Wendy Soliman by Duty's Destiny Read Free Book Online

earlier in the day.
    “By all means.”
    She turned in the direction of an older lady, who was seated beside the fire. “Mr. Beaumont, this is my aunt, Mrs. Rivers.”
    “Your servant, madam.” Felix bowed to the lady, assessing her without making it apparent that he was doing so, wondering what part she played in her brother’s iniquitous business.
    “Welcome to my house, Mr. Beaumont. I trust that you are perfectly comfortable?”
    “Indeed, madam. Mrs. Eden seems to have thought of my every need.”
    Felix offered her niece an engaging smile. He hoped to be rewarded with a lessening of her formally correct attitude, but could discern no softening in the rigid set of her features. His best tonnish smile had never failed him in the past, but with the calculating Mrs. Eden it appeared to have no effect.
    Felix exchanged small talk with Mrs. Rivers for a few minutes, whilst covertly stealing glances at Mrs. Eden, attempting to fathom her. She was wearing an evening gown in pale blue batiste, which passed in this country drawing room for elegant and modern, especially when compared to the attire of the other ladies present; but Felix knew it was poor in quality, and several years out of date. He wondered if it was a deliberate ploy to avoid drawing attention to herself, much as her coolly detached attitude discouraged intimacy.
    But why choose a gown that fitted her so ill? Just like the one which she had worn that afternoon, it was far too large for her exceptionally slim and unusually tall body, and the extraneous yards of fabric flapped uselessly about her as she moved. Whatever it was that she sought to disguise, in one respect she was failing spectacularly. Felix was uncomfortably aware that nothing could conceal her spectacular breasts, all the more impressive when contrasted to the slenderness of the rest of her person. They fought valiantly against the confines of the batiste, as though rebelling against the demure neckline of the gown. Predisposed as he was to dislike Mrs. Eden, Felix couldn’t prevent his eyes from falling upon her décolletage more frequently than politeness dictated.
    The lady herself could hardly be described as beautiful. “Striking” or “unusual” suited her much better. She had a profusion of the same distinctive red hair her children had inherited. This evening it was piled on top of her head, tendrils falling in long waterfall curls about her face, but she lacked the combs, ribbons, and other fripperies which Felix was accustomed to seeing in the coiffures of tonnish ladies.
    Mrs. Eden’s eyes were arguably her best feature. Sparkling emerald green, they lit up her face, enhancing the overall delicacy of her features and her air of tranquil composure. Her nose was a little too long and was covered with a dusting of freckles. Such a visible defect would have appalled any self-respecting society lady, but somehow complimented Mrs. Eden’s colouring, drawing attention to her translucent skin. Her lips were full and sumptuous, but would serve her much better if only she’d smile more.
    Her demeanour engendered confidence in her ability to handle anything life threw in her path, and made a man feel at ease in her company. Felix was unable to put his finger on just what it was, but there was something about her mannerisms, about the quietly efficient way in which she moved unobtrusively about the room, which attracted him. It was almost a fragility, which somehow excited his protective instincts, but why that should be when he’d already seen for himself just how self-contained and organized she was, Felix couldn’t have said. What he did know was that he was seriously vexed at her for engaging his interest when he was determined to entertain only contempt for her. Instead, he found himself imagining how spectacular she’d look if dressed in a fashionable gown and if she would smile naturally, as he’d thus far only observed her do when addressing her children that