Indulgence 2: One Glimpse by Lydia Gastrell Read Free Book Online

that waistcoat the same color as his eyes?
    “Eloise, hello,” the woman said as she joined them, all but pulling Shaw with her. It wasn’t until they were almost upon John and his group that he noticed the third person with Shaw, a young lady, likely just out of the schoolroom, who appeared to find the tops of her shoes fascinating.
    “Kat.” Aunt Eloise nodded to her old friend. “And Sir Samuel. John, of course you know Lady Katherine Crowl and her brother Sir Samuel. Good evening, sir. Ah, and this must be Miss Shaw. You did tell me that you were bringing your sister out this season, didn’t you?”
    “Yes, of course. My sister Florence, this is her first season.”
    “Ma’am,” Shaw said, nodding to Eloise. She made the introductions, and this time John could not help but notice that his cousin Jane didn’t appear half as flustered when Shaw bowed over her hand, a fact that left John curiously annoyed.
    “How are you finding London, my dear?” Aunt Eloise said to Florence.
    The girl finally looked up, and when she did, John could swear he was looking at Shaw’s twin in female form. She was shorter than the other young ladies, with a solid, stocky figure that John’s aunt would have politely called unfortunate. Her raven-black hair was done up in a ridiculous chaos of sausage curls, and her deep green eyes squinted in the candlelight as if she required spectacles but was not currently wearing them.
    “I find it more frustrating than anything else,” Florence replied with a very unladylike shrug.
    Aunt Eloise huffed through her nose while Jane giggled behind her fan.
    Shaw did not react at all.
    “Sam,” Brenleigh cut in with a welcoming smile. “How is your hand faring?”
    It was the briefest thing, little more than half a second, yet John saw it. Shaw’s jaw clenched and his whole body stiffened. His smooth face contorted into a flash of hostility.
    “Perfectly fine. Nothing worth concern,” Shaw muttered.
    John glanced at Brenleigh, wondering if he too had noticed Shaw’s visceral reaction. It was impossible to know, but Brenleigh did appear quite…disappointed? John was not typically one for gossip, but he found himself suddenly, irrationally interested.
    The tinkling of bells announced that the musical entertainment was soon to begin. Shaw released an audible breath and turned away, taking his sisters’ arms as he fled. The man looked positively relieved to escape the group. Lady Crowl made a rushed farewell over her shoulder as her brother all but dragged her away. The remaining ladies exchanged inquiring looks, but John turned his attention back to Brenleigh. He whispered something intently to Richard while Richard scowled.
    John raised his brow and reminded himself that if curiosity killed the cat, the cat probably went to his death satisfied. Something was amiss between Brenleigh and Shaw, perhaps including Richard too. As John took his aunt and cousin on either arm and led them to their seats, he shrugged much of his interest away. It was probably just about some business venture. Hadn’t Michael said that Shaw was vicious in business circles, a veritable hawk? John would make subtle inquiries later. He was not above dabbling in gossip when his interest was piqued.
    After seeing to the ladies, John took his seat and made the mistake of sighing like a disgruntled old man.
    Aunt Eloise gave him a narrow look. “Don’t be disagreeable,” she said, tapping his arm with her fan. “I know for a fact you enjoy music.”
    “I enjoy music , Aunt. I do not enjoy listening to amateurs butcher notes, no matter how lovely and well-meaning they may be.”
    He was telling the truth, but only by half. The fact of the matter was that he had every intention of feigning boredom and disinterest regardless of the caliber of music involved. It was expected of him. Sportish Corinthians who raced their curricles to Brighton at breakneck speed and spent summers tearing across the countryside on horseback