Dangerous by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online

when I go home to Dorset. It would be a complete waste.”
    Hester sighed. “The thing is, Prue, now that you have the attention of the
ton
, it seems only proper that you should dress in the first stare of fashion. I cannot comprehend why you do not take more of an interest in your clothes. You would look lovely in lavender.”
    The door of the drawing room opened before Prudence could think of a suitable reply.
    “Good afternoon, ladies.”
    Prudence looked up as Trevor made his entrance into the room with the swaggering, elaborately casual style he had painstakingly learned from his newfound friends.
    Everything Trevor did lately was done with that peculiar style. It was getting a bit wearing, Prudence decided.
    Her younger brother had turned overnight into a young blood of the
ton
. From the top of his intricately tied cravat to his padded coat, striped waistcoat, and snug pantaloons,Trevor was the very glass of fashion. He had taken to carrying a cane and had an enormous number of decorative seals dangling from the fob of his watch.
    As irritating as some of his new mannerisms could be on occasion, Prudence was nevertheless very fond of Trevor. She told herself he was merely a high-spirited young man who would do very well once he had settled down a bit and matured.
    Her younger brother was also a fine-looking young man, she thought proudly. He had no real need of the padding in his jacket. His hair was the same honey-colored shade as hers was. Trevor had inherited their mother’s excellent blue eyes, rather than their father’s green ones. He had no need of spectacles, although he had experimented briefly with a monocle last week. He had dropped the affectation when he discovered it was too difficult to keep the glass in place.
    Prudence worried sometimes that Trevor would not want to return to the quiet life of a country squire after having been introduced to the pleasures of Town.
    And, if she were honest with herself. Prudence thought, she had to admit that Trevor was not the only one who might be a bit bored in the country now. She had found life in London far more exciting and more intriguing than she had expected.
    It was not the endless round of balls and soirees that fascinated her, but the endless array of bookshops, museums, and the like. Here in Town she could research spectral phenomena far more thoroughly than she could at home. She also stood a much greater chance of encountering people who would need her special investigation skills.
    “Hello, Trevor,” Prudence said.
    “Good afternoon.” Hester picked up the pot. “Will you have tea?”
    “With pleasure.” Trevor came forward eagerly. “Wait until I tell you my news.”
    “We are all ears, dear,” Hester murmured.
    “You are not going to believe this.” Trevor preened as he accepted the cup and saucer. “But I, Trevor Merryweather, wrung an apology out of the devil himself, by God.”
    Hester blinked. “Did you really?”
    “I certainly did.” Trevor turned proudly to Prudence. “Angelstone won’t bother you again, Prue. You may depend upon it. Made the bastard apologize for insulting you. Whole world knows it, too. He had one of his seconds convey his apologies to me right there in my club where all my friends could hear him.”
    Prudence glared at Trevor as he sprawled in one of Hester’s delicate satinwood chairs. “For the last time, Trevor, I was not insulted by Angelstone. He behaved himself quite properly. There was absolutely nothing about his manner on the dance floor that gave offense.”
    “Man’s got a reputation.” Trevor helped himself to a small cake off the tea tray. “You wouldn’t know about it, of course. Not the sort of thing a lady should know about. Point is, he certainly ain’t the type you want hanging about. Everybody agrees he don’t have anything respectable in mind when he starts paying attention to a female.”
    “For goodness’ sake,” Prue said. “Name me one female Angelstone is said to