His Mistress By Christmas Read Free Page A

any”—she cleared her th roat—”
arrangement
I may come to with your cousin. Which was my intention all along. If you will do me one small, insignificant favor.”
    “Humph.” Portia glared. “And what favor would that be?”
    “Introduce me to him, of course.”
    “That’s right.” Portia brightened. “You haven’t even met him. Why, there’s every possibility he won’t be the least bit interested in you.”
    “I can’t imagine such a thing.” Veronica drew her brows together. “Nor, do I think, can you.”
    “Admittedly, you’re not unattractive.” Portia cast an assessing eye over her friend. “Although not as pretty as Julia.”
    “Yes, well, then I shall simply have to try harder,” Veronica said in a firm manner. She knew better than to let anything Portia said annoy her. Although she was never deliberately unkind, Portia did have an alarming tendency to speak without either hesitation or thought.
    Portia had made no secret of the fact that, among the three friends, she thought Julia was the pretty one, Veronica was the clever one, and she herself was the most proper of the group. It was absurd. It would be most immodest to admit it aloud, but Veronica considered herself every bit as pretty as Julia, perhaps even more so.
    While Julia was the epitome of blond English beauty, one could tell just by looking at Veronica that she was no ordinary creature. If she did not have men falling at her feet, it was not a result of her appearance but rather her nature. She had always been independent and outspoken and had never hidden the fact of her intelligence, qualities she had long ago accepted as not being especially appealing to men. And didn’t her mirror confirm that, with her dark red hair and tall stature, her deep brown eyes that flashed more often than not with amusement as well as intelligence, she was striking and very nearly unforgettable? Julia was the pretty one, indeed.
    “Why are you frowning at me like that?” Suspicion sounded in Portia’s voice.
    “Was I?” Veronica favored her friend with her sweetest smile. “My apologies. A random thought captured my attention for a moment. It was nothing of significance.”
    “I have a random thought of my own.” Portia’s voice was cool. “I cannot condone anything as depraved as you attempting to seduce—”
    Veronica laughed.
    Portia ignored her. “—my cousin, even if Sebastian himself would no doubt be amenable to the idea. He has a certain reputation, you know.”
    “One of many reasons why I have selected him.”
    “However—”
    “I don’t believe I mentioned seduction.”
    Portia glared. “You wish to become his mistress. I assume there will be a certain element of seduction involved.”
    “I hadn’t thought of it quite like that, but you’re right.” Veronica bit back a grin. “I daresay there are any number of other concerns I have not yet thought of.”
    “Perhaps you have not given this proposal of yours due consideration.”
    “I thought I had, but I may well be mistaken. If you have any other, oh, suggestions or recommendations, or notice any impediments that I have not thought of—aside from the question of scandal or propriety—I should be delighted to hear them. Do go on.”
    Portia studied her for a moment. “As I was saying, while seduction does not have my approval—”
    Veronica choked back another laugh.
    “I could certainly approve of any and all attempts to embroil Sebastian in marriage.”
    “Marriage?” Veronica’s brows rose, although she shouldn’t be at all surprised at Portia’s offer. “Dear, dear Portia, what a wonderfully charming and thoughtful offer, although I suspect your cousin wouldn’t agree.”
    “Goodness no. Sebastian is not at all interested in marriage.” Portia cast a resigned glance at her cousin, who was still surrounded by admirers. Most of them female. “He is entirely too busy with his travels and his books and his lectures to be interested in marriage.