An Improper Holiday Read Free Page B

Now?”
    “I—it—I fell from a horse and—”
    “When?”
    “Last week.”
    “And?”
    “Well, my—uh—I don’t want the injury to—” Ah, shit, don’t think stiffen . “To wither.”
    His sister regarded him as if he were mad, which he no doubt appeared to be, was, and would
    continue to be until the all-too-honorable Mr. Ian Stanton came to his senses.
    “It is a most inappropriate time. Lady Rathmoore wishes you to make the acquaintance of her
    daughters. And Lady Susannah asked to be remembered to you. And Lady Charlotte Stanton was most
    insistent that you wished to renew her acquaintance.” Anna’s lofty brow furrowed. “She is a lovely girl, excellent lines and no small fortune, but uncomfortably forward.” She gave him a pleasant smile. “Still, if your interest lies that way, I am certain we shall make the best of it.”
    His interest. Yes. He had just attained the quarter-century mark, but Lady Anna wanted him matched.
    As their father had come to realize, whatever Lady Anna desired would come to pass, another’s wishes
    notwithstanding. The thought that if their plan failed he would find himself betrothed to a random female before the turn of the season was enough to quell his errant ardor.
    He answered his sister’s smile. “I would be most pleased to renew my acquaintance with Lady
    Charlotte.”
    His sister stopped him as he reached the salon doors, flicking imagined lint from his sleeves and
    pulling his hair farther forward onto his brow. “There, darling, better than even a plate from The Register .
    Doubtless you shall capture whatever heart you choose.”
    His own heart having long since been captured, he devoutly hoped her estimation would prove
    correct.
    Anna led him to Ian’s sister who was standing a great distance from the more dense clusters of guests
    around the fire.
    He bowed over Charlotte’s hand and she offered him an almost imperceptible wink. Having delivered
    Nicky to a marriageable female, Anna left to organize some other campaign.
    “Lord Amherst, you must remember my brother, Capt—the honorable Mr. Stanton?”
    Her eyes were full of laughter now. Sly minx.
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    An Improper Holiday
    “But of course, Mr. Stanton.” He and Ian exchanged bows, Ian’s handsome face more wintry than the
    wind battering the castle’s stones.
    Charlotte turned to the tall blonde in half-mourning beside her. “And you will of course already be
    acquainted with Mrs. Collingswood.”
    Ian’s sister had the very devil in her. Emily Collingswood was his mother’s cousin and had spent a
    great deal of time at Carleigh as a companion for Anna. Nicky no longer felt quite as put-upon by his
    meddling older sister. He would rather have Anna fuss over him than deal with someone as inwardly
    devious and outwardly guileless as Lady Charlotte.
    The imp turned to her beleaguered brother. “You remember Mrs. Collingswood, of course. We met at
    another of these Twelve Night fetes. Just before my first Season?”
    Just before Ian had been sent away. The Twelfth Night when Nicky had finally persuaded Ian to take
    full possession of his body—and damnation. He would be needing yet another stroll around the gallery if he allowed his thoughts to dally along that primrose path.
    Nicky had been working so hard on that ultimate seduction, he should be surprised if Ian would have
    remembered if His Highness himself had been in attendance at that Twelve Night.
    But Ian surprised him. “You were Miss Graves then.”
    “Yes, Mr. Stanton, how kind of you to remember me.”
    “Lady Charlotte could do nothing but sing your praises on our journey home. She was awed by your
    skills.”
    How Ian missed both Charlotte and Emily nearly swallowing their tongues, Nicky could not imagine.
    “Mrs. Collingwood, will you be favoring us with your long-remembered skill at the pianoforte?”
    His clarification was met with a slightly audible exhalation of relief. “I should be pleased to