Marjorie Farrell by Lady Arden's Redemption Read Free Book Online Page A

though still angry, was not immune to her closeness, and being more experienced, was well aware that what he felt was a strong physical attraction. It surprised him, for while he did prefer brunettes, he also preferred small women, for he enjoyed the sensation they gave him of being the protector, or had thought he did. It was different to dance with a woman whose stature and features, while not at all unfeminine, proclaimed her strength. He would swear that she was responding to him too, but he felt none of the signs of vulnerability that a woman usually gave off. Instead, he felt her tension, and he wondered if she would ever soften for anyone.
    "I understand that this is your first Season, Lady Arden," he said.
    "Yes, Captain," she replied, determined not to make conver sation easy. Why should she want to converse with him anyway?
    "Are you enjoying it?"
    "I suppose so."
    "It is unusual for so young a lady as yourself to have become as notorious as your father says you are," said Gareth, provokingly.
    "Notorious?"
    "Perhaps you do not know that you are known as the Insuf ferable? But maybe it seems a sort of success to you, to gain a title, even if not that of Incomparable."
    Gareth was smooth, but Arden was not stupid. She knew this was no innocent query. She could not believe he was deliberately attempting to insult her. The title did not really bother her, in fact she relished it a bit, but surely it was out of bounds, not to mention ungentlemanly, for him to talk about it with her? Again, she sought for a phrase that would "name" him, that would enable her to put him on the defensive, and again, for some reason, her tongue could not produce it.
    "You are … you are…," she began to sputter.
    "Yes?" he asked, with a false air of innocence.
    "You are as rude as you appear," she burst out.
    "Oh, I am disappointed," he said, sounding genuinely grieved. “I had hoped I would have earned a real setdown from you tonight. I believe there is a certain cachet to earning a title from you, my lady. They promised me more wit.”
    “Why you arrogant, unfashionable…”
    “Unfashionable? Oh, you mean my coat. It does look a bit…relaxed, shall we say. Smile, my dear. It would never do to let yourself look upset. After all, someone like you cannot really be touched by anyone, is that not so?”
    For once in her life, Arden was speechless. She put a smile back on her face and was able to get through the rest of their dance, but left him as soon as the music ended, not allowing Gareth to escort her off the floor.
    Gareth looked after her, very satisfied that he had penetrated her armor, but also conscious that he would like the chance to hold her close again. His promise to the earl did not seem as onerous as it had in the beginning of the evening. At the least, it would be amusing to spar with the lady, even if one were not going to offer marriage at the end of it.
     

Chapter 9
     
    After leaving Gareth, Arden, instead of returning to her own group of companions, sought out her cousin. Celia had made good friends with several of the young ladies, and was with two of them and an assortment of attractive young men. Arden’s arrival caused the conversation, which had been quite lively, to become a bit strained, and slowly, one by one, the young people drifted off, leaving her alone with Celia.
    Celia did not try to make excuses, for this had happened before and her comments on those occasions, which had been to the effect that her friends were a bit younger than Arden, would only seem repetitive.
    “I am surprised not to find Lord Heronwood next to you, Celia,” said Arden, who was genuinely trying to banish her irreverent mental picture of that young man, since he seemed interested in her cousin. She had spoken of him respectfully at all times after her first witticism, but Celia still felt self-conscious and was anxious for her cousin’s approval.
    “He is at the refreshment table, getting me something to drink. Who was