When She Was Wicked (Honeycote #1) by Anne Barton

Author:Anne Barton [Barton, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781455513314
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2013-01-29T05:00:00+00:00

The rustling of fabric made Owen glance up from the letter he was composing to his steward. His foolish heart beat faster on the off chance Belle had come to see him. She hadn’t, but he was pleased to see Olivia and Rose looking fresh and happy.

Until he realized they must want something. Bracing himself, he set down his quill and narrowed his eyes at Olivia’s bare arms. Too much skin showed above the neckline of her dress. “Shouldn’t you be wearing a shawl?”

“Heavens, no. It’s warm in here.”

“For modesty’s sake. You too, Rose,” he said.

Olivia huffed. “Anabelle made these dresses. They’re in the first stare of fashion.”

“Oh, people will be staring all right.” He made a mental note to keep his friends away from his sisters.

“We love the gowns. They’re nicer than anything we’ve ever owned.”

“Does Miss Honeycote realize that she doesn’t have to scrimp on fabric? I can afford a complete dress.”

Olivia laughed and plopped herself into a chair opposite his desk. “This is what all the young ladies are wearing.”

“I don’t care what all the young ladies are wearing—just my sisters.”

Rose glided into the chair next to Olivia, smiling innocently.

A chill ran the length of his spine. “I assume that the two of you are here with a request of some sort.”

“We are,” admitted Olivia. “We want Anabelle to go to Lord Harsby’s house party with us—as our companion.”

He considered the idea for the space of a heartbeat.

“No.” He picked up his pen to signify the conversation was over. No matter how appealing the idea, it wouldn’t be prudent. When he’d passed Anabelle in the corridor yesterday, it had taken every ounce of self-control he possessed not to press her against the wall with his hips and ravish her mouth with his. Out of respect for her, he had to avoid her.

Olivia sighed. “That’s fine, then. I suppose you shall have the pleasure of escorting us to all the entertainments.”

Dread perched on his shoulders like a vulture. “What kinds of entertainments?”

She waved a hand in the air. “Oh, the usual—charades, whist, shopping excursions in the village, flower gathering—”

“Flower gathering?”

“Of course. We’ll pick them in the fields. You may carry the basket.” The imp smiled smugly.

He knew what Olivia was trying to do, and he felt a stir of pride. She’d come a long way.

But she was no match for him.

“I’ll be pleased to spend so much time in the company of my sisters.”

Rose tapped Olivia on the shoulder and leaned in to tell her something.

Olivia nodded. “Not just our company. Lady Harsby and her mother shall be at all the festivities.”

Nice move. Lady Harsby was a shrill harpie, and her mother had a habit of talking in long, winding sentences that never seemed to end. Still, he would not relent. “We shall never lack for conversation.”

Olivia leaned back and crossed her ankles. “Are you aware that Lady Harsby’s sister has two daughters of marriageable age? I believe you have heard them sing and play the pianoforte together. Perhaps you could sing a duet with—”

Damn it.

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.