My Enchanting Hoyden (A Once Upon A Rogue Novel, #3) by Julie Johnstone Read Free Book Online Page B

home. He could give the money and letter to his sister to hand over to Miss Adair while he was there, and afterward he’d break the news to Aversley.

    J emma breezed through the elaborately carved wooden door that led from the street of Mayfair into her grandfather’s London townhome. She’d purposely gone to Sophia’s after the race, hoping that perhaps gossip would spread like lightening and reach her grandfather before she returned home. If she was very lucky, he’d have already heard the story, come to the conclusion that she was in no way fit to debut, and be waiting to tell her as much. She got five steps into the main foyer when Mr. Sims, her grandfather’s butler, entered the room from the direction of Grandfather’s study.
    Mr. Sims eyed her with disapproval, as he’d done since the day he’d overheard her tell Anne she wasn’t sure which she despised more, England’s rainy weather or Grandfather’s constant control over everything they did. Their every day was controlled by the schedule he dictated, from the moment they woke up and had to practice waltzing and curtsying with a book on their heads with Mrs. Young, until the end of the night when they were required to practice the pianoforte and embroidery. She could not wait to be out from under his command. She wasn’t sorry the butler knew it, nor did she care much that he disapproved of her.
    Jemma stopped on her way to the staircase as Mr. Sims cleared his throat. Anne collided with Jemma from behind, and Jemma turned to her sister and raised a questioning eyebrow. Honestly, Anne seemed awfully preoccupied lately. Jemma needed to find out what secret Anne was hiding.
    “Did you need me, Mr. Sims?” Jemma asked.
    “His Grace wishes to speak with you and your sister in his study.”
    This was it! Jemma couldn’t help but grin. “Of course,” she said sweetly. “We’ll go straight there.”
    Mr. Sims cracked a rare smile. “He’s most displeased.”
    “Excellent!” she cooed, giggling when Mr. Sims frowned. As she sashayed past him, her stomach did a little flip. She hoped she hadn’t gone too far.
    Anne caught Jemma at the elbow. “I hope you haven’t carried things too far!” she whispered.
    Jemma gave a start. For all the times Anne made her think they shared very little in common for twins, whenever her sister voiced a thought Jemma had just had, it reminded her of their special connection. Jemma bit her lip. “Hopefully, it was just far enough to cancel my debut but not get me disowned.”
    Anne’s eyes widened with obvious worry.
    Jemma patted her hand as they neared the open door to Grandfather’s study. “Don’t worry so. It will be fine.”
    Before she could say anything else, Mrs. Young appeared in the doorway. She nodded to Anne and then fastened her faded-blue gaze on Jemma. “Here is a bit of advice before I depart.”
    “Depart? Where are you going?” Her heart skipped a beat. This could be good or bad. Maybe Grandfather had dismissed Mrs. Young because he’d decided he needed to hire a new tutor. Or could it mean Mrs. Young was leaving because Grandfather thought Jemma ready to debut? She gulped.
    Mrs. Young’s lips puckered before her mouth pulled into a victorious smile. “If you are going to deceive someone, my dear, you need to remember to keep the deception up at all times. And that just might be the most important rule of being a member of the ton you will ever need to know.”
    “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
    A derisive sound came from the woman’s throat. “I’m sure you do. Do you know what I saw from the library window yesterday when you were in the garden with the servant children?”
    It took all Jemma’s concentration not to cry out in dismay. Her tutor must have seen her showing one of the servants’ daughters how to properly curtsy. They’d asked her to teach them, and she’d obliged, thinking she was alone.
    “I haven’t the faintest notion,” she fibbed.
    The woman