Undressed (Undone by Love) by Kristina Cook Read Free Book Online

brilliant star above it.”
    “‘Tis a planet . Jupiter.”
    “Is that so?” he asked, squinting at the sky . “A planet? Fascinating.”  He shifted his weight, his forearm just barely grazing her shoulder. “Anyway, it would appear that you and I are out here for much the same reason. But instead of the disapproval of one dragon, I’ve the disapproval of the entire ton . In the course of a day, I seem to have lost everything—my reputation, my standing in society, my club affiliation, and the affections of the woman I’d planned to marry.”  His mouth curved into a frown. “What do you say to that?”
    “I say ye must exaggerate . It canna be as bad as all that, I should think.”
    “I’m afraid it is as bad as all that,” he answered with a shrug .
    She peered up at him curiously . If it were true, his misdeeds must be egregious, indeed. Yet her instincts told her that he was an honorable man, a trustworthy man. Something about his eyes... Yes, she felt safe in his company. Were her instincts so clouded, so marred?
    “Whatever have ye done to earn such misfortune, then?” she asked at last.
    “I assure you I’ve done nothing to earn it. Nothing but win a few hands of cards, that is,” he added a bit mysteriously, then pointed to the sky. “Look, what of that star there? Seems to be the brightest of all.”
    Brenna nodded; he had a good eye . “’Tis Vega, in the constellation Lyra. The Harp. See, ‘tis a bit like a lopsided box? And look.”  She drew a right angle with her finger against the sky. “Over here, Vega. Then here,” she said, pointing to the tail of Cygnus, “Deneb. And down here”—she moved her hand down toward Aquila—“Altair. They form a triangle, always visible in the summer sky.”
    “A constellation?” he asked.
    “Nay, an asterism.”  She tilted her head to one side. “You canna even see it in the sky over Glenbroch, the summer nights are so bright.”  She shook her head and felt a curl escape its arrangement to caress her cheek. “‘Tis lovely, though, is it not?”  She turned to face him, to gauge his appreciation of the wondrous sight that filled her with awe and amazement.
    But he wasn’t looking at the sky—he was looking at her . She held her breath as he reached up to brush back the errant lock of hair, his fingertips softly stroking her burning cheek.
    “Lovely,” came his reply, spoken so softly that she wondered briefly if she’d imagined it .

     
    Chapter 4
     
    Devil take it, what was he doing? Colin shook his head, hoping to clear it as he took a step back from the intriguing woman. “I should escort you back inside,” he muttered.
    Brenna nodded in reply, a faint smile tipping the corners of her rose-tinted mouth . Her eyes, shining as brightly as the stars above, boldly met his. “Perhaps ye should, though I’m finding your company immeasurably more comfortable than that of those inside. Must ye really?” 
    Colin nodded, a pang of regret startling him . He couldn’t help but admire her innocent candor, her guilelessness. She likely had no idea how severely her reputation would suffer were she found hidden away in the dark, shadowy garden with a bachelor, honorable though he might be.
    Honorable ? Colin silently cursed himself, his gaze traveling back toward the house where warm light spilled from open windows onto the lawn below. Blast it, no one in Lady Brandon’s drawing room believed him honorable, not anymore. Brenna’s reputation would be far more than tattered were she spied out here alone with him—she’d be ruined. Ruined .
    “On second thought,” he said, his voice tight and controlled, “it’s probably best that we’re not seen in the same company . You’ve troubles enough without having your name linked with mine. I’d best take my leave from here.”  He would speak with Honoria another time. Perhaps Lady Brandon’s drawing room was not the proper place to question her faithlessness, besides. The last