Pleasure For Pleasure by Eloisa James Read Free Book Online Page B

get it fast. If someone else breaks the truth of it, we’re done. They all buy us because they can trust us to dish up the dirt, for all you want to call it by prettier names. That dirt is paying for our breakfast sausage.”
    Jessopp reached out and curled his fingers around his copy of Hellgate’s Memoirs . “You have your uses, Goffe,” he said slowly.
    â€œDamn right I do,” Goffe said, relighting his pipe.

5
    From The Earl of Hellgate, Chapter the Second
    â€™Twas a small space, just large enough for the two of us. My heart sank, as there was no place to lie down. A moment later I was introduced to the sweet art of standing fare. She curled her legs around me with all the strength and wiliness of a circus performer. My hands gave her support as if I were made for the chore (and indeed, I think perhaps I was). Then she rode me, Dear Reader; she took me where she pleased.

    T he Earl of Mayne sauntered up to Josie as if he’d seen her only yesterday, although she’d been in London for two months, and he’d never bothered to say hello to her. She found that intensely irritating. He may be old enough to be her older brother, but he didn’t have to act with a brother’s carelessness.
    She resisted the impulse to stick out her tongue at him. There were limits to how much of an older brother he likely wished to be.
    â€œMiss Essex,” he said, bowing as if she were the queen.
    She didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “You called me Josephine on the trip to Scotland,” she pointed out.
    â€œJosie, actually. And how are you?”
    â€œFine,” she said flatly. She liked Mayne, and felt hurt that he had never bothered to see how she was doing in her first season. Even when she became notorious…he must have heard about that. “Aren’t you going to ask me to dance? Because generally your sister Griselda has at least five men arranged who are required to ask me to dance.”
    â€œShe must have forgotten to give me my marching orders,” he said easily, handing her a glass of champagne. “Drink this, chérie . You look as if you could use it.”
    â€œWhy?” she asked a little wildly. “Because I’m standing here at the ball given for my sister’s wedding, waiting for my prearranged dances to begin? Because I’m—”
    â€œBecause you’re growing hysterical,” he observed. “How interesting. I never knew you to be hysterical before.”
    She took a deep breath. “Well, I’m very sorry to tell you that I am remarkably tedious company.”
    â€œWe all are when we’re wallowing in self-pity,” he said, without a trace of sympathy in his voice.
    â€œYou don’t know what it’s like.”
    â€œThank God I don’t. There’s nothing more monotonous than Almack’s on a hot Wednesday night. Nothing but sweating jackasses and flushed young women trotting about in too many ribbons.”
    Josie didn’t know why she’d even wanted Mayne to care about how she was doing. He was a fool, just like the rest of them. She started to look about, because if he wasn’t her designated dancing partner, there was sure to be another old codger limping along in a moment. But then she remembered something. “You’re engaged to be married! I saw you in the church.”
    His eyes lit up and for a moment Josie forgave him for not caring about her debut. “I want to introduce you to Sylvie.I am persuaded you will be enchanted by her,” and he took her by the arm and started towing her across the floor.
    â€œIsn’t she French?” Josie asked, hanging back so that he had to walk slowly. Anything was better than standing around looking like a marooned cow missing her herd. “I’m sorry,” she said, coming to a halt, “I don’t remember her surname. I wouldn’t want to meet her without knowing her name.”
    â€œHer