The Magic Between Us (Faerie) by Tammy Falkner Read Free Book Online Page B

to touch me, I would have,” she called back.
    Good Lord, he was in for a long afternoon. He took Claire’s hand and dived headfirst into the painting.

Six
    Climbing into a painting was easier than climbing out of one. Climbing out when someone could be watching was particularly precarious. Claire went out first and reached a hand in to pull the others free when she saw that the way was unobstructed. Then she hid the painting, their way home, in the bushes behind a nearby building.
    Cecelia brushed the dust from her dress and looked around. Sainte-Chappelle was a sight to behold when one was inside, with all its glass windows. “Beautiful,” Marcus breathed.
    “Yes, it is a lovely building,” Cecelia replied.
    Marcus looked down at her, his dark eyes sparkling. “I wasn’t referring to the building.”
    Cecelia’s heart dropped toward her toes. Allen made a gagging sound with a finger in his throat, which made Ainsley laugh loudly.
    “Quite nauseating, isn’t it? Unrequited love?” Ainsley asked of Allen.
    “I have a feeling this love isn’t unrequited,” Allen whispered back, but he was close enough that Cecelia could hear him.
    “It should be after what he did,” Ainsley said. She was nothing if not stalwart in protecting Cecelia’s heart.
    “Men make mistakes, my dear,” Allen informed her. “It’s the unfortunate nature of the beast. Particularly aristocratic men. They’re unfortunately addled when it comes to things not pertaining to titles, land, and fortunes. Matters of the heart trip us up much more than transfers of holdings or a bet on the books at White’s.”
    Ainsley snorted. “Aristocratic men are imbeciles, you say?” She rocked her shoulder into his. Shock crossed his face at her audacity, but he quickly hid it. He was raised to be such a gentleman. And a gentleman did not correct a lady. Particularly not one whose only fault so far was a familiarity with his person.
    Allen adjusted his jacket. “Not imbeciles, I’d say.” He leaned closer to Ainsley. “Although my brother might fall into that category if he doesn’t marry that lady as soon as possible.”
    Cecelia heard him this time and cringed. That would never happen.
    “When the two of you are finished with your flirting, let’s go and see if we can find Mayden,” Claire said to Allen and Ainsley, and Ainsley’s face reddened prettily. The tops of Allen’s ears turned pink.
    Lord Phineas coughed into his hand to cover a laugh. Marcus turned away, but not before he grinned at his brother.
    “If we could be serious for a moment,” Claire scolded, as she held out two miniatures, keeping a third for herself. “This is what the Earl of Mayden looks like. In case you need to show him to anyone.”
    “Is that safe?” Cecelia asked as she looked down at the miniature.
    “Probably not,” Lord Phineas said. Claire and her husband knew Mayden’s sordid history personally since the earl had made an attempt on Finn’s life the year before. “So, be careful.”
    “I think we can cover more ground if we split up,” Claire said.
    “I’m going with you,” Lord Phineas said to his wife as Claire slid her arm into his. She smiled up at him.
    Allen bowed to Ainsley and said, “Shall we take a stroll about town?” Ainsley flushed again and laughed lightly as she curtsied.
    That left Cecelia with Marcus. Oh, joy . Cecelia looked over at him and grimaced.
    “Don’t worry. I promise not to bite.” He held out his arm for her and arched a brow in question.
    “I learned to walk when I was a year old, Marcus. I don’t think I’ve forgotten how.” She started in the other direction.
    ***
    Good God, the woman would drive him absolutely mad. First she wouldn’t let him put her into the painting, and now she wouldn’t even take his arm. She was angry, and she had a right to be. But would she ever get past it? “Do you even know where you’re going?” he called to her retreating back.
    “Somewhere you’re not,” she