Debra Mullins by Scandal of the Black Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

stood near the table, relieved and yet uncomfortable in the face of her mother’s displeasure.
    “Vin.” Rome approached the card table, having escorted his own mother to a chair by the fire. “Perhaps Marc would rather play with Miss Rosewood.”
    “Oh! How cloddish of me!” Flushing, Lavinia jumped from the chair. “Do sit down, Miss Rosewood.”
    “Nonsense. My daughter hasn’t the head for cards,” the admiral stated gruffly. “Do you, Mrs. Emberly?”
    “Roman taught me to play,” Lavinia admitted shyly. “But I haven’t really done so since my marriage.”
    Rome gave a bark of laughter. “Don’t be fooled, Admiral. My sister is very nearly a Captain Sharp.”
    “Indeed?” Anna’s father raised a brow in interest. “Then do take the fourth chair, Mrs. Emberly. I’ve a mind for a good hand of cards this evening.”
    Lavinia glanced in question at Anna.
    Regardless of her mother’s look of warning, Anna waved a hand at the table. “Do play, Mrs. Emberly. I assure you I shall be more comfortable as a spectator.”
    “You’re most gracious, Miss Rosewood.” Lavinia sat down at the table, a grin sweeping her face as Admiral Rosewood began to shuffle the deck.
    “Sit by the fire with me, Miss Rosewood,” Mrs. Devereaux invited. “We shall have a lovely coze.”
    “Thank you.” Stepping away from the card table and out of her mother’s range of vision, Anna made her way to the sofa, more than conscious of Rome’s towering presence as he trailed along behind her. She sat down beside his mother on the sofa with a respectful smile.
    “Have you been in London long?” Mrs. Devereaux asked by way of starting a conversation.
    “Not at all.” Anna grew momentarily distracted as Rome seated himself in the chair across from them, his expression forbidding.
    “And what sights have you seen?” Rome’s mother asked. Anna forced her gaze away from the distracting man and managed to formulate a coherent answer to Mrs. Devereaux’s question. Soon the two of them fell into the familiar rhythm of polite conversation.
    But it took all her concentration. Anna gave the correct replies by rote, her every sense alive with Rome. What was the matter with her? The man she was supposed to marry sat just on the other side of the room, yet she hadn’t given him a second thought since Rome appeared.
    She had to get ahold of herself. Her entire future lay with Lord Haverford, not with Roman Devereaux. She must forget their encounter and pretend nothing had happened. She should be focusing on finding out the truth about Anthony’sdeath. If she could just make it through this evening, then she would make it a point to avoid Roman Devereaux until the day she was finally wed to his cousin.
    Provided he didn’t blurt out her secret before then.
    “Miss Rosewood?” Mrs. Devereaux touched her hand. “Are you quite all right?”
    “Yes.” She pasted a polite smile on her face. “I’m sorry. I grew a bit light-headed for a moment. Perhaps it’s the proximity to the fire.”
    “Oh dear. We should move to the settee.”
    “No, no.” Anna held up a hand when the older lady made to rise. “Please, don’t. I’m fine now. Do continue your story.”
    “Are you certain?” Rome’s deep rumble sent a shiver down her spine. She turned to look at him, meeting his piercing green eyes with much more serenity than she felt.
    “I am quite certain, Mr. Devereaux. Thank you for your concern.”
    Trying to pretend he was just another piece of furniture, she attempted to block him from her mind and turned her attention back to his mother.
     
    Rome seethed with annoyance as Miss Anna Rosewood so neatly dismissed him.
    She sat there with her spine so straight it looked to crack, her hands folded demurely in her lap asshe conversed with his mother. To anyone else, she looked like the perfect lady.
    But not to him. There was something about her, a secrecy that set his every instinct to full awareness. What was it? He watched the