Love According To Lily by Julianne MacLean Read Free Book Online Page B

charge.”
    They both looked over at Marion, who was watching from the corner with the other ladies her age.
    “Does she mind how things have changed?” Richard asked.
    “She did at one time, but she’s accepted it now. Although she might not be completely comfortable with it. The ladies look rather displeased, don’t they?”
    Lord Richard smiled and turned his back on them. “Your mother looks like she’s got a cramp in her side. They’re tolerating it at best.”
    Mrs. Carrington—their neighbor who was playing the polka on the piano—began playing again, but this time a country dance. Richard led Lily back onto the floor. The ladies lined up on the left, facing the gentlemen.
    The dance began, and they moved around each other in the proper formations. “May I say, Lady Lily, that you look stunning this evening?”
    “Thank you,” she replied.
    “I can’t imagine your mother approved of
that
dress.”
    There was a hint of vulgarity in his tone, and it made Lily feel suddenly self-conscious, especially of her low
décolletage
. “Did you prefer the one I wore last night?” she asked.
    “Oh, no, not me. I definitely prefer this one. I hate it when women dress like their grandmothers.”
    Lily tried to smile at what she wouldn’t exactly call a compliment.
    They joined hands and walked in a circle around each other. Richard smiled presumptuously at her. “You wore it for me, didn’t you?”
    They separated and came back together again, going through the steps side by side. “I wore it because I liked it,” she replied.
    “I like it, too. I was actually quite surprised when I saw you tonight. I must confess, last night when we were introduced, I had taken you for a bit of a prude.”
    Lily snapped her mouth shut, stunned by his uncouth manner. “Why would you think that?”
    “Because of the way you acted—like a scared mouse. I’m guessing now that it was because your mother was so close by. But tonight I see there is something bold about you. I quite like it.”
    He crossed behind her, and she could feel his gaze on her bare neck and shoulders. When they came around to face each other, she felt almost as if he was leering at her. Lily felt her skin prickle, and worried that perhaps she had gone too far with her flirting.
    “Thank God I don’t have to be in that rank church tomorrow,” he said offhandedly.
    “I can’t say that I’ve ever heard a chaplain say such a thing before,” she said. “What would your parishioners say?”
    A look of disdain colored his face. “To tell you the truth I don’t really care. I wouldn’t be in that chapel day after tedious day if it weren’t for my father. He’s so bloody controlling. He’d cut me off if I didn’t do as he told me to.”
    Lily wondered what her mother would think if she could hear Richard now.
    Richard crossed behind her. “There aren’t many people I would say something like that to,” he said, “but I’ve seen the way you are with your mother, and tonight I’ve begun to suspect that you would like nothing better than to break free of your confines, too. I’m hoping we are kindred spirits.”
    He discreetly brushed a finger up her arm as he came to stand before her. She was reminded of what had happened to her three years ago, when Pierre had convinced her to run off with him. She had wanted to break out of her confines then, to get away from this house. She had been desperate for attention and affection—from anyone—and she had wanted to prove to herself that she was not in love with Whitby. She’d wanted to smother the hurt and the longing she always felt, especially when she watched him flirt with other women.
    She would not make that mistake again, because she had learned from it. She had learned that one could not simply distract one’s self from things that hurt. Those things must be faced and dealt with.
    The dance ended and she was glad. Richard escorted her off the floor, but remained at her side. A few other