To All the Rakes I've Loved Before (A Honeycote Novella) by Anne Barton Read Free Book Online Page A

it was all quite respectable, if one discounted the fact that they had no chaperone. And that he wore a robe.
    “Maybe you should call on them from time to time.”
    “Their brother is the Duke of Huntford. He’s rather imposing. And Mama would insist on joining me. We’d only succeed in embarrassing ourselves.”
    “So, you’d rather spend your life behind these walls than risk humiliation.”
    Correct. That summed the matter up rather nicely. She swept an arm around the sumptuous, if garish, room. “This isn’t exactly Newgate. I have plenty to amuse me.”
    A slow, sultry smile spread across his face. “Indeed. Just moments ago, you were amusing yourself with my—”
    “Shall I ring for more tea?” It had been much easier to converse with Stephen when he was flat on his back and relatively defenseless.
    “Not for me. But I would like to ask you something.”
    The air around them went still, and Amelia knew the teasing was over. “Please, do.”
    “Why won’t you go to the Norrington ball with Lady Olivia and Lady Rose?”
    Her hackles rose. “Were your listening to our conversation?”
    “I overheard some of it. I should have retreated to my room the moment I realized you still had company, but I confess my curiosity won out. You’re such a puzzle, Amelia.”
    She was? “How so?”
    He frowned slightly. “I don’t understand why a woman as lovely as you would sit at home sipping ratafia when you could be at a ball, dancing and breaking the heart of every young buck in London.”
    She looked deep into his blue eyes and found not a trace of mockery. If he really thought her capable of breaking hearts, the blows to his head must have been serious indeed. And yet, it was possibly the best compliment she’d ever received. “I’ve already explained. My mother—”
    “Is out of town.”
    Blast. “True. But I’m not in the market for a husband”—he raised a dark brow at that—“so what would be the point of going?”
    He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. Her palm sizzled. “The point of going to ball is to enjoy oneself, to have fun—firsthand. Rather than reading someone’s account of the festivities three days from now, you could be living it.”
    “I do appreciate your concern. But boring as my existence may seem, I’m perfectly happy with it.” She smiled, perhaps a little too brightly.
    “That’s because you don’t know what you’re missing.” He stroked his thumb over her wrist in tantalizing little circles, making her pleasantly light-headed.
    “What, precisely, do you think I’m missing? Blisters from stiff slippers? Scintillating discussions about the weather?”
    “You really have no idea, do you?”
    She opened her mouth to respond, but he was already standing, pulling her to her feet.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I’m showing you what you’re missing.”
    He held her hand tightly, like she belonged to him. It was a disconcerting notion—and not entirely unpleasant.
    They stopped in an open space behind a pair of wingback chairs. Stephen turned her so that they faced each other and cupped her cheeks, gently encouraging her to meet his gaze. Then he held her hands.
    “You must use your imagination,” he began.
    “Very well.” She could play this game. “What shall I imagine?”
    “I am wearing not a robe, but a perfectly cut long-tailed dark coat with a white waistcoat.”
    “You look most dashing, my lord.”
    He grinned. “And you are wearing a satin gown of—well, I should let you select it. Any color and style you like. Be specific, please. Details are helpful.”
    “I am partial to light green.”
    “Good. Tell me more.”
    “I should like it to be simple, without a lot of frippery. Perhaps short, petal sleeves.”
    “Excellent,” he said encouragingly. “And would it be too much to hope that the neckline is a little daring?”
    She decided there was no harm in accommodating the request. “It is rather daring, now that you mention