Devil's Match Read Free Page A

girl would have been better-behaved. But, since nothing short of being a totally insipid beauty would satisfy her mother, Juliana had asserted her independence in more ways than Caro cared to count.
    She shuffled through a sheaf of papers sent over by Madame Cecile, the premier modiste to the ton , and selected several drawings for the girl’s attention. “Take a look at these, my dear, and see what you like,” Caroline suggested.
    â€œI don’t know…. What do you think, Caro?” Juliana mused absently on another matter. “Should I leave a waltz for Ryburn? ’Twill quite fill up my card, and I’ve no place for Harrington.”
    â€œI think,” Caroline reproved mildly, “that it is more to the point to examine these sketches so that we may give your mama an answer this morning. Besides, you cannot even know that both gentlemen will ask,” she added with a twinkle in her dark eyes. “Really, Ju, but ’tis rather conceited to have your ball card planned even before we reach the Beresfords’.”
    â€œOh, but I know they shall both press me to waltz,” Juliana responded airily, “for I am positive that each means to fix his interest to me. Why, Lord Ryburn assures me that I am all the crack, and Lord Harrington writes the most charming poetry to my eyes, as you might remember.”
    â€œCharming drivel,” Caro observed dryly. “And since you have not the least intention of accepting an offer from either of them, it is not very becoming of you to flirt with them so outrageously.” She looked up to see Juliana fluttering her eyelashes over the much-praised cornflower-blue orbs to test the effect in her mirror.
    Apparently satisfied, the girl turned back with a giggle. “Oh, Caro, did you ever think I should take half so well?” she demanded naively.
    â€œThere was never a doubt in my mind, love, although you simply must stop twitting your mama else I shall be turned off.” Caroline sobered. “Only this morning, Lady Canfield wished to know how I could have countenanced your dancing three times with young Rupert Rowan at Lady Bennington’s. You know full well that to stand up more than twice with the same partner bespeakes a particularity certain to be remarked. And since it is common knowledge that Captain Rowan is nothing but a gazetted fortune hunter, your mama was not amused.”
    â€œOh, Caro, I am sorry.” The girl was instantly contrite. “Certainly I have not the least interest in Captain Rowan—I swear. He fawns on one in the most excessive way, you know, but I could not help it. I saw Mama watching me like she always does and I did it to vex her. I saw little enough harm at the time.” With a sigh, she moved to pick up the sketches that Caroline had selected. “Do not worry about Mama, Caro. She’s been in high dudgeon since she came back from West-over. Besides, Papa thinks you quite the most exceptionable companion he could have engaged for me. He says he can see the wonders you have wrought.”
    â€œHe does not. Juliana, you must give over this tendency to exaggerate.”
    â€œBut he does—he said so yesterday before you came down to nuncheon—I swear it.” She took in Caroline’s neat, dark braids, her fine, expressive brown eyes, and her delicately defined profile before confiding further, “You know he said something else, too—that you’d be more than passably pretty if Mama would but spare the blunt to rig you out properly. And he’s right—if you had had a Season, you’d be a married lady instead of having to dragon for me.”
    â€œA delusion at best,” Caroline sighed as Juliana returned to her favorite subject beyond herself. “No, my dear, it would never have happened. Oh, I’ll give you that my birth’s respectable, but who’s to forget that my papa put a period to his own existence rather than go to