TheCharmer by The Charmer Read Free Book Online Page A

running.
    Even as the thought crossed her mind, she spotted him. He was standing on the walk near the front steps of Etheridge House, apparently at ease while he passed the time of day with two fawning ladies doubtlessly out on their morning calls.
    Her chin high, Rose approached the trio as they stood just before the steps. The two ladies were intent upon Collis, their eyes bright and their gloved hands gesturing delicately.
    Rose had been taught by her training to interpret stance and expression and she could read quite clearly the message being cast:
You're handsome and manly and socially advantageous and I'd eagerly kill the lady next to me in order to gain your attentions
.
    Well, perhaps not kill. Probably only slice and maim, in the social sense. Therefore, Rose prepared herself for the ladies turning scathing glances her way when she approached. She was not disappointed.
    Collis turned her way when he noticed the ladies redirecting their attention. His lip curled slightly in a guarded smile. Rose's stomach ached at the thought that he believed she had turned the blame on him this morning. Of course, he'd been awfully eager to think it, hadn't he? Why, when she'd never given him a single reason to think her such a sneak?
    Rose cultivated that indignant thought, for it afforded her spine more steel than did dwelling on silly and hopeless dreams regarding Mr. Tremayne.
    But Collis's manner was all affability when Rose stopped before him. He doffed his hat very formally and bowed to her carefully mastered curtsey. "Good morning!" he said brightly.
    He then turned to the other ladies and smiled. "Ladies, may I introduce a friend of the family?"
    Rose barely kept her jaw from dropping at that. The ladies ran discerning gazes over her simple but quality attire. Rose waited, but the young women obviously could not quite place her status by her appearance alone. Never had she been more thankful for Lady Agatha's insistence on excellent cloth and fit for the students' garb. Her ladyship's thinking was that quiet quality could pass in almost any environment, be it high or low.
    The ladies finally nodded warily and Collis bowed again. "Then may I present our dear friend—" His smile was challenging. "Our dear friend, Miss Thorn."
    Thorny Rose
. She hid the sting and kept her chin high and her expression serene. Dropping another curtsey to the ladies, she accepted their greetings with composure.
    Obviously miffed that their entertainment had been interrupted, the two ladies made their farewells to Collis and walked slowly away with many a longing glance back, punctuated by whispers and giggles.
    Rose couldn't help rolling her eyes at such silliness.
    Collis looked at her oddly. "What's wrong, Briar Rose? Envious that they know how to have fun?"
    "Not at all," she snapped. "I pity them."
    He blinked at that. "Pity them? Whyever for?"
    "Because they likely think you truly give a damn about them now."
    "You're being absurd," Collis protested. "I only passed a moment with them. We talked of the
weather
, for pity's sake!"
    She folded her arms and glared at him. "It isn't what you say. It's how you say it!"
    He matched her annoyed pose. "That is a ridiculous notion. What could it matter how I said it? I spoke to them the way I speak to all women."
    She raised a brow. "Precisely." She dropped her arms to her sides and looked down for a moment. Collis watched her, bemused, until she raised her gaze to his. Collis found himself riveted. Her eyes had become deep seawater pools and her lids hung heavy, as if she was just rousing from her bed. "Why, Mr. Tremayne," she said throatily. "Tell me, do you think it might rain today?"
    Collis forced himself to swallow. Her lips—had they always been that full and red?—had uttered the casual sentence slowly and fully, as if she were kissing each word. Her voice, suddenly low and dark, threatened to reach directly down his spine and into his trousers to create an embarrassing display. She took a