Midnight Kisses (Midnight Series) by Emily Bold Read Free Book Online

Corbett, but with all due respect, I think it is misplaced. I am well able to take care of myself. Thank you for this  . . .  pleasant conversation. I shall exit right here.”
    Corbett, who had clearly heard the metallic sound of the gun, knocked against the carriage wall with his walking stick, and the horses immediately slowed.
    “As you prefer, Weston. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

    “Wasn’t that the most delightful house you ever saw?” Eliza Bosworth, dressed in a lemon yellow dress, gushed as she whirlwinded her way back into her townhouse. Danielle’s dark form behind her almost looked like Eliza’s shadow. And that was how she felt, too. Danielle was simply unable to keep up with her friend’s overflowing enthusiasm. They handed the butler their coats and, before Danielle could even reply, Eliza grabbed her arm and pulled her with her into the salon.
    “Just imagine how wonderful it would be if you were to buy that house. We could see each other every day!” Eliza exclaimed.
    Danielle smiled. Seeing her old friend again had done her a world of good. She was able to leave almost all her worries behind her, and at times she even managed to forget about Matthew, Christopher, and the break-in for a few hours.
    “I don’t know, Eliza. It would surely be lovely to live near you, but didn’t you see how people were staring at me when they recognized me?”
    “Oh, pishposh! Of course they want to satisfy their curiosity, but they will soon turn their attention to far more exciting things.”
    “It’s so humiliating!” Danielle confessed, but Eliza wouldn’t have any of it.
    “Nonsense! And now stop fretting about it. Colin has invited an old friend over for dinner tonight. Perhaps that’ll take your mind off things. In all honesty, you should at least consider swapping your mourning dress for maybe a dark blue one. You’ve only been here a few days, and I’m already getting tired of black.”
    “Eliza! My husband passed only a few months ago. I couldn’t possibly  . . .  ”
    “Of course you can! And you will! I have a few dresses in my wardrobe that are modest enough to observe traditions but won’t make you look like a pitiful mope. If you ask me, Matthew doesn’t even deserve you mourning his death!”
    And thus it was decided, and when Danielle looked at herself in the mirror a few hours later, wearing a coffee-colored velvet gown, she finally seemed to come alive. Since all of Eliza’s dresses were too short for Danielle, a seamstress had, in the short time available, lengthened the gown with a golden, embroidered hem and didn’t fail to add the precious, shiny fabric to the low neckline, and even lined the sleeves. Eliza was delighted and danced around Danielle in circles, looking like a happy frog in her lime green dress.
    “Marvelous, my dear, just marvelous! If only your curves had shown up earlier in your life, you could have taken your pick among the finest of gentlemen. Your debutante ball back in the day would have taken a very different turn. Trust me, a low neckline is the best way to catch a man, that’s what my mother always used to say,” Eliza reminisced about memories past.
    “Oh, I’m through with men! That is a chapter that shall remain closed for now, and my latest discoveries about the subject have not exactly convinced me otherwise,” Danielle volunteered.
    They were making their way to the chimney room where they were hoping to meet up with Colin and his mystery guest, and continued their conversation.
    Eliza’s eyes sparkled with wonderment as she asked: “What do you mean? You said something about latest discoveries . Are you trying to tell me that you met someone?”
    Danielle rolled her eyes. Eliza was beside herself with joy and barely able to contain her curiosity as Danielle was holding the door to the chimney room for her.
    “Well, I suppose you could say that! But don’t be getting any ideas. I hate that unrefined, narcissistic, brash