A Heart in Flight Read Free Page B

in normal everyday occurrence. And a life spent in haunted castles and abbeys, amongst ghosts and villains, could hardly be considered felicitous.
    Still, she did enjoy romances. She liked that world of villains so evil they made one’s blood ran cold, of heroines helpless and beautiful, of heroes handsome, strong, and victorious, it was a world much more interesting than her own, especially in the winter when their experiments in air flight were made impossible by inclement weather.
    She made her way to the familiar shelf that held Lady Incognita’s works. Of all the writers of romances of terror, she preferred those of the unknown and mysterious Lady Incognita. Her eyes slid over the titles till they came to rest for a moment on Love in the Ruins, which she had returned on her last visit. The triumph of Reginald and Bernice over the villainous monk Columbo had thrilled her to the core. And, even though she knew the outcome of The Dark Stranger, she looked forward to reading it again.
    A slight noise made her start and look up. A short distance away, leaning against the wall, stood the Earl of Ranfield. He smiled lazily and gave her a slight bow.
    Aurelia turned away. Why was the man still in the library? And more important, why was he watching her? It was common knowledge that rakes would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. But what could he want? Perhaps she was going to find out.
    So, said Ranfield to himself, she had seen him. He detached himself from the wall and advanced toward her. “Miss Amesley, we meet again.”
    She met this comment with silence, but, since she did not give him the cut direct, he continued. “Isee that you are looking at Lady Incognita’s romances. I confess to reading one now and then.”
    “You read romances!”
    How did she widen those great dark eyes like that? And, more to the point, could she possibly be unaware of their effect upon a man?
    “I do,” he declared. “Why not?”
    “I thought ... that is, a gentleman ...” She floundered to a halt.
    “A gentleman may enjoy a little escape.” What could he say to keep her talking? “Also, the heroes of such pieces may give one an idea of what appeals to the ladies.”
    She raised an eyebrow, a sweet golden eyebrow.
    “I hardly think anyone is going to be called upon to rescue fair maidens from dire villains these days.”
    “Touche,” he replied. She was a quick-witted little thing. “How pleasant it is to see you smile. I feared you were one of those dreadful bluestockings who are always predicting calamity.”
    Her smile vanished. ““Here is nothing wrong with a woman using the brains God has given her.”
    “Of course not, provided He did give her some.” He saw instantly that he was in the suds and hastened to add, “I am only joking, of course. I have nothing against learned ladies.”
    How could such a little thing look so icy? “I humbly beg your pardon. I meant no disrespect to the ladies. Truly I didn’t.”
    Against her better judgment, Aurelia looked up and found his eyes upon her. Strange, how a man’s eyes could impart so much warmth.
    “Am I to be forgiven?”
    She shrugged. “I do not see what difference my forgiveness makes.”
    “I want it.” The words were low and accompanied by another lazy smite that said much more than words could ever convey. It said so much that she found herself actually yearning toward him.
    Miss Rutherford’s vivid warnings came immediately to mind. So this was the way the rakes operated. No wonder it was so effective. But this one had overestimated his charm. She might have a palpitating heart, but her brains were still in prime condition.
    She made her tone deliberately sharp. “You presume too much, milord.”
    He nodded ingratiatingly. “A frequent mistake of mine. Will you forgive me?”
    She wanted to be angry, she should be angry, but that was to no avail. He was really very good at this sort of thing. And she was sadly out of her depth. “Yes,” she said