Unmasking the Earl by Madeline Martin

Author:Madeline Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Madeline Martin

Philip had been eager to see Cecelia again, and though they had plans to go to Vauxhall Gardens, they were fortunate enough to attend the same soiree on Wednesday and a ball on Thursday.

Rumors had begun to fly about them, of course. How she was attempting to steer Philip toward a better path, and how he was finally giving the poor girl a bit of happiness in her life. Not that he’d been one for gossip. What he did know was how enchanting he found her company.

Yes, she was more reserved than she had been when they were children. Responsibility had a way of doing that, even with him. But with each nudge of his flirtations, he found her opening up to him more and more.

On the night of their visit to Vauxhall Gardens, she arrived with her aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Bursbury. Cecelia wore a midnight-blue silk gown that shone in the candlelight of their supper-box while they dined on Shrewsbury cakes, impossibly thin slices of ham and the potent arrack punch.

There was no shortage of entertainments at Vauxhall, from the brilliant array of colorful lanterns as they were all lit at once—seemingly by some sort of magic—to the orchestra whose notes filled the cool night air, to a woman who walked a tightrope with such daring that Cecelia clung to Philip’s arm.

Her eyes sparkled at the splendor of the displays. And how he savored observing her awe. Perhaps the ton was correct in their gossip that he brought contentment to her life, as she did to his.

“How do they put the color into the lamps?” Cecelia asked, marveling at the glowing orbs sprinkled throughout the garden.

“I haven’t any idea,” Lady Bursbury replied with a look of curious wonder.

“Perhaps we ought to examine them to find out?” Philip suggested casually, as though he had just thought of it. He hadn’t, of course. In truth, he’d spent the better part of the night thinking about how he might draw her toward a dark walk and sample the sweetness of her mouth once more.

They hadn’t shared another kiss since the masquerade ball, but the memory was seared onto his mind like a brand. The softness of her lips, feminine and sensual. The brush of her tongue as she brazenly returned his affections.

“I should love to see the lamps more closely,” Cecelia exclaimed. “May we, Aunt Nancy?”

Lord Bursbury frowned, but before he could protest the idea of his unwed niece traipsing about Vauxhall Gardens with a once-notorious rake, Lady Bursbury smiled indulgently. “You may,” she replied, “but mind that you stay on the lit paths.”

Philip offered Cecelia his arm, and together they made their way from the supper-box and into the shadows of temptation.

No sooner had they stepped onto the path than a loud pop came from overhead, and the sky lit with sparks. Cecelia edged closer to him. He put an arm around her slender shoulders as fireworks flashed and banged overhead, as beautiful as they were loud. And

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.