The Rogue's Reluctant Rose by Daphne Du Bois

Author:Daphne Du Bois [Bois, Daphne Du]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781301588244
Publisher: Daphne du Bois
Published: 2013-03-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Araminta descended the stairs to find Chestleton waiting for her impatiently at the foot of the staircase. He looked up at her irritably, about to berate her for that habit common to all women of taking an eternity to complete her dress and toilette. However, the words died on his lips as his eyes fell upon her entrancing form.

She wore a simple gown of cream muslin, delicately embroidered in green and dark blue, in a pattern of flowers and butterflies. The blue thread brought out the colour of her dark blue eyes and magnified it in a manner that was most becoming. Her hands were clad in matching lace gloves, and her hair pinned back in a bun, with fashionable, cropped curls framing her face. A charming straw hat with a shallow crown perched becomingly on her head. She carried a pretty parasol of Chinese silk, and when she saw Chestleton she paused for a fraction of a second, her eyes locking with his before she continued her descent. Her lush, pink lips curled into a slight, shy smile, and her eyes were dancing as she returned his scrutiny without averting her gaze.

Chestleton moved forward to bow over her hand and help her down the last few steps, and in her high spirits, Araminta found herself overtaken by an unaccountable brassiness.

“Why thank you, my lord,” she said flirtatiously. “How gentlemanly you are. One might almost believe that you are not at all the dastardly libertine your reputation paints you to be.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a thrill of terrified exhilaration, wondering what could have possessed her to speak as she had. Her eyes, however, betrayed nothing of this inner turmoil. This was madness, a part of her protested. Utter madness. She was playing with fire, flirting with a known libertine. She ought to cease right away and pretend that nothing out of the ordinary had been said. And yet another part argued that she was a guest in the rake’s house, she had had dinner with him, spent time with him unchaperoned... And now she had agreed to picnic with him and his niece! If this was truly madness, then she was too far gone for a little flirtation to make much difference. One look at his wicked smile confirmed this — she was in over her head, and minor improprieties could hardly push her deeper into the ocean in which she was already drowning.

Chestleton raised an eyebrow at her words. “I am not sure, Miss Barrington, whether I ought to be flattered or offended. Instead, allow me to simply compliment your fine ensemble, and observe that your eyes look very striking today, as a gentleman would. I will say nothing of how ravishing you are.”

Although she had been expecting it, Araminta was once again shocked by his forward manner. She blushed, but she was saved from replying by the sound of approaching voices and feet. Mrs Kingston entered, with Charlotte behind her, chattering excitedly.

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