Seeking Celeste by Hayley Ann Solomon Read Free Book Online

Mistress Kitty. An unsuitable one—”
    â€œBother that! That was my idle, arrogant tongue!”
    Anne smiled, finally. How could she not?
    The earl drew in his breath sharply. He had never seen a face illuminate quite as Anne’s did. The moment, however, was elusive, far too fleeting for his comfort.
    â€œTrue, my lord, but even idle tongues can speak the truth. I am unsuitable, not by virtue of my age, as you think, nor by my behaviour, which I admit is rather more erratic than I am prone to, but by simple virtue of the fact that I am an impostor in your home.”
    Whatever Lord Robert Carmichael had expected, it was not this.
    â€œGood God, woman, what kind of melodrama is this? Imposter, indeed! You are, I understand, Miss Anne Derringer?”
    â€œNone other, my lord. I am not, however, sent by Lady Markham nor had I so much as heard of Miss Kitty Carmichael and her oh so intriguing set of brothers before yesterday morning at the earliest.”
    Robert’s long, wide brows snapped together in surprise.
    â€œNo?”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œThen, what the devil ...?”
    The inelegant question was never framed. Before he could demand a more satisfactory explanation, his eyes were alighting upon a thin stick of a woman, of indeterminate years but supremely proper appearance. She wore, upon her ageing head, a turban of fur trimmed with two elegant feathers of matching hue. Brown, to an undiscerning viewer, but to high sticklers like Lady Castle-reigh, the tone would better have been described as “tawny” or “dusky gold.”
    My lord, however, was not interested in the minutiae of such definitions. With a sweeping stare he regarded the straight back, the ebony cane and the high-necked gown with a polite but gentlemanly disfavour.
    â€œAugustus?”
    The butler coughed. “May I present to you, my lord, Miss Elizabeth Danvers? I understand you have been expecting her.”
    His lordship was just about to inquire whether Augustus had been indulging in a little too much of his port wine when light dawned. Elizabeth Danvers ... the name rang a bell. He searched his elusive memory, all the time feeling the burning stare of Miss Anne Derringer upon his elegant person.
    Hell and damnation! It was Miss Danvers who was to be Kitty’s travelling companion! Lady Markham had mentioned her quite specifically by name. Then who, in tarnation, was ...
    Anne smiled. “I believe you now understand my circumstance, your lordship.”
    â€œUnderstand? That is a strange term to describe my confusion! I shall let that pass, however and—”
    â€œYour lordship!”
    The tone was ringing. The eighth earl guiltily felt caught in the schoolroom. It was only a mad moment, however, before he retrieved his dignity and turned to the lady in question.
    â€œMiss Danvers, welcome to Carmichael Crescent.”
    â€œThank you, your lordship, and it looks as if it is not a moment too soon, either!”
    â€œBeg pardon?”
    â€œThat gown is far too low cut for a young lady, miss! It reveals invitingly, and that is one thing I cannot hold with. I am sure his lordship will agree that such an unbecoming expanse of flesh is improper and unsuitable. I shall see, at once, to the alteration of your gowns.”
    Anne was stunned, startled, then blatantly amused at the impertinence.
    â€œI collect you believe me to be Miss Kitty Carmichael?”
    The woman glared at her crushingly. “Naturally, though artifice makes you appear a trifle older. We shall deal with that, too, young lady!”
    Robert’s brows furrowed. Was this why his siblings went through governesses like he went through glasses of Madeira? If this old crab was a sample... .
    â€œI think not.”
    The woman stared at him in incomprehension. “My lord, I must ask you to be silent on this matter. As a man, you cannot know—”
    â€œAs a man, I believe I am best qualified to know, Miss