The Prince of Ravenscar by Catherine Coulter Read Free Book Online

couldn’t abide, and a poseur, what with his dead white face. Willow trees! But he was amusing, and he had indeed sharpened his wit on her. He would give Sophie experience in dealing with a quick-witted gentleman. Surely there was no harm in him. She said, “It is rather warm in here. I think I fancy some of that lovely punch.” As she lifted her hand to take a crystal flute, filled to the top with the moral-wrecking punch, Julian lightly placed his hand over hers, gave her a small bow. “Miss Radcliffe, will you dance with me?”
    â€œ Hmm. Punch or a waltz?” She laughed, placed her white hand on his black-coated arm, and off they went to the dance floor.
    He said in her ear, “You do not wish to indulge in the punch, ma’am. It is rumored ladies quickly lose their moral compass with but one glass.”
    â€œReally? And gentlemen? How many glasses does it require for a gentleman to lose his moral compass?”
    â€œNary a one.”
    â€œPerhaps it would not be such a bad idea to be rendered insensible to the mayhem brewing between your mother and the duchess.”
    â€œI have been gone from England for three years. I return to find nothing changed. I have never seen them come to blows, though I think they might both enjoy it.” He took her into his arms and swept her into large spinning circles.
    â€œOh, this is lovely.” And Roxanne laughed, twirled, swirled in great circles, and admired how they never crashed into other couples, so good was he at steering her aright. Yes, a man was needful for a waltz.
    Corinne stared after them, aware that Lorelei was looking at her with steel in her eyes. “You will not fob that creature off on Devlin. She is a nobody, I doubt not, and too tall. Do you hear me?”
    Corinne turned to ask with great interest, “Why do you think she’s a creature and a nobody?”
    Lorelei retrenched. “You wouldn’t want a pig in a poke for your precious son, now, would you? I see it all now. This girl is an heiress.”
    â€œThat is an interesting conclusion, Lorelei. Do you really think that is true?”
    â€œHa, you do not fool me. Who is she? I have never heard of a Wilkie before of any account at all. Where is she from?”
    Corinne smiled. “Perhaps she is a creature, perhaps she is a nobody, a veritable adventuress who will wed with your son. Wouldn’t that be something?”
    â€œHow old is she?”
    â€œI forget.”
    â€œI do not like this, Corinne. You are toying with me, and all of it with a false smile. Were I that girl’s mother, I would be chagrined at her behavior.”
    â€œBe happy, then, that you are not,” Corinne said, flicked her fingers at her mortal enemy, and walked to greet a longtime friend. She had a fancy to waltz herself, and Amelia always surrounded herself with eligible gentlemen. Surely there would be a gentleman to please her, dance and flirt with her, and ply her with glasses of the lovely punch.

8

4 Rexford Square
    D evlin Monroe said, “Do you know, Julian, my mother actually called on me this morning? I came down for breakfast, and there she was on my doorstep, rather standing right there in my entrance hall. Ponce was so affected, poor fellow, he was nearly tripping over his tongue and his feet, trying to steer her into my drawing room. If my mother comes here to hunt me down again, do consider hiding me in one of those large cabinets from China. A snifter of your excellent Spanish brandy wouldn’t come amiss. Please, no more whiskey.”
    Julian, who’d been reading about the schooners built in Baltimore, rose and poured both of them some brandy. After he clicked his glass to Devlin’s, he said, “You are too large to fit in one of the cabinets. They are from Japan, not China. So your fond mama is worried that Sophie Wilkie is after your title?”
    â€œThat’s it, but not really. First, she demanded to know who the