Beyond Rubies (Daughters of Sin Book 4) by Beverley Oakley Read Free Book Online Page A

rejected my marriage proposal in favor of someone far inferior.”
    Kitty saw he was trying to inject humor into his tone for she did not miss the bleak flare of his eyes. Despite being highly suspicious of him in view of what Mr. Cranborne had said, she felt a surge of sympathy. “I’m very sorry for it, Lord Silverton.”
    “It’s an episode relegated to the past, and now you are here to help take my mind off my pain. What do you say to a night of dancing?” Suddenly, he was all exuberance as he took her hand and whisked her back toward the Tower entrance.
    “But what about my landlady?”
    “When I escort you back, I’ll have a more than adequate excuse and a few pennies to take the edge off her anger. But first, we must have some dinner. Come, Miss La Bijou. If we are both bearing broken hearts, then we must console one another, and tomorrow you will prove your worth to Mr. Lazarus. What do you say to such a proposal?”

Chapter Four
    K itty had never been dancing before. Not even to the Assembly balls held in the village. Her mother had kept her daughters close, perhaps wanting to shield them from the whispers. Kitty realized the plan had always been for Lissa to find a post as a governess, Ned to be apprenticed to some worthy occupation—boys were not so damaged by the stain of bastardy—but Kitty, despite her love of adventure, was expected to stay at home to help her mother.
    Clasped in Lord Silverton’s arms, she once again felt pangs about abandoning her mother as she skirted the dance floor of the insalubrious salon above a row of unprepossessing shopfronts. This was a place, she supposed, where young bucks could take their fancy pieces without demur. As for herself, Kitty didn’t expect to be recognized by anyone, and she assuaged her conscience with the knowledge she wasn’t doing anything wrong.
    “Well, Kitty, how have you enjoyed your first night painting the town red, as they say?” Lord Silverton asked as he drove her back in his phaeton.
    “You’ve shown me such wonderful things,” she whispered, raising her eyes to the clouds. “I never imagined having so much fun!”
    “And more to be had.” They’d drawn up in front of a smart townhouse, and now he was jumping down before reaching up for her hand.
    “But I need to go to Mrs. Mobbs’s. It’s late.” Suddenly, she felt nervous. “Where have you taken me?”
    “For a snifter of brandy at my townhouse before I return you to your landlady’s premises. Didn’t I promise you I’d help you practice your lines?”
    The prospect seemed enormously compromising. Kitty drew back from the hand he offered her. “Lord Silverton, I don’t want you to think that I...that I would do something unladylike.”
    “Well, I certainly shan’t force you into doing anything unladylike. I won’t even make you do something you don’t want to do, but we had agreed that a little practice for your part of Juliet before you have Mr. Lazarus putting you through your paces might be in order.” He cocked his head, regarded her a moment then jumped back up beside her. “You’re right, though. You are an innocent, and I might turn into a rogue. I’ll take you home.”
    But as he picked up the ribbons, Kitty saw the value in his argument and put her hand on his. “Stop. I shall come inside and we shall practice, yes indeed, but very quickly because I need a good night’s sleep, and I suppose it’s very wrong to be out and about with a gentleman besides.” She smoothed her skirts as she stood up. “Only certain adventuring women who are branded ladies of the night do such things, and I am by no means one of them. Though I suppose, who is to know what I get up to?”
    “Indeed,” he agreed with a quirk of a brow as he helped her down, occasioning a quick clarification from Kitty.
    “Not that I intend doing anything I ought not.”
    “Of course not, as you have already made clear, Miss La Bijou. Now, isn’t it much warmer inside? Thank you,