Enchanted by Your Kisses by Pamela Britton Read Free Book Online

after all, soiled goods. Or didn't you know that just the sight of me can turn virginal daughters into frightful hussies?"
    A hand upon her shoulder startled her. He turned her. The hand lifted her chin. Her breath caught. People strolled by, but she didn't care. Obviously there was nothing left for her to do that would shock people.
    His face was kind, intent, the look in his eyes earnest. "Don't let them do this to you, Ariel."
    She didn't move. Truly, she felt as still as a lamb in a wolf's mouth. "Don't let them do what?" she said huskily, ignoring his use of her Christian name.
    "Don't let them wound you. I assure you, your countrymen aren't worth crying over."
    He held her gaze, Ariel realizing that another tear wobbled on her lashes. He wiped it away. The contact of his work-roughened finger against her soft skin made her tremble, made her wish for. . .
    What?
    More of his touch? Yes. That was it.
    The thought panicked her. She drew away.
    A look of consternation entered his eyes, almost as if he, too, were startled by result of their touch and their words. For endless seconds neither of them spoke.
    Finally Ariel could stand it no more. "What do you propose to have me do?"
    He kept staring at her, though Ariel noted now his eyes had grown cold. "I want you to pose as my fiancée."
    The words jolted her so much she immediately cried, "Your what?"
    He smiled, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "My fiancée. That way my uncle will be less vocal in his attempts to get me away from you, for as I understand it, once a British gentleman asks a woman to wed, only the woman can cry off. That puts you in the seat of power. Also it will keep away those matchmaking mamas, as you call them."
    "I see," she murmured. Again silence dropped around them like a cold blanket. Ariel considered his suggestion. It was a sound idea. Not only would it rub society's nose in her presence, it let society know that she cared not a whit for its disdain.
    "Well?" he asked. "What do you think?"
    She looked up at him, telling herself what she was about to say might be the biggest mistake of her life. But she didn't care. Suddenly she just didn't care. Truly, she had absolutely nothing to lose by agreeing to such a scheme.
    "Very well," she said at last. "I agree."
    She wondered at the sudden flare of emotion in his eyes. There was triumph there, certainly, but also something else, something that made her shiver and feel suddenly ill at ease, especially when his lips tilted up crookedly. For the first time since meeting him, she found herself thinking he looked devilish. Truly devilish.
    Pray God, she found herself thinking, 'twas merely an illusion.

4

    "Ariel, you cannot be serious!"
    Ariel stared at the disapproving face of her cousin Phoebe, wondering if she should have told her dear friend of her plan. Then again, it was hardly as if she had any choice.
    "To pretend to be someone's fiancée is beyond ridiculous. Why, it's positively scandalous."
    Ariel rolled her eyes then shook her head. "As if I need worry about scandalizing anyone."
    Phoebe, the skirts of the pretty green dress she wore scrunched in clenched hands, gave her a look one would associate with a woman who watched another woman set her hair alight. "Yes, but this is beyond the pale, Ariel. Why, if word gets out that your engagement is nothing but a fraud, you'll be. . ." Pale pink lips opened and closed as Phoebe searched for a word to use.
    "Ruined?" Ariel supplied.
    Her shoulders hunched as she settled back in her chair. Late afternoon light from the window to her left highlighted her black hair as she shook her upswept curls. They wore day dresses, neither of them having any plans to go out that evening, much to Ariel's disappointment. Ariel looked forward to the expressions on people's faces when she returned to society again. She withheld her grin with effort.
    "Well, yes, more so than you already are."
    "Phoebe, I doubt a person can be ruined to different levels. It's