Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas Read Free Book Online Page B

resonated with light, laughter, and social chatter. As might be expected of a successful lawyer, Talbot’s home was elegant. The entrance hall was a charming oval with plastered copses on either end, and the large receiving room beyond was painted a soothing shade of light green, its elaborate plasterwork ceiling reflected on the gleaming, dark oak floors below. Pleasing smells filled the air, promising a fine repast, while the clinks of glassware provided a sparkling musical undertone to the strains of a string quartet.
    The central block of rooms was crowded, and Amanda nodded in greeting as various smiling faces turned toward her. She had an awareness of being popular in the manner that a favorite great-aunt might be…often she was slyly teased about this gentleman or that, although no one had any real belief that she entertained any romantic interests. She was fixed far too firmly “on the shelf” for that.
    â€œMy dear Miss Briars!” a robust masculine voice exclaimed, and she turned to see the hearty, cheerfully ruddy countenance of Mr. Talbot. “At last the evening holds true to its promise…it wanted only you to be complete.”
    Although Talbot was at least ten years her senior, he possessed an eternally boyish quality that belied his distinctive shock of long white hair. His fleshy cheeks bulged with a mischievous grin. “And how attractive you are tonight,” he continued, taking her hand and pressing it between his chubby palms. “You put all the other ladies to shame.”
    â€œI am accustomed to your easy flattery, Mr. Talbot,” Amanda informed him with a smile. “And I am far too sensible to fall prey. You’d do better to direct your pleasing words to some unfledged girl who will prove far more gullible.”
    â€œYou are my preferred target, however,” he said, and she rolled her eyes and again smiled at him.
    Taking Talbot’s proffered arm, Amanda accompanied him to a massive mahogany sideboard, flanked by two large silver urns, one steaming with hot rum punch and the other filled with cold water. Talbot made a great show of directing a servant to fill a goblet of punch for her.
    â€œNow, Mr. Talbot, I insist that you attend to your other guests,” Amanda said, letting the spicy aroma of the punch fill her nostrils. She relished the warmth that seeped through the glass goblet. Despite the thin covering of her gloves, her fingers were cold. “I see several people I wish to speak with, and you will hinder my progress.”
    Talbot laughed jovially at the mock reprimand, and took his leave of her with a deep bow. Sipping her steaming punch, Amanda surveyed the crowd. Authors, publishers, illustrators, printers, lawyers, and even a critic or two—all mingled, separated, and regathered in constantly shifting groups. Conversation rippled through the room, punctuated by frequent bursts of laughter.
    â€œAmanda, dear!” came a light, silvery voice, and Amanda turned to greet an attractive blond widow, Mrs. Francine Newlyn. Francine was the successful author of a half-dozen “sensation” novels, stories of high drama that often involved bigamy, murder, and adultery. Although Amanda privately considered Francine’s books a bit overwrought, she enjoyed them nevertheless. Slim, feline, and a lover of gossip, Francine made it a point to cultivate friendships with any writers she deemed successful enough to be worthy of her attention. Amanda always relished her conversations with the woman, who seemed to know everything about everyone, but she was also cautious not to tell Francine anything she wouldn’t care to be embellished and repeated.
    â€œDear Amanda,” Francine purred, her slender gloved fingers curved daintily around the heavy stem of a goblet, “how nice to see you here. You may be the only person of good sense to have walked through the door so far.”
    â€œI don’t know that ‘good