The Unwanted Heiress by Amy Corwin Read Free Book Online

dreadfully intelligent, you had best return inside.”
    “Really?” he stepped forward, still smiling. A dimple puckered his left cheek, making her heart thud. “Perhaps I would not mind giving a few people the mistaken impression that I am not completely unintelligent.”
    “Oh, no. You would not like it, not at all. If you wish to give that impression, you would have to avoid the ton, for starters. It would be dreadfully inconvenient for you.”
    He laughed. “Indeed. So, what were you doing out here? Surely you were not simply avoiding us all?”
    “If you must know, I was watching the moths. ”
    “ Moths?”
    She gestured impatiently at the insects assaulting the paper lanterns. “Yes. Moths—those flapping creatures one sees at night. Now, if you will excuse me?”
    “Not just yet.” He smiled down at her. “After all, we have not even been introduced.”
    “No, we have not, have we?” she replied frostily, trying to ignore the gleam in his eyes. Uncertainty, and the way everything seemed to fade away when he was near, made her nervous.
    “Oh, I am sure we could find someone to introduce us.”
    “Then why don’t you do that? I promise to wait right here until you return.”
    “I—” He glanced down and pulled a gold chain out of his waistcoat pocket. “Wait!”
    Charlotte eyed him curiously. “What is it? Are you late for something?”
    “I have just noticed—I have lost it!”
    “Lost what? Your watch? I am sure someone inside must know what time it is.”
    “No, that is not it.” He glanced around the terrace and then stared toward the shadowy path through the gardens. “You have not seen a piece of lapis lazuli, have you? I knew I should have had that link replaced….”
    She eyed the flagstone terrace but there was nothing to interrupt the broad, smooth plane of gray stones. “I have not seen anything of the sort. I am sorry.”
    Bending down, he felt around under a nearby marble bench, uttering muffled curses. He hit his shoulder and swore when he sat back on his heels. He studied the flagstones with a frown before he stood up and dusted off his hands.
    A glum expression shadowed his face. “Well, it is gone. Damnation! My lucky lapis—are you sure you don’t see it anywhere?”
    “No. It is not so lucky if you have lost it, is it?” she remarked before taking pity on him. “Maybe one of the other guests will find it. Was it distinctive? Would they know it belonged to you?”
    “It was certainly unique enough—it was a piece of lapis twisted like a corkscrew. They ought to know the fob belongs to me. I have worn the thing for years.”
    “Then I should not worry about it. Surely, someone will find it and return it to you.”
    Once more he scanned the grassy path leading from the garden, brushing off her words with an impatient gesture. Feeling dismissed, Charlotte edged toward the French doors, thinking about the Archers. Suddenly, the flutter of a white dress caught the corner of her eye.
    “Your Grace!” Lady Beatrice’s high, flute-like voice called. “Your Grace, where are you?”
    Lady Beatrice stood framed in the French doors, her back to the terrace. Her white silk gown shimmered in the soft light from the ballroom.
    Charlotte prayed Lady Beatrice would not glance over her shoulder and see them. Then, as Charlotte watched in trepidation, Lady Beatrice swirled around. Midway through the graceful movement, she seemed to almost lunge to the left. She stumbled into a tray carried by one of the footmen who had been dragooned into acting as waiters for the ball. Several glasses of Madeira tipped their contents over Lady Beatrice’s heaving bosom, running down her pale silk dress like streaks of blood.
    “You fool!” she lashed out at the hapless servant. Her voice drifted, thin and faint over the terrace. “Get out! Get out this minute! And don’t think you will get a recommendation from my father, for you will not, you clumsy oaf.”
    He stood there, empty tray in