The Emperor's New Clothes by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online

running into a British gentleman must be astronomical. Damnation, she’d have to watch every single word she said, and worse, how she said it. She couldn’t let her English accent slip even for a moment. Ophelia squared her shoulders slightly. Surely she was up to yet another challenge. The recent years had been full of them.
    â€œGood evening, Mr. Montgomery.”
    â€œI can’t tell you how delighted I am to meet you.” He held her hand in a firm grip. “It is so rare to run into anyone from England out here. It is the Countess of Bridgewater, is it not?”
    â€œYes,” she said faintly, and tugged at her hand. Why was he staring at her like that?
    â€œIt’s been months since I was home,” he said, “and I daresay we must know many of the same people.” An amused smile played on his lips. “We shall have to have a long chat.”
    â€œOf course.” Of course not! She had to get away from this man. She tugged again at her hand, but he deftly tucked it into the crook of his arm.
    Big Jack chuckled. “Sedge, my boy, she’s in your capable hands now. See to it she meets everyone. That’s why they’re here.” He nodded at Ophelia, and she realized he meant to abandon her to her alleged compatriot. “I see somebody I’ve been meaning to talk to,” Big Jack added. “Countess.”
    â€œMr. Matthews,” she replied. Big Jack nodded and walked away. Desperation seized her. This Sedgewick Montgomery was probably the only person here who could unmask her. She had to escape from him, at least until she was more comfortable with her role. But her hand was firmly tucked in his arm, and for the moment she was trapped.
    Montgomery turned and led her away from the stairs. “Now then, my lady—”
    She was too busy worrying about the man beside her to notice the one blocking their path.
    â€œMy lady,” the second man said.
    Until now.
    â€œChampagne?” He was big and blond and bronze, and a smile danced on his handsome face. He held out a glass of wine with a hand that dwarfed her own.
    â€œThank you.” She gazed up into eyes dark and deep and delicious. At once her mouth was dry, and she sipped the champagne gratefully.
    Beside her Montgomery sighed. “You promised, old man.”
    The blonde grinned. “I lied.”
    Montgomery sighed again and released her hand. “I suppose I had best introduce you, then.”
    â€œExcellent idea, Sedge.” His words were directed at Montgomery, but his assessing gaze never left her. Her heart thudded in her chest.
    â€œCountess, this is Tyler Matthews.” Montgomery shrugged. “Tye, this is the Countess of Bridgewater.”
    â€œCountess.” Tye grasped her free hand and quickly brought it to his lips, the light brush of his mouth shivering through her blood. Apruptly she wondered just what kind of promises a man like this made. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet,” he said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
    â€œOh?” Apprehension swept away his odd effect on her. “What have you heard?”
    â€œNothing really.” A flirtatious light shone in his eye, and relief washed through her. “Only that you were coming.”
    â€œI see.” She considered him for a moment. “Matthews? Are you related to my host and hostess?”
    â€œIs he?” Montgomery snorted.
    Tye ignored him. “They’re my aunt and uncle.”
    â€œPractically raised him,” Montgomery said.
    Again Tye paid no attention to the other man. “So, I understand there is no Count of Bridgewater?”
    â€œYou knew she was a widow,” Montgomery muttered.
    â€œNo,” she said in a quick, breathless rush. He still grasped one hand; the other held her glass, and she was indeed trapped. The warmth of his fingers wrapped around hers was at once exciting and disturbing. She blurted out the words,