Twice the Temptation by Suzanne Enoch Read Free Book Online

lord. Shall I send for tea?”
     
      “No, though I thank you for the offer.” His sensuous lips curved into a smile that reminded Evangeline abruptly of kissing. “And despite Miss Munroe’s reluctance to let me leave,” he continued, “I do have an appointment.”
     
      “I did not—”
     
      “Do you attend Almack’s tonight?” he cut in, as though Gilly hadn’t spoken.
     
      “We do, Lord Rawley,” her mother supplied when Evangeline clamped her own lips shut.
     
      “Then I shall, as well.” Rawley crossed the room to Evangeline and reached down for her hand. Slowly he lifted her fingers, brushing her knuckles with his lips. “Until tonight.”
     
      “I will not dance with you,” she grated, before she remembered she should probably be grateful that he hadn’t mentioned kissing her.
     
      “I haven’t asked you to. Yet.” With a last, fleeting smile he strolled out of the room.
     
      Belatedly realizing that she still had her hand held up in the empty air, Evangeline clenched her fist and lowered it again. Impossible, distracting, arrogant man. Thank goodness he’d finally left.
     
      “Well, this is unexpected,” her mother said, looking at the closed door. “We crossed him off the list.”
     
      “He doesn’t signify,” Evangeline returned feelingly. “I think he enjoys aggravating and provoking people, and I’m merely his latest target—all thanks to an unfortunate carriage mishap. He certainly doesn’t do anything I ask of him.”
     
      The viscountess pursed her lips. “It’s actually a shame, because he is very pleasing to look at.” She brushed at the front of her skirt. “On the other hand, that’s just another mark of his unsuitability. As you know, a handsome man isn’t the best choice. Once a gentleman becomes accustomed to compliments from the fairer sex, he will seek them out in any bedchamber he can find them. You don’t want a man who preens.”
     
      She had a difficult time imagining Rawley as a preener; he had a multitude of other faults, but not that one. “I want a man who will give over his household and his income to my care, and then do what I tell him regarding everything else.” And if she’d already discovered one thing about Connoll Addison, it was that he would never do as anyone else directed him.
     
      “Precisely. Now come along, my dear. Leandra Halloway and Lady Mary have invited us to go shopping, and I would like to see you in something a touch more daring.” Her mother smiled. “After all, we don’t have to admire men, but they should admire us.”
     
       
     
      Lewis Blanchard, Lord Ivey, stood as Connoll strode into the Addison House morning room. “There you are, you rogue,” he said in a deep, booming voice. “I’d begun to think you’d abandoned London again.”
     
      Inwardly flinching, Connoll stripped off his right riding glove and shook hands with the earl. “My apologies,Ivey,” he drawled. “I thought we were meeting for luncheon.”
     
      “We were. I wanted to see those paintings you told me about. And I’ve a bit of news that can’t wait.”
     
      Connoll could guess what the news was, but he feigned a curious expression anyway. “What news, then?”
     
      “First the paintings. I feel like building some anticipation.”
     
      More like dread. “Very well. They’re in the upstairs hallway and the library.”
     
      With Ivey on his heels, he climbed the stairs. At the top he stood aside, letting his friend proceed on his own. Tall, solid in build and manner, and possessing a surprisingly refined taste, Lewis Blanchard’s only flaw seemed to be that he took people at face value and never changed his opinion of them.
     
      “I say, Connoll, these are exquisite. They must have cost you a few fair pounds.”
     
      Connoll shook himself. “More than a few. The biggest expense, though, was getting them out of France before Bonaparte could seize them and barter the lot