When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer Read Free Book Online Page B

discuss this house party. Who will be there?”
    Harry shifted in his seat. “You already know of most of them if you read the London papers.”
    “I’m not supposed to,” said Molly. “Papa says they give me ideas .”
    “Which means you read them anyway, don’t you?”
    She refused to dignify that remark.
    Harry gave an easy laugh. “We’ll be in the company of the other men conscripted by Prinny to be his Impossible Bachelors,” he said. “Nicholas Staunton, Lord Maxwell. Viscount Charles Lumley. Captain Stephen Arrow. And the baronet, Sir Richard Bell.”
    “Lord Maxwell.” Molly started with her left index finger. “I’ve never heard of him.”
    “He’s a very good friend, a trifle mysterious and rather a recluse.”
    “Who’s his mistress?”
    “That would be Athena Markham—”
    “She who treads the boards?”
    “Right. It could be he’s thrown her over for someone else. I’ve no idea.”
    Molly gave a huff. “Lord Maxwell would be a fool to throw over Athena Markham.”
    “Why is that?”
    “She’s divine. Penelope told me so. She saw her in King Lear .”
    “She certainly tends to attract an audience, on or off the stage. And she’s quite beautiful.” Harry sighed and looked quite as if he were already sporting a ball and chain, with Anne Riordan holding the lock and key.
    “What?” Molly sat up higher in her seat. “You think I have no chance against Miss Markham?”
    Harry merely gave her a very droll look.
    “You’ve no idea of my acting abilities,” Molly said. It was bragging, she knew, but she was good . At least she knew she would be if only someone would give her a chance to be in a play!
    “You’re right,” he said, his chin in his hand. “I’ve no idea.”
    She knew he hadn’t meant that as a compliment.
    “Let’s move on,” she said, grasping her middle left finger. “That viscount. Lumley. I’ve heard that everything he touches turns to gold.”
    Harry frowned. “Yes. He’s the best of fellows. But he’s easily taken advantage of—not in business, but in matters of the heart. I’ve no idea how he’s made it this far without being legshackled. His better friends, and I count myself one of them, have come to conclude that it’s luck. Not skill.”
    “Yes, particularly as he’s worth twenty thousand a year,” Molly replied.
    For once, they were in agreement. But then she realized Harry was boasting. “Do you really think it takes skill to remain a bachelor as long as you have?”
    “Certainly.” His tone was a trifle too smug. “It’s like feinting to the left or right, or ducking, when you’re fencing. Some of us have the natural ability to dodge and survive—others do not.”
    “So you’ve evaded parson’s mousetrap how many times?”
    “Countless,” he murmured, and then smiled, but it was to himself, she saw, a small smile of recollection.
    She didn’t like that smile. It meant that he was thinking of all the girls (besides Penelope) whom he’d kissed—and perhaps done more with—and escaped without any consequences.
    The roué!
    “Someday you’ll be caught,” she reminded him.
    His face took on a foreboding expression. “Yes, as I was once before, thanks to you. ” He was referring to the Christmas incident, of course. “But I’ve a few years left,” he added.
    “Do you think Anne will wait that long for a proposal?”
    “No,” he said. “Which is another reason for me to delay.”
    “But someone else will crop up,” Molly said darkly. “Perhaps she’ll be worse than Anne.”
    Harry sighed. “I know.”
    He looked so sad and desperate that she almost felt sorry for him.
    Almost.
    Back to business. “Tell me about the third person, that captain.” She wriggled her ring finger to show him she was still counting.
    “Oh, yes,” Harry said. “Captain Stephen Arrow, another old friend. He’s a dashing fellow who takes to the high seas whenever a young miss gets too adoring. Of course, he’s fought in many