Magical Weddings by Leigh Michaels, Aileen Harkwood, Eve Devon, Raine English, Tamara Ferguson, Lynda Haviland, Jody A. Kessler, Jane Lark, Bess McBride, L. L. Muir, Jennifer Gilby Roberts, Jan Romes, Heather Thurmeier, Elsa Winckler, Sarah Wynde Read Free Book Online Page A

seemed downcast to find only Simon and the companion. “Where is everyone?”
    She’s looking for Baron Draycott, no doubt.
    Simon had made up his mind not to speak to her about the baron. The man was a blowhard, and his questions about Celia’s dowry had been both nosy and unsettling, but it had been only talk. He’d paid far more attention last night to the Carew sisters.
    But then he and Celia had shared that secret smile across the drawing room…
    Simon pushed his plate aside. “If I might have a private conversation with you, cousin? In the hall, perhaps?”
    “But I want my breakfast.”
    “My business will take only a moment.”
    The companion looked from one to the other and murmured, “I must check on the menus for today, if you will excuse me.”
    She’d barely cleared the doorway before Celia sat down next to Simon and reached for the teapot. She smelled of something light and summery this morning–rose water, he thought. The scent mixed pleasantly with the steamy aroma rising off her cup.
    “That was not well done of you, Simon–sending Jane off without so much as a mouthful to eat. What was so important that you must drive her away?”
    “
Jane
–now I remember her name. A warning for you, Celia. Watch out for Draycott.”
    Celia’s eyebrows rose. “What in heaven’s name are you talking about? The baron and I have barely exchanged words.”
    And smiles. But you probably don’t realize I noticed that.
“He told me last night you’re the perfect choice to be a baroness, since you’re not the sort to get above yourself.”
    “How would he know that about me?”
    Simon let his voice go dry. “How he came by that notion is an interesting question indeed.”
    The way she caught her lower lip between her teeth boded no good, he knew from experience.
    “The baron is quite an insightful man, it appears.” To his annoyance, she sounded intrigued rather than put off. “Perhaps I should try to get to know him better.”
    Did she really take his insights so lightly? “He’s also been totting up how much your dowry must run to, in case he opts to offer for you.”
    “Well, that makes things easy for you, doesn’t it? You need only drop a hint that my expectations are limited to the five hundred guineas I might win from you, and that would put an end to his interest.”
    “Do you think I’m so unsporting as that?”
    “I am comforted that you do not plan to interfere. But of course your freedom is worth five hundred guineas, especially since Uncle Rupert would blame me, not you, for setting his plans awry.”
    “It appears you’re just as insightful as the baron is,” Simon muttered.
    “Thank you, dear cousin.” She leaned closer. The rose-water scent tickled his nose and tugged at something deep inside him, and warning bells went off in Simon’s head. “As long as you and I are sharing advice, I couldn’t help but notice you’ve barely spoken a word to Lady Hester.”
    He knew he should ignore her. Not that it would do any good to try, for when Celia decided to speak her mind, nothing would stop her.
    “Pretending not to notice her isn’t a bad idea,” she went on. “Ignoring her might even help to pique her interest–so long as you don’t overdo the thing. But you might do well to pay particular attention to the other young ladies as well. I suspect Hester thinks she has you safely fascinated, always there just off to the side, waiting for the moment when she wants you again.”
    “Your logic is always fascinating, Celia. Who would you suggest I pay particular attention to?”
    “The Carew sisters,” she said promptly.
    “
Both
of them? I hardly think–”
    “It’s not as if you’re seriously pursuing them–though perhaps you should, for they are very plump in the pockets, I understand. Their dowries will be so large even you couldn’t turn up your nose. However, the point is if you were to win interest from a Carew sister, Hester would have to take notice.”
    “I