The Trouble with Honor by Julia London Read Free Book Online Page B

it back from her bosom.
    He eased back, studying her casually. Honor was accustomed to the way men looked at her. But she had never felt it quite like this, so intently. Honor’s blood began to race. She wasn’t certain if she was appalled by him or entirely aroused.
    “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully as he gazed at her collared gown. “That is not an improvement.”
    Honor yanked her spencer closed. “As I said, Mr. Easton, I did not come here for a dalliance.”
    “Apparently not,” he said. “Or you are woefully unimaginative in your seductions.” His slow, deliberate smile made the fluttering in Honor’s breast skirt merrily down her spine and land squarely in her belly. “Nevertheless, I should think it would be pleasurable for us both.”
    Honor couldn’t think. Her imagination was galloping away from her.
    “Go on, then, Miss Cabot. You have me on tenterhooks. If I will not be allowed to show you the pleasure your young heart has imagined, then please, do say what it is you want.”
    Steady on. Honor ignored her breathlessness, the heat in her veins, the desire to remove her spencer entirely, and said, “I will not lie, Mr. Easton. This favor involves a bit of...persuasion.”
    “Even more interesting.” His gaze drifted to her lips. “I knew that you were a bold one, Miss Cabot. A young lady of your stature does not appear in a Southwark gaming hell without a river of audacity running through her veins.” He smiled as if that pleased him. “What sort of persuasion did you have in mind?” he asked, and reached out, taking the end of her bonnet’s ribbon between two fingers, rubbing the velvet.
    She pulled the ribbon from his grasp. “I need you to seduce someone.”
    He reached for her ribbon again and smiled so charmingly that Honor felt a bit of herself melt. “I am trying, Miss Cabot.”
    She pulled the ribbon free once more. “Not me. ”
    He chuckled, the sound of it reverberating in her chest. “A pity. But I suppose you are too tender after all. Is it anyone I know, or anyone I choose?”
    “Someone I know.” She prepared to explain herself, but George Easton abruptly reached for her wrist and wrapped his fingers tightly around it, the thumb pressing against her vein. Could he feel how her heart raced? Her heart skipped—she knew a slender moment of terror as she looked at his hand on her wrist; it looked enormous compared to her arm. She was so foolish— she had no idea if he would harm her, if he would force her—
    “What the devil are you talking about?” he asked silkily, rubbing his thumb across her inner wrist.
    God help her, she couldn’t falter now—she’d already walked out on the plank away from propriety and decency. “As I said, I very much need you to seduce someone.”
    He lifted her arm, touched his lips to her inner wrist through the keyhole of her glove then lifted his head with a knowing smile. “It would seem I am more successful at seduction in this coach than I thought.” He pulled her forward. His eyes were blazing. “If not you, little bird, then who? ”
    “Miss...Miss Monica Hargrove.”
    Mr. Easton blinked. He suddenly let go of her wrist and fell back against the squabs. “Miss Hargrove,” he repeated disbelievingly.
    Honor nodded, thankful for the opportunity to catch her breath. She pressed her palm to her chest, took a breath.
    “Isn’t Sommerfield affianced to Miss Hargrove?”
    Honor nodded again.
    “Your stepbrother,” he announced, as if she had not realized that Viscount Sommerfield was one and the same as Augustine.
    When Honor said nothing, Easton surprised her with a laugh to the ceiling. “Of all the reprehensible— ”
    “Reprehensible!” Honor protested. “Goodness, Mr. Easton, I am not asking that you ruin her. I merely ask that you direct her attention elsewhere,” she said, and fluttered her fingers in a vaguely “elsewhere” direction.
    “For what purpose should I direct her attention elsewhere?” he asked, mimicking