Innocence and Impropriety by Diane Gaston

Author:Diane Gaston [Gaston, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: romance
ISBN: 9781426861567
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2007-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

The streets were full of people now, and the hustle and bustle distracted her a little. She stopped by the market stalls and picked out some food for dinner. Her arms were laden with packages and she had to shift them all into one hand to get into the building, and then shift them again to enter their rooms.

‘Here she is!’ chirped Letty as Rose kicked the door closed behind her.

Lord Greythorne rose from a chair.

‘Come in, Rose, dear,’ continued Letty. ‘We have a caller.’

Lord Greythorne crossed the room to her. ‘Allow me to relieve you of your burdens.’ He took the packages from her hands.

‘I will take them, m’lord,’ her father said, hurrying over.

Letty glared at Rose. ‘For goodness’ sake, take off your hat and gloves. Make yourself presentable.’

Rose left the room for her bedchamber, for once grateful to Letty for ordering her about. Her heart pounded with anger and fear. She had no desire to face this monster who had used whips and leather straps on her friend.

She took as much time as she dared taking off her gloves and hat and putting her hair in a cap. When she could delay no longer, she returned to the parlour.

Greythorne stood again. He now had a wine glass in hand.

Letty stomped over to her and snatched the cap off her hair. ‘Go sit with our guest,’ she hissed.

‘Lord Greythorne has come himself to set a new date for dining with you,’ her father said cheerfully.

‘I am at your service.’ Greythorne bowed to her. ‘Name the day, the place, the time.’

Refusal was impossible. Her father had already accepted the money. She lifted her chin and glared at him. ‘I will dine with you at Vauxhall on Tuesday, but I insist upon an open supper box.’

His smile stiffened. ‘Of course. Vauxhall it shall be.’

She returned a smile equally stiff. ‘If it does not rain, that is. I presume you will beg off if it rains.’

Some dangerous emotion flashed through his eyes. ‘Indeed. We do not wish our clothing damaged by the rain.’

Rose thought of Flynn, hatless, heedless of the rain pouring down, soaking through his greatcoat.

‘Sit down, my lord,’ Letty said with exaggerated politeness, and more sharply to Rose, ‘You, too, Rose. Entertain our guest.’

Greythorne waited until she sat in the chair near him.

‘Our Rose has aspirations to sing in King’s Theatre, my lord,’ said her father in a proud tone.

‘Do you, Miss O’Keefe?’ Greythorne looked amused. ‘You want bigger and better things than Vauxhall Gardens?’

‘I am very grateful to be singing at Vauxhall, sir,’ she replied. ‘And I will be grateful for the chance to sing in King’s Theatre as well.’

‘What role do you hope to sing?’ he went on.

His gaze was riveted on her, his expression conveying total interest, but the lack of feeling in his eyes frightened her.

She swallowed. ‘Merely the chorus, sir.’

‘A woman of your talents should desire more,’ he said. This time when his eyes flicked over her, she felt as if he were seeing under her clothes.

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