Best of Both Rogues by Samantha Grace Read Free Book Online

but you still must wear your bonnet.”
    As Eve reached the foyer, Gracie called out her name and greeted her with an enthusiastic hug. With the bulky basket in the way, Eve couldn’t return the hug as she would have liked, but she placed a kiss on top of the girl’s honey-colored head. The two had become fast friends the moment they had met. “Someday you will love wearing new bonnets and then you will be told to stop spending all your pin money on them.”
    Gracie shook her head, jostling her sweet curls. “I will buy a fishing pole with my money.”
    Helena held out the bonnet to her sister. “I believe Fergus and I must have a little talk.”
    The good-natured Scot entered the front door in time to overhear Helena. “Has the lassie landed me in hot water again? You must always do as your sister says, Miss Gracie.” He winked at the girl behind Helena’s back, and Gracie covered her giggle with her gloved hand.
    Fergus was Helena’s land steward in Scotland, but he had come to London as her protector when Helena wanted to reunite with her sisters. He was as close to Helena as family.
    He doffed his hat toward Eve. “Afternoon, Miss Thorne. The carriage is waiting.”
    With Gracie’s bonnet in place at last, they walked out of the town house and climbed into the carriage. Fergus closed the door, scrambled to take his place on the box next to the driver, and then they were on their way.
    The sky was a dingy gray and a trace of dampness hung on the warm air. “We may see a storm before the day is over,” Eve mused.
    Gracie screwed up her nose, apparently unhappy with her prediction.
    “But not until after your picnic.”
    The girl’s smile returned, as if Eve could dictate the weather.
    Helena and Gracie had plans to visit a park on the outskirts of the city, where another of Helena’s sisters was meeting them for a picnic, but first they were carrying Eve to Amelia Hillary’s town house. With Sebastian at the House of Lords until the evening and Mama having taken to her bed with an arthritis flare-up, Eve would be without a chaperone.
    When the carriage turned onto Park Street, Helena picked at her glove as she was prone to do when uncertain. “I wish I could have canceled the picnic, but there wasn’t enough time. I feel as if I am disappointing you and Sebastian.”
    “Don’t be silly.” Eve flicked her wrist, mentally directing her sister-in-law’s guilt out the window. “You have not seen Lavinia since before your wedding. Certainly she misses you both. I will be fine without you.”
    “I could leave Fergus—”
    “Helena, please stop fretting. I will be on a charity mission. What possible trouble could I get into at the foundling hospital?” Eve was certain Amelia Hillary knew about Ben’s appearance at the ball last night and might question Eve about him. The last thing Eve wanted was a hovering Scot listening to every word spoken. “Besides, Sebastian would be in a temper if you went without protection.”
    Helena stopped nibbling her bottom lip and sighed. “I suppose you are right.”
    “Of course I am.” Eve smiled in reassurance as the carriage slowed to a halt at Verona House. After kissing her companions’ cheeks and wishing them a pleasant afternoon, Eve accepted Fergus’s hand down from the carriage and thanked him for his escort to the door. He handed her the basket of children’s clothes as the Hillarys’ butler invited her to follow him to the drawing room.
    Eve was early, but she wasn’t the first to arrive. Lady Bianca Norwick—Amelia’s dearest friend—and Lady Fiona Banner were already having tea. Their faces lit with smiles when the butler announced her.
    “Eve, how lovely that you could come.” Amelia crossed the room to embrace her. “Please join us.”
    Eve’s heart expanded at the warm reception. It was hard to believe at the beginning of the Season she’d had no friends, and now these three ladies had become her closest confidantes. Bianca—better