London Temptations: Historical Regency Romance Collection by Joyce Alec

Author:Joyce Alec [Alec, Joyce]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

1

Five Years Later

Josephine lifted her chin, looked all about her, and fixed a delicate smile to her face as she walked into the room. She had no doubt that a good many guests would turn to glance at her and might very well begin to whisper about her, but she did not particularly care. Just because she was a wealthy widow returned to London for what was now her second Season did not mean that she had any intention of seeking out another husband for herself. No, she had no need of such a thing, even though the beau monde most likely believed that her presence here in London was precisely for that reason and that reason only.

“Good evening, Lady Rutherford.”

Josephine turned quickly and then immediately smiled, greeting Lady Fortescue, whom she had met last Season.

“Good evening, Lady Fortescue,” she said warmly as they both bobbed a quick curtsy. “How very good to see you again.”

Lady Fortescue smiled, her eyes bright as evident happiness shone in her eyes. “I am so very glad to see you also,” she said, putting one hand to her heart. “I confess I thought myself to be quite without friends this Season.”

Josephine laughed, shaking her head. “Now I know that you do not speak the truth, for you are certain to have a good many friends here in London, given that your husband is an earl.”

“And yours was a marquess,” Lady Fortescue retorted with a small gleam in her eye. “Yet you do not choose to accept the many, many offers of friendship and the like that are offered you.”

Josephine, who did not mind that Lady Fortescue had mentioned her late husband given that they had spoken at length about him the previous Season, allowed herself a somewhat begrudging smile. “You know me well, Lady Fortescue.”

“I know that you choose your acquaintances carefully,” Lady Fortescue replied with a smile. “That is wise indeed and something I am determined to emulate.”

This statement made Josephine laugh, and from the look in Lady Fortescue’s eye, it was clear she did not fully understand what brought Josephine such mirth.

“Forgive me,” Josephine said, trying to bring her laughter under control. “I am not laughing at your remark, but rather at the suggestion you made earlier, where you stated that you feared you would be entirely unable to find any friends in London at all this Season.” Her eyes twinkled and, finally, she saw a small smile pull at her friend’s mouth. “You cannot imagine, surely, that I am the only lady within London worthy of your consideration.”

Thankfully, Lady Fortescue began to laugh, her eyes bright as she looked back at Josephine. “I suppose I was being a little theatrical in my words,” she said with a grin. “But you cannot believe that the ton holds a good many ladies such as yourself, Lady Rutherford.” Her smile faded and Josephine frowned, wondering what it was that troubled her friend. “Those whom I have previously considered to be friends have, it seems,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.