The Betting Season (A Regency Season Book) by Jerrica Knight-Catania, Catherine Gayle, Ava Stone, Jane Charles Read Free Book Online

on his bench, his knees bumping hers. “I’m a man, Pippa. I know the thoughts men have, and I don’t want them having those thoughts about you.”
    She couldn’t imagine what she could possibly say to relieve his worry. He’d taken such good care of her for so many years, but she wasn’t a child anymore. She smiled at him, leaned across the coach, and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Berks.”
    “ Just be careful out there,” he warned. “All men are wolves no matter how charming they may seem or how well they present themselves.”
    Pippa couldn’t hide her grin. “ All men?” she asked. “Even you and Harry?”
    “ Especially Harry.” He finally grinned back. “And this Colebrooke fellow is probably the worst of the bunch.”
    “ You don’t even know him.” Honestly, how could her brother say such a thing?
    “ I know he’s a man. And I know he called on you. That’s all I need to know.”
    If that was all the criteria Berks needed, there was no man in all of England he would ever approve of. “At least reserve your judgment on him until after you meet him.”
    Berks lifted one brow in question. “And if I find him lacking then?”
    “ You won’t.” Pippa shook her head then glanced towards the still closed door “We shouldn’t make Harry and Georgie wait any longer.”
    Berks agreed with a nod. “Just remember what I said.”
    “ I will,” she promised.
    Berks opened the door, climbed outside, then offered his hand to Pippa. She stepped out onto the cobblestones near Whitehall and turned her attention south, across the Thames towards the Surrey bank. Vauxhall Gardens was just a short ferry ride across the river. And she couldn’t shake the thought that her future was waiting on the other side.

    Jason spotted Pippa before she even entered the grove. Adorned in a cheerful yellow, the moonlight gave her an ethereal glow, almost like an angel come down to earth. He caught himself smiling like a dolt and stepped into the shadows along the path. After all, it wouldn’t do for Berkswell or Harrison Casemore to catch sight of him. The entire night would be for naught in that case.
    He pulled a black domino from his jacket and slid it on, and for a brief moment thought of himself as Romeo invading a Capulet celebration in disguise. But only for a brief moment. Romeo, indeed! Entertaining such ludicrous thoughts made him question his own sanity. Besides, that particular play was fraught with one melodramatic or maudlin scene after another. A true tragedy was having to endure a performance of the damn play.
    Pippa’s laugh, as she stepped into the grove, drew Jason’s gaze back towards the entrance of the gardens. The hulking Harrison Casemore escorted a pretty blonde. Behind them, Pippa held Berkswell’s arm, her curious gaze darted around the grove as though she wanted to take in and memorize her surroundings.
    There was something so pure, so simple about her, Jason couldn’t help but study her. So pretty, so genuine, so… innocent.
    Protectively, Berkswell tugged Pippa closer to him, and he placed his hand over hers on his arm. Jason frowned. He knew, of course, that neither brother would let her come to Vauxhall unattended, but the determined expressions on both men’s faces did not bode well for Jason’s plan to draw Pippa into the darkness.
    “ Berkswell!” called some fellow further along the path.
    Jason glanced in the man’s direction to find Lord Eckley pushing his way through the revelers. What did Liverpool’s toady want with Berkswell?
    “ Eckley,” Berkswell returned. “How nice to see you.” Though the marquess’s clipped tone made Jason doubt his sincerity.
    “ I was hoping I could talk with you about this Catholic proposal.”
    “ We aren’t in the Lords until Monday,” Berkswell replied. “Perhaps we could speak before that day’s session.”
    “ I was hoping I could talk with you before then, sir.”
    Jason couldn’t care less about Catholic relief —in