Enchanting Pleasures by Eloisa James Read Free Book Online Page B

mere five years, but she had an instinctive sense of propriety.
“Because we could—we could make some other arrangement,” Gabby said miserably. “I certainly never thought to force you to do anything that you didn’t wish to do.”
Quill was horrified at Gabby’s insight. “Of course Peter wishes to marry you,” he injected, his tone rough. He grabbed her elbow. “Peter is right. You should be in your chamber, changing your attire!”
Gabby ignored him, looking up at her fiancé. “Why didn’t you tell my father that you were not happy with this arrangement before I traveled all the way from India?” Her voice was choking now. “Your father’s letter said that you were…that you were …”
Quill gave Peter a look over Gabby’s bowed head that shook his younger brother to his toes.
Peter reached out and took Gabby’s hand again. “You quite misunderstood me, Miss Jerningham—Gabby. I am looking forward to marrying you.” And when he met Gabby’s drenched eyes, Peter almost felt he could do it. She was so pitiful, standing there in her ragged, stained clothing. His eyes softened. After all, her lack of distinction likely had more to do with the lack of mantua-makers in India than with her own sense of dress.
“My tone was sharp because I was—am—mortified by the deplorable conduct of our butler. I felt all your anguish when I realized the accident that had befallen you. In fact, I believe that I shall speak to my father about having Codswallop dismissed. We cannot tolerate a servant in this household who would act in such a reprehensible fashion. Please believe that my feelings about you are quite firm.
“I can hardly wait for our nuptials,” he added, rather more uncertainly.
Gabby took a deep, shuddering breath. The sight of Peter’s slender white hand, adorned with one tasteful signet ring, mesmerized her.
The hand vanished as Peter realized that his future wife was likely nonplussed by his indelicacy, given that he had held her hand beyond the permissible six seconds.
“ I shall escort you to your chamber,” he said, and took Gabby’s arm, drawing her toward the door.
She cast a rather desperate glance back at Quill.
He smiled reassuringly. “I will arrange for Phoebe to be housed near your chamber, Gabby.”
Gabby bit her lip and nodded. It seemed ungracious to plead that Quill accompany them. A mere hour or two ago she had considered Quill a formidable and terrifying presence; now Peter’s querulous, modish accents were terrifying her in quite a different manner. Helplessly, she allowed Peter to draw her into the hallway and up the stairs, listening numbly as he deposited her in a light, airy chamber papered in blue.
“Will Phoebe be in the chamber next to mine?” she asked, as Peter was bowing his way out of the room.
“Phoebe? Phoebe?”
“Phoebe is the child with Mr. Boch,” Gabby explained, only just realizing that Phoebe had not been introduced. “You see, Phoebe was traveling on the Plassey as well, and when her relatives did not appear at the wharf after the ship docked, your brother arranged to bring her here.”
Peter pursed his lips. “It seems most unusual,” he observed. “I cannot fathom why you did not leave her with the ship’s captain. Surely her relatives will suffer unnecessary anxiety if they are unable to locate her.”
“Perhaps you are right. But the problem is that we were not entirely sure whether Phoebe’s living relative—a Mrs. Emily Ewing—ever received the letter recounting the death of her sister and brother-in-law. When Mrs. Ewing did not appear at the wharf, I thought it best to keep Phoebe with me, because what if it takes some time for Mrs. Ewing to be located? Most of the crew of the Plassey disembarked immediately. We were blown far off course, and they were eager to return to their families. I was not at all sure who would be in charge of Phoebe.”
She paused. “I’m rattling on. Please forgive me.”
Peter glanced at the stained