whistledown, who’d once written a column completely devoted to the task of telling the Bridgerton siblings apart. Benedict, she recalled, had been singled out as the tallest.
    The man who made her heart flip in triple time stood a good inch above his brother—
    â€”who Sophie suddenly realized was looking at her quite intently.
    â€œI see why you departed,” Colin said (for he must be Colin; he certainly wasn’t Gregory, who was only fourteen, and Anthony was married, so he wouldn’t care if Benedict fled the party and left him to fend off the debutantes by himself.) He looked at Benedict with a sly expression. “Might I request an introduction?”
    Benedict raised a brow. “You can try your best, but Idoubt you’ll meet with success. I haven’t learned her name yet myself.”
    â€œYou haven’t asked,” Sophie could not help pointing out.
    â€œAnd would you tell me if I did?”
    â€œI’d tell you some thing,” she returned.
    â€œBut not the truth.”
    She shook her head. “This isn’t a night for truth.”
    â€œMy favorite kind of night,” Colin said in a jaunty voice.
    â€œDon’t you have somewhere to be ?” Benedict asked.
    Colin shook his head. “I’m sure Mother would prefer that I be in the ballroom, but it’s not exactly a requirement.”
    â€œ I require it,” Benedict returned.
    Sophie felt a giggle bubbling in her throat.
    â€œVery well,” Colin sighed. “I shall take myself off.”
    â€œExcellent,” Benedict said.
    â€œAll alone, to face the ravenous wolves . . .”
    â€œWolves?” Sophie queried.
    â€œEligible young ladies,” Colin clarified. “A pack of ravenous wolves, the lot of them. Present company excluded, of course.”
    Sophie thought it best not to point out that she was not an “eligible young lady” at all.
    â€œMy mother—” Colin began.
    Benedict groaned.
    â€œâ€”would like nothing better than to see my dear elder brother married off.” He paused and pondered his words. “Except, perhaps, to see me married off.”
    â€œIf only to get you out of the house,” Benedict said dryly.
    This time Sophie did giggle.
    â€œBut then again, he’s considerably more ancient,” Colin continued, “so perhaps we should send him to the gallows—er, altar first.”
    â€œDo you have a point ?” Benedict growled.
    â€œNone whatsoever,” Colin admitted. “But then again, I rarely do.”
    Benedict turned to Sophie. “He speaks the truth.”
    â€œSo then,” Colin said to Sophie with a grand flourish of his arm, “will you take pity on my poor, long-suffering mother and chase my dear brother up the aisle?”
    â€œWell, he hasn’t asked,” Sophie said, trying to join the humor of the moment.
    â€œHow much have you had to drink?” Benedict grumbled.
    â€œMe?” Sophie queried.
    â€œHim.”
    â€œNothing at all,” Colin