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

person who apparently is not used to being rejected by a woman. His name is  . . .  ”
    Because the gentlemen had been completely absorbed in examining one of the paintings above the expansive fireplace, they hadn’t heard the ladies enter. Now Colin walked over to them, accompanied by his guest, and kissed Eliza’s hand before introducing the man by his side.
    “Devlin Weston, Earl of Windham, this is my lovely wife Eliza and her good friend Lady Danielle  . . .  ”
    “Lady Langston, what a surprise,” Devlin skipped over Colin’s introductions, and a wide grin showing off a row of beautiful white teeth spread over his face.
    Danielle clenched her fists and decided that, going forward, she would always need to carry a shovel with her since the earth apparently had no intention of opening up and swallowing her whole, no matter how much she prayed for it.
    Eliza immediately picked up on Danielle’s sour face and Devlin’s obvious joy, and she connected the dots at once.
    “Oh, my god! You two know each other?” she asked, and her eyes darted back and forth between him and her.
    With a not-entirely-serious bow, Devlin explained:
    “I suppose when Lady Langston talked about me, she described me as an unrefined, narcissistic, brash kind of a man. But for the record, I would like to add that I’ve been getting used to being rejected ever since I met Lady Langston.”
    His diabolical wink made the blood rush to Danielle’s cheeks, and Colin gave an embarrassed cough.
    “Well, it appears we need no further introductions. So, without further ado, let’s enjoy the evening, shall we?” he ended the general awkwardness. “Eliza, my dear, why don’t you two ladies go on ahead to the dining room, we will be joining you presently.”
    As the door closed behind the girlfriends, Colin spun around, glaring furiously at Devlin.
    “Jesus, man! What the hell was that?”
    Devlin shrugged his shoulders.
    “A surprise?” he suggested.
    “Nonsense! Why didn’t you tell me that you know Lady Langston?” Colin demanded.
    “Because  . . .  ” Devlin explained, seemingly disinterested, while slowly walking from painting to painting, “  . . .  you failed to inform me of your wife’s friend’s name. Trust me, if I had known I would have politely refused your invitation.”
    “There’s not going to be a scene, Weston, is there?”
    Devlin raised his eyebrows. Colin was red in the face from the excitement, and beads of sweat sparkled on his bald forehead.
    “I don’t think so. I mean, it’s not as if I’ve taken her as my lover.”
    “Good heavens! I should think not! The poor dear has enough on her mind, what with the scandal surrounding her husband’s death and the break-in at her house a few days ago.”
    Colin wiped the sweat from his forehead and with his fingers loosened his neckerchief.
    “Scandal? What scandal? How exactly did her husband die?” Devlin inquired.
    “Didn’t you hear? Well, I guess you don’t get much in the way of news out in the country, but since you know Danielle, I thought you also knew that Lord Langston passed away in a, ahem, certain establishment.”
    “What kind of an establishment, Bosworth?”
    “Well  . . .  ” Colin cleared his throat, “  . . .  a brothel. He died in a whorehouse with his pants around his ankles. I guess his heart couldn’t take the excitement.”
    Devlin gave a concerned nod and, deep in thought, promised: “I shall not cause Lady Langston any further embarrassment. Let us dine. I would like to make up for my behavior and improve on my poor first impression.”
    “Danielle, I can’t believe it! This man—Lord Weston—is the man that you hate?” Eliza asked incredulously, not a moment after they had left the chimney room. “Did you even take a look at him? He is incredibly handsome, and then of course his title! And what did he mean when he said he learned how to take a rejection? Talk to me, for I swear I’m going to die