Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn Read Free Book Online

anything but blink.
    Iris, however, was not as impressed. “And this makes them . . . casual acquaintances?”
    â€œCousins,” Sarah said, shooting Iris a peevish glance. “Brothers. In-law.”
    â€œThrice removed?” Iris murmured.
    Sarah looked over at Honoria. “Make her stop.”
    Honoria burst out laughing. Iris did, too, and then finally Sarah succumbed to her own giggles. Honoria rose and gave Sarah an impulsive hug. “Everything will be all right, you’ll see.”
    Sarah smiled sheepishly in return. She started to say something, but just then Cecily sailed back into the room, her mother at her heels. “She loves the idea!” Cecily announced.
    â€œI do,” Mrs. Royle affirmed. She strode across the room to the writing table, sliding into the chair as Sarah quickly hopped out.
    Honoria watched her with interest. Mrs. Royle was such a medium woman—medium height, medium build, medium brown hair and medium brown eyes. Even her dress was of a medium shade of purple, with a medium-sized ruffle circling the bottom.
    But there was nothing medium about her expression at that moment. She looked ready to command an army, and it was clear that she would take no prisoners.
    â€œIt’s brilliant,” Mrs. Royle said, frowning slightly as she looked for something on her desk. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier. We will have to work quickly, of course. We shall send someone down to London this afternoon to notify your parents that you will be detained.” She turned to Honoria. “Cecily says that you can ensure that Lord Chatteris makes an appearance?”
    â€œNo, ” Honoria answered with alarm. “I can try, of course, but—”
    â€œTry hard,” Mrs. Royle said briskly. “That will be your job while the rest of us plan the party. When is he coming, by the way?”
    â€œI have no idea,” Honoria replied, for what had to be—oh, bother it all, it did not matter how many times she had answered that question. “He did not say.”
    â€œYou don’t think he’s forgotten?”
    â€œHe is not the sort to forget,” Honoria told her.
    â€œNo, he doesn’t seem as if he would,” Mrs. Royle murmured. “Still, one can never count upon a man to be as devoted to the mechanics of courtship as a female.”
    The alarm that had been percolating inside Honoria exploded into full-form panic. Dear heavens, if Mrs. Royle was thinking to pair her up with Marcus  . . .
    â€œHe’s not courting me,” she said quickly.
    Mrs. Royle gave her a calculating look.
    â€œHe’s not, I promise you.”
    Mrs. Royle turned her gaze to Sarah, who immediately straightened in her seat.
    â€œIt does seem unlikely,” Sarah said, since it was clear that Mrs. Royle wished for her to chime in. “They are rather like brother and sister.”
    â€œIt’s true,” Honoria confirmed. “He and my brother were the closest of friends.”
    The room went silent at the mention of Daniel. Honoria wasn’t sure if this was out of respect, awkwardness, or regret that a perfectly eligible gentleman was lost to the current crop of debutantes.
    â€œWell,” Mrs. Royle said briskly. “Do your best. It is all we can ask of you.”
    â€œOh!” Cecily yelped, stepping back from the window. “I think he’s here!”
    Sarah jumped to her feet and began smoothing her perfectly unwrinkled skirts. “Are you certain?”
    â€œOh, yes.” Cecily practically sighed with delight. “Oh, my, but that’s a gorgeous carriage.”
    They all stood still, awaiting their guest. Honoria thought Mrs. Royle might actually be holding her breath.
    â€œWon’t we feel foolish,” Iris whispered in her ear, “if it is not even he?”
    Honoria bit back a laugh, shoving her cousin with her foot.
    Iris only grinned.
    In the