His Wayward Ward - A Regency Novella (Risque Regency) Read Free

tragedy, for he was indecently rich. His lordship was considered a fine swordsman, an excellent shot and a dreadful womanizer but, as he was Carlton , any peculiarities were generally overlooked.
    She did not care for the way those strange eyes were looking her over. As if he is assessing a restless filly , she thought. Or as if he were stripping each article of clothing from her body…
    Unconsciously, she raised her chin and met that impertinent stare head on. He smiled a little and that same prickle of awareness came again, unsettling her even more.
    Abruptly, Eliza turned to her aunt whose flushed face indicated just how displeased she was with the unexpected arrival of her guest. ‘I am so sorry that I’m late, Aunt Flora.’
    ‘Where have you been , child? See now, your guardian has come to visit,’ Aunt Flora said, with forced good humor.
    Setting his glass down, Carlton rose to his feet, the movement lithe and easy, almost catlike. While unable to generate the amount of enthusiasm Edward had for Carlton’s clothing, Eliza noted that the black coat of superfine and buff breeches fit his tall, lean frame superbly, while his snowy white neckcloth was a work of art and the tasseled hessians gleamed. Eliza could well imagine that her brother would wish for a pair of shoulders like Carlton’s, for they set off his tailor’s efforts to perfection. ‘Well now,’ the deep voice was amused, ‘the missing has been found.’
    Eliza flashed him a swift look. ‘My Lord,’ she said, closing the gap between them reluctantly and holding out a hand. He took it and pressed a light kiss as she dropped a curtsey, doing her best to ignore the gentle brush of those lips across her skin. Even after he had released her, the kiss seemed to linger and she resisted the urge to scrub her hand against her dress.
    ‘I was expecting you this past hour,’ her aunt interjected, still sounding ruffled. ‘I sent Edward to find you as your maid said you had not yet returned from the library.’
    ‘I met a friend and we fell to talking,’ Eliza said as truthfully as possible. ‘I’m sorry, Aunt Flora, I did not realize it was so late.’
    ‘Yes, well…’ Aunt Flora paused, clearly collecting both her manners and her customary aplomb. ‘Eliza dear, this is Lord Carlton.’
    ‘You’re older than I expected,’ Carlton commented. ‘I assumed you were still in the schoolroom.’
    ‘I’m eighteen.’ Those silver-grey eyes continued to disconcert her. Eliza felt as if she were confronting an unknown species, something dark and unnervingly dangerous. Men in the wilds of rural Suffolk or in the polite circles of Bath Society were of a far different ilk. Why, even the supposed dandies and the one or two rakes who were considered sufficiently tame to be allowed near the fledgling debutantes were nothing like Carlton. He radiated a predatory aura that made the air around him almost… crackle . This was ridiculous, considering they were standing in her aunt’s front parlor, the tamest of environments.
    Carlton’s smile seemed to suggest that he knew something of her inner confusion, but he merely raised an eyebrow. ‘And have you come out yet?’
    ‘Eliza is enjoying her first Season,’ Aunt Flora interjected quickly. ‘She should have come out last year but... well, never mind. Better late than never.’ Generally, a girl from a good family was presented to court or - if she was not to experience London - in the smaller courts of one of the provincial centers at seventeen. ‘She’s proving to be very popular.’
    ‘I’m sure she is,’ his lordship murmured.
    Eliza dropped her eyes.
    ‘I say, Sir,’ Edward had been hanging back, clearly studying his lordship’s attire in silent admiration while mentally trying to work out the complicated folds of Carlton’s neckcloth. He had already deduced it was the Waterfall, but with variations that seemed miraculous, ‘I was wondering if you could recommend me to your tailor when I