RendezvousWithYou by Cecily French Read Free Book Online Page B

many times
the deed was done? And where?”
    “I don’t think I can count that high,” Bella said demurely
and the guests laughed.
    “Then we must declare that this gentleman, by the rules of
the night, ‘The Best Lover in London’,” Allesandro said and the crowd applauded
once more.
    “You will get no argument from me on that score,” Bella
declared. “I don’t think I’ll be able to walk tomorrow. But it was worth it.”
    “Shall I have to replace any of the furnishings?” Allesandro
asked.
    “Not this time,” Ian said. “Though I think I can safely say
the bed was the least of the furnishings used.”
    A roar of laughter issued forth, followed by more applause.
As it died away, Ian added, “Although I am glad to say my own bed will most
definitely be used for sleep this night. Come, my good host. Bring forth the
promised prize. And I do hope you have already divided it, for I’d hate to
spend my last waking moments counting it out coin by sweet coin.”
    “Certainly.” Beckoning with his finger, Allesandro added,
“Come with me.”
    Ian and Bella followed him to a corner of the room. After
removing a painting, he opened a small wall safe. Taking out two drawstring
bags, he handed one to each of them. “There you are. Winnings for your evening
of decadence. How shall you spend your fortunes?”
    Balancing the bag in her palm, Bella said, “Oh the list is
endless. My milliner, my modiste, perhaps my shoemaker. Deciding where to start
will be the only problem.”
    “Spoken like a true lady of fashion,” their host agreed.
“And you, sir?”
    “More pleasure,” Bella’s lover declared. “But now our revels
are ended, as the Bard tells us, and I must walk my fair lady to her carriage.”
    Ian led her past the cheering crowd into the foyer. After
collecting her cloak from the waiting footman, he escorted her outside to her
carriage.
    The guests followed and he made her an elaborate bow. “Thank
you my lady,” he said, kissing her hand.
    Bella inclined her head. “The pleasure was all mine, good
sir.”
    He gave her a long lingering kiss, and then squeezed her
bottom, invoking another laugh from the crowd. After helping her into her
carriage, he turned to the crowd and bowed. “Thus ends another night for ‘The
Best Lover in London’.”
    And laughing, Bella watched him climb into his own carriage
and drive away.
    * * * * *
    “Did you enjoy your evening, Lady Jocelyn?”
    She smiled at the family butler. “I did indeed, Orlando.
Thank you.”
    The servant looked at Hugh. “And you, Sir Hugh? Was your
evening also successful?”
    He shrugged out of his great coat and gave it to Orlando.
“It was. An evening that yielded a great prize, indeed.”
    “Speculations, Sir Hugh?”
    He could not stop his grin. “You could say that. I think we
need a bottle of champagne. The Dom Pérignon please, if you would, Orlando.”
    “That successful?” Orlando gave him an admiring glance. “But
why should I be surprised? Your reputation at investment is legendary, Sir
Hugh.”
    “Thank you, Orlando. You may bring the champagne to the
upstairs drawing room. Come, my lady.” He extended his arm. “Let us go see if
our children are sound asleep.”
    In the nursery, Monroe, Alexander and Sydney all lay in the
deep slumber young children enjoy.
    “They’re looking more like you every day, darling,” Jocelyn
whispered, squeezing his arm.
    “Except for their noses,” he said. “They’ve all got your
nose, thank the good Lord.”
    She reached up to stroke his prominent feature. “It’s a
perfectly beautiful nose, my sweet. Noble, proud, Roman—”
    “Big,” he said and they laughed.
    “Shall we change from our finery into something more
comfortable?”
    She nodded. “It may be beautiful, but this wig is starting
to give me a headache.”
    When she joined him in the drawing room, he was pleased to
see she had let down her hair. The firelight turned her curls falling past her
shoulders into a