A Gentleman's Kiss Read Free

Carmichael. The man is old and toothless and has already been through four wives!” She dabbed at her eyes, though Cameron was sure he saw no tears. “I could not bear to marry such an ogre, Cam. You must help me.”
    Cameron let out a sigh. “Aurora, you have had countless offers for your hand; yet you have chosen to turn them all down. Your father is just trying to force you to make a decision. I doubt he will follow through on his threat.”
    But Aurora would not be calmed. She began to pace in front of him, twisting the handkerchief. “You did not see his face, Cameron. He was serious—of that I have no doubt.” She stopped and faced him with pleading eyes. “Will you help me?”
    As Cameron stared down into Aurora’s face, he had no doubt that her luminous gaze, pouty lips, and soft, whispery voice had worked their wiles on many a man. They did not, however, do anything for him except irritate him. “If you are asking me to help you make a match before your father carries out his threat, then I’ll do what I can,” he said finally.
    A smile curved her lips as she reached out to take his arm. “I knew I could count on you, Cam,” she cooed and continued to chatter on about something else, but Cameron had stopped listening.
    He was already thinking about when and where he might see the lovely Lady Claudia once more.

Two
    “I beg you to reconsider this ridiculous plan, Claudia,” Helen pleaded. She was helping her fasten the buttons on Claudia’s shimmering, pale-green gown of silk and beaded taffeta. Her brunette hair was twisted artfully in a turban of the same color as her gown while a few strands framed her face.
    Claudia examined her appearance. She knew she was dressed as well as anyone at the ball would be, but she still felt as if she would never fit in.
    “It must be done, Helen! The Montbattens, especially Lord Kinclary, think themselves far above almost everyone. Christina told me he had even tried to fight a duel with his sister’s husband while they were engaged.” She adjusted the emerald and diamond necklace at her throat. Lord Kinclary’s sister Katherine was now married to Lord Thomas Thornton, brother to the Earl of Kenswick and brother-in-law to their dear friend Christina. “Someone has to stand up to him and say it is enough.”
    Helen sighed audibly as she grabbed the gloves from Claudia’s dressing table and handed them to her. “As much as you adore the Thornton brothers and their wives, you are only doing this for my sake, and I wish you would not. North might find out, and he will make an even bigger scene over their snubbing me.”
    Claudia pulled on the last glove then took Helen’s hands into her own. “Helen, of course I am doing this for you. But you do not have to worry about your husband finding out, for I shall be most circumspect in my dealings with him.”
    Helen sighed. “But do you have to do this at a ball— his mother’s ball ? I do not care that they didn’t include me on the invitation. I’m most sure it was just an oversight.”
    Claudia squeezed Helen’s hands and then let them go so she could slip into her hooded cloak. “Of course Lady Montbatten meant it, and I would not doubt that her son had something to do with it also.” She tied the cape over her shoulders and faced her friend again. “Helen, we are each entitled to be respected no matter who we are or what station of life we are born to. We are all created equal and have God-given rights which are. . .uh. . .life. . .and liberty and”—she thought a moment then snapped her fingers—“the pursuit of happiness. It’s our constitutional right!” She threw her arms up, making her cape rise like wings on either side of her.
    Helen looked at her strangely, then burst into laughter. “But we’re in England.”
    Claudia clamped her hand over her mouth and joined her friend’s laughter. “Oh, dear. We Americans can wax patriotic at the oddest times, I’m afraid.”
    Helen smiled, though