His Dark Enchantress (Books We Love Regency Romance) by Victoria Chatham Read Free Book Online Page B

started and, in spite of Lady Darnley’s assurances that only the best dancing master had been procured for her, he quickly found that Olivia did, indeed, not dance well.
    Exasperated, he did his best to hold his tongue and temper and aided his young partner as best he could. At last the music ended and Olivia made to bolt like a rabbit from the floor.
    “ Lady Olivia, there is no hurry to return to your mama who is quite comfortable with the notion of us being dancing partners.” Lucius kept a light hand at her elbow. “Do you think me such an ogre that you must return to her so quickly?”
    “Oh, n-no, m-my Lord,” exclaimed Olivia. “Indeed, n-not. It is just that m-mama w-wants me to m-make an impression a-and I-I’m afraid I’m t-too s-stupid to impress anyone.”
    “Nonsense, my child!” exclaimed Lucius, disliking himself for what he was about to do. “As your mama quite rightly said, we are old friends, and as such I wonder perhaps if you can help me.”
    “In what way, my Lord?” Surprised at his request, Olivia’s stutter disappeared completely.
    He looked down at her, noticing how unexceptional a blue her eyes were in comparison to Emmaline’s, how pale her complexion. There was nothing robust in her character, no conviction in her voice.
    Lucius smiled comfortingly and patted Olivia’s hand. “I noticed your mama a little while ago talking to a gentleman. Who might he be?”
    “Oh, that was my cousin, Peregrine,” Olivia said dismissively. “He is the most f-frightful bore. All he can talk about is b-boxing and g-gaming and such, and – oh!” Her free hand flew to her cheek which was now crimson. “Oh, I d-do beg your pardon, my Lord! I would not w-want you to think I think you a b-bore f-for, as a g-gentleman yourself, those m-must be p-pastimes which you pursue!”
    “Calm yourself, Lady Olivia,” Lucius murmured although his mind was racing. How could it be that he had been unaware of a familial connection between Styles and Lady Darnley? “I assure you there are times when I find them exceedingly boring. But do tell me more about your cousin.”
    Olivia ’s eyes grew round and she nodded her head in assent.
    “It is a complicated and not very close connection,” she confided. “We are not related by blood. Sir Peregrine is my papa’s nephew-in-law through my uncle’s second marriage. Mama and I do not see Peregrine very often.”
    Having garnered the nugget of information that for now satisfied his curiosity, Lucius patted Olivia’s hand and returned her to her mama.
    He bowed to Lady Darnley and made his way around the floor searching for Lady Jersey. When he saw her, he caught her eye and stopped. She casually made her way towards him.
    “Very prettily done, Lucius,” she said. “Rosemary is positively glowing. The richest man in the room stood up with her daughter. She will not stop crowing about that, I can tell you.”
    “And will likely croak when I escort Miss Devereux to the floor for the first waltz.”
    “Oh, my!” Lady Jersey ’s right eyebrow twitched with mild alarm. “A little cruel, do you not think?”
    “A means to an end, nothing more.”
    “If you intend to play games, Lucius, be sure to have a trump card,” Lady Jersey warned.. “I think you have Rosemary half convinced that you are about to offer for Olivia.”
    “She will be sadly mistaken.” Lucius clenched his jaw. “ When I marry my bride will be of my own choosing. Tell me quickly, what do you know of Rosemary’s nephew, Peregrine?”
    Lady Jersey narrowed her fine eyes and gave him a calculating look.
    “My advice is to stay away from him. You know he is trouble and is only at Almack’s because of Rosemary. I regret already having allowed him vouchers and nearly had him turned away this evening for his inappropriate dress.”
    “Do you know his direction?”
    “No. And you, my friend, do not want to know it either.” Lady Jersey snapped her fan shut, fluttered her eyelashes at him