Dear Impostor by Nicole Byrd Read Free Book Online

received.
              Gabriel stared down at Psyche's
dazed expression with stunned consternation of his own. The innocent brushing
of mouths should not have made his heart beat faster than his earlier chase
through the London alleys. But insensibly, it had. He had only meant to steal a
taste of the delectable confection before him. Now he found himself hungry for
the whole feast.
              Perhaps he would enjoy his role
even more than he had first imagined.
              Psyche took a deep breath and put
both hands on his chest, pushing him back. She peeked around the heavy drapery,
glancing toward the rest of their party and was not a little relieved to see
only a couple of the relatives still throwing covert glances their way. Even
Percy was absorbed in pontificating to her uncles.
              "Are you mad?" she
whispered.
              Gabriel shook his head. "I
must be."
              "You are the most shocking of
libertines! You are–you are–" Searching unsuccessfully for a word worthy
of her disgust, Psyche stepped out of the window alcove, hoping her face was
not still flushed.
              Gabriel followed slowly, an
angelic grin on his dark face. She half expected him to hum a tune. It was all
that was lacking from his innocent mien.
              "Your behavior, sir, is . . ."
she tried again.
              "Improper?" he
suggested.
              "Yes!" she grasped the
word eagerly. "Most improper. You are an unprincipled rake, just as Percy
said, and totally lacking in any sense of decorum."
              Gabriel regarded her from beneath
those dark slashes of brow. "Poor innocent Psyche, you really think that
is the worst insult one can bestow."
              "Of course," she said
slowly, the confusion in her voice evident even to her.
              "I hope you may continue to
think so, sweetling." He smiled, a strange mixture of emotions visible
briefly in the depths of his eyes.
              Did he dare to offer her pity? "Save
your breath and your smooth manners for my family, Mr. Sinclair. I have no need
of them."
              She turned in a swirl of silken
skirts to leave him, but paused at a thought. Despite his improper behavior,
she herself could behave correctly.
              "I, at least, will be honest
with you. That kiss just cost you five pounds!"
              He chuckled. "Severe
punishment, indeed, my lady."
              He was mad, he must be. Shaking
her head, she turned to rejoin her family. From across the room, Mavis'
ill-tempered voice rose. "Here, Psyche, show some decorum and rejoin the
party. You promised to turn the pages while Matilda plays her latest
tune."
              Cousin Matilda, whose skill at the
pianoforte was only moderate, flashed a silent plea toward her mother, but Mavis
ignored it. Psyche surrendered to the inevitable. She would be relieved to walk
away from this impostor, she told herself, trying to believe it. "Behave
yourself till we can talk further," she whispered to the infuriating man
standing next to her. "No more tales of exotic islands, please!"
              "Should I talk about Europe, instead, now that peace has reopened it to English travelers?" he murmured
back, a teasing glint in his eyes. "I've had some amusing escapades there,
as well."
              "Dear God, no," she
snapped. "Just stay out of trouble!"
              "Psyche!"
              "Yes, Aunt Mavis, I'm
coming."
              She left him standing beside the
window enclosure. Gabriel watched as she walked across the room–the girl
carried herself like a queen, he thought–and took her place beside Matilda,
giving her plump cousin a reassuring smile.
              "I'm sure the new melody will
be delightful," Psyche said, her tone warm.
              He bit back a grin. She was not
selfish, this ice maiden, though she