Miss Foster’s Folly by Alice Gaines Read Free Book Online

see you again?”
    He looked so earnest, as if he really had an interest in her, but the twinkle had returned to his eyes. He was a ne’er-do-well, and a handsome one. She could put him to good use, even if it wasn’t the one he had in mind.
    “Come for a visit tomorrow at three,” she said.
    He kissed the back of her hand. No more than a brush of his lips on her glove. Warm, just like every other time he’d gotten near to her.
    He straightened and gave her the same wicked smile. He did it so easily.
    She pulled her hand back. “We can manage from here on our own.”
    He touched the brim of his hat. “Until tomorrow.”
    This time, she twined her arm with Millie’s and stepped into the street. Halfway through, Millie leaned toward her. “He’s still back there, isn’t he?”
    She cast a quick glance over her shoulder. He hadn’t moved since they’d left him. “What do you think he’s doing?”
    “Watching to make sure we’re safe?”
    “That seems too easy.”
    “Maybe he really likes looking at you,” Millie said.
    Improbable, but maybe true. If so, that would make things easier.
    They climbed onto the sidewalk and then to the bottom of the steps leading up to the house.
    She turned and waved at him. What a sight he made. Tall and handsome, with a head of dark curly hair that was a bit longer than strictly decent.
    He hesitated, letting her admire him, then touched the brim of his hat again and went back into the park.
    “What a remarkable man,” Millie said.
    “I suppose you could use that word.”
    “He’s quite taken with you.”
    “I never planned that, but it’ll come in handy,” Juliet said.
    Millie’s jaw dropped. “What a strange thing to say.”
    “Don’t worry about it.” She turned and went up the stairs.
    Millie followed. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
    “Come along and help me pick out something to wear for Lord Derrington’s visit.”

Chapter Four
    Derrington found the Foster mansion about what one would expect. There was an efficient butler to answer the door and take his hat; a marble entryway with a lofty ceiling and grand staircase leading to the upper floors; and even a few potted palms that decorators favored these days. So, he could hardly have expected what he’d find when the majordomo guided him to a formal sitting room and left, closing the door quietly behind him.
    Miss Juliet Foster rose when he entered, but she hardly resembled the Juliet Foster he’d encountered before. Instead of a dress in mourning black, buttoned up nearly to her chin, she wore a ball gown in crimson silk. The bodice dipped low, scarcely covering more than the tips of her breasts. And what magnificent breasts they were. Not overly large as you sometimes saw among women who liked to wear low-cut dresses. Juliet’s were small pillows of flesh and sweetly rounded. Even from across the room, they looked powder soft.
    “Do you approve, Lord Derrington?” she said.
    He finally managed to move his gaze to her face. She wore an odd expression, more like steely resolve than anything else, with the uplifted chin and the determined set to her jaw.
    “‘Approve’ is inadequate to describe how I feel about how you look in that dress.”
    “I’m sure you can think of another one, then.”
    “I doubt it,” he said. “You’ve rendered me quite speechless, Miss Foster.”
    “It’s early yet,” she answered. “Whiskey?”
    “Now, I hardly know what to think.”
    “A man who has no opinion on spirits?” she said. “You’re not a teetotaler, I hope.”
    “Of course not.”
    “Good. Let’s have a drink.” She walked to a side table that held a silver tray with tumblers and several decanters. “Irish, Scotch, or American bourbon?”
    “Scotch, thank you.”
    She poured a generous amount from one of the decanters and then selected a second. From that, she splashed a tiny bit into a glass and drank it in one swallow. The look of determination returned to her features as she