The Mysterious Governess (Daughters of Sin Book 3) by Beverley Oakley Read Free Book Online Page A

supercilious gaze over Lissa and clearly found her wanting before she summed up, “So, you’re asking for the loan of a gown, in return for information on a certain gentleman in whom I believe you have an interest. That’s a bold statement. Who do you suppose I’m interested in?”
    “Lord Debenham. I was at Lady Knox’s ball and I observed you dancing with him immediately after he’d claimed a dance from me.  You were interested but you were unsure, too. Now you’d like me to help you ascertain what kind of gentleman he really is, otherwise, you’d have chosen to ignore my note.”
    “Oh, you are good.” A gurgle of genuine mirth bubbled up from within the other girl. “I shan’t pay you a penny, if you’re hoping for money, but I shall lend you a gown—and if you don’t give it back you will regret it, I promise you that. But here.”
    She handed a parcel over the fence and Lissa took it with a plethora of feelings warring within her. Anger at the world for putting her in the position of supplicant, anger at Araminta Partington for having the life Lissa should have had, and simple curiosity as to what might transpire tomorrow.
    “Well, aren’t you going to thank me from the bottom of your heart?”
    Lissa only just managed to refrain from rolling her eyes. “I haven’t seen the dress yet. It’s possible you’ve set out to humiliate me and the gown is too short or else in screamingly bad style.”
    Araminta shrugged. “Take it and see for yourself. Though not before you pledge to give me a full report within two days’ time.”
    ***
    L issa met Cosmo on the corner of the street, where he was waiting in a hackney. She’d left the house wearing a drab brown pelisse, but the afternoon gown Araminta had lent her had been a perfect fit and was in the first stare though, to her surprise, it was not a gown a debutante would wear. A bold cerise color, adorned with ruffles of a lighter hue, it clung to her curves in a way that, while perfectly decorous for a garden party, nevertheless highlighted Lissa’s finer attributes.
    And even though she had no full-length looking glass, she could tell by the way it molded her body and, later, the flare of interest in the glances of gentlemen of all ages, that she cut a fine figure. So while she smiled and nodded in response to the greetings she received, often coupled with the hopes that “Cosmo’s fair cousin enjoy her sadly too brief stay in London”, she was painfully aware that the pleasure of the moment was a cruel contrast to her reality.
    A perfect summer’s day had created an idyllic backdrop to Mrs. Gargery’s summer entertainment. Trestle tables beneath the trees overlaid by white tablecloths carried an abundance of delicious food. Sweet and savory pies, strawberries and cream and syllabub were just some of the mouthwatering fare on offer. The gardens of the elegant house were exquisite, with terraces and rosebushes and sweeping grassy hills. The hostess herself seemed to take a shine to Lissa and was quizzing her with great interest over her “background”, as she tried to recall a certain young lady she’d met recently whom Larissa strongly resembled.
    “I’ll have to introduce you to my nephew when we meet in the ballroom,” she declared. “Indeed, there he is. My darling Roderick. Mr. Roderick Woking. That’s Lord Debenham’s nephew on the other side of the family. The poor boy has lost his heart to a dark-haired enchantress but a blind fool could see Roderick is out of his league and will get nowhere.”
    Lissa liked Mrs. Gargery’s unaffected friendliness and was sorry when Cosmo reclaimed her to point out his quarry. “There, you see, is the gentleman your father does business with and who danced with you though he doesn’t remember it for I beheld him look at you a moment ago, quite blankly.”
    Lord Debenham was conversing with a much younger gentleman, whose brisk and enthusiastic manner and bright and eager expression instantly