The Devil In Disguise by Sloane Stefanie

Author:Sloane, Stefanie [Sloane, Stefanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical, Regency
ISBN: 9780345517395
Amazon: 0345517393
Barnesnoble: 0345517393
Goodreads: 9773079
Publisher: Ballantine
Published: 2011-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“My dear, we leave for Clairemont House soon,” Charlotte called from the drawing room.

Lucinda slowed her steps, her bedraggled riding habit dripping water on the marble foyer floor, and stopped just beyond the threshold to the room. Somehow, Lucinda had convinced herself that if she forced all thoughts of Her Grace’s kind invitation for tea from her mind, perhaps Charlotte would forget as well.

Clearly, that had been wishful thinking.

“Do we have an engagement?” She stood in the doorway, feigning confusion. Attempting to tuck-up her rain-soaked hair was a useless effort, as was smoothing her sodden, wrinkled skirt. Her efforts did little to right the ruined garment.

Charlotte looked up from her needlepoint, her shock at Lucinda’s appearance quickly giving way to concern. “Good heavens, Lucinda, you’re soaked through to the skin.” She hastily rose from the settee and crossed the room, yanking at the bellpull.

Mary appeared instantly, taking one look at Lucinda’s soggy state before urging her upstairs.

“We must get you out of those clothes, my lady,” she instructed, pausing mid-flight to stop a footman and demand that hot water be brought up.

Lucinda lifted her sodden skirt as she trudged up the stairs, Mary urging her from three treads above as Charlotte huffed from behind.

The moment they entered the bedchamber, Mary undressed Lucinda then went to supervise the filling of the tub. Once it was full, she summoned Lucinda and waited to leave until her lady was safely emerged in the steaming hot water.

Charlotte came to stand next to the tub. “You soak every last ounce of rainwater off of you, young lady. I need to see how the gardener is managing my rosebushes this morning, but I will come and check on you shortly. I want you warm and dry by the time I return.”

“You enjoyed your time with Lady Clairemont,” Lucinda said, not making it clear whether her words were a statement or a question.

Or had it been an accusation?

Charlotte paused dropping her gaze to look at Lucinda. “I did, very much so.” She turned her gaze back to the doorway and began walking, stopping just short of the hallway. “It is as if she is experiencing life for the first time, now that her husband has died.”

“She has her freedom,” Lucinda answered quietly.

“Exactly.”

Charlotte disappeared around the corner, leaving Lucinda to stare at her toes.

Her aunts had extolled the value of a woman’s independence since she was a child, until it had become her credo. Freedom was more than most women could hope to attain.

The pursuit of absolute freedom had been the impetus for her involvement with Will, King Solomon’s Mine being the key. With the stallion they would not only establish a credible reputation within the male dominated equine world, but they would improve upon it, breeding quality horses and providing for the studs into their retirement years. Will could not give her what the prized stallion surely would.

“That is it, then,” she said out loud, letting the water trickle through her fingers. “You choose a horse over a man.

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