In My Wildest Dreams Read Free

he wouldn’t be babbling about some unfamiliar female guest with good teeth and rosebud nipples.
    â€œUh-oh.” Ellery headed for the sideboard and poured himself a grand amount of brandy. “I recognize that expression. It’s the I’m-the-Throckmorton-and-I-have-to-manage-everything expression.”
    â€œStrange. I was thinking how fortunate that you’re seeking handsome young ladies for me.”
    Arrested in the act of taking a drink, Ellery said, “Don’t be ridiculous. This one’s mine—although it wouldn’t hurt you to remarry, you know. Since Joanna’s death there hasn’t been a woman worthy of you, and you might not be so bloody grim if you stuck your finger in the jampot occasionally.”
    Throckmorton had heard it before. “I’ll worry about my finger, you worry about yours.”
    â€œBut you’re worrying about mine, too, or youwouldn’t have arranged this damned betrothal.” Ellery downed the liquor in one motion.
    â€œYou draw enough money from the company, you might as well earn your keep somehow.”
    â€œMarrying well to do my part for the company?” Ellery must have been practicing his sneer in private, for that curl of the lips looked almost sincere. “Now there’s a role where I can at last surpass my superior older brother.” Then, before Throckmorton could inquire into the nature of that remark, he asked, “So you’ll find out her name for me?”
    This female obviously had Ellery twisted in a knot. “Why don’t you just ask her?”
    Ellery turned the glass in his fingers. “She won’t tell me.”
    Throckmorton lifted an eyebrow. “She won’t tell you?”
    â€œI met her at the train station. I was supposed to pick up Lord and Lady Featherstonebaugh—”
    â€œWhat time was it?”
    â€œJust after four.”
    â€œThey came in on the two o’clock.”
    â€œThat explains why they weren’t there.” Ellery dismissed his godparents with a shrug. “They’ll forgive me.”
    Throckmorton agreed. They would. Everyone forgave Ellery everything.
    â€œShe was just standing there, beautiful, well formed—”
    â€œAlabaster teeth.”
    â€œI couldn’t see them at first. She got off the train and looked around, lost and alone—”
    â€œTouching.”
    â€œBut as soon as I asked her if I could assist her, she flashed the most beautiful smile in the world and said, ‘Greetings, Ellery!’ “
    Throckmorton experienced the stirrings of real unease. “She knew you.”
    â€œShe certainly did. She knows you, too. She asked about you—I told her you were dull as ever.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œShe laughed and said, ‘Of course.’ “
    â€œAnd thanks to her.” Always good to know one’s repute. Always a relief to know the truth had not yet made its way across two continents to England.
    â€œShe asked about Mother. She asked about Tehuti, and wanted to know what kind of colts he’d sired. She asked about Gunilla, and she dabbed sparkling tears from the corners of her eyes when I told her the old dog had died.” Ellery sighed deeply, his broad shoulders lifting and falling. “Her handkerchief was trimmed in lace and smelled of the most exquisite perfume.” Ellery, the connoisseur of all things female, squinted and said, “Citrus, cinnamon and, I think, ylang-ylang.”
    â€œOnly you would know that.” Throckmorton shrugged into his conservatively tailored black coat. “So if she knows you, why don’t you know her?”
    Ellery poured the snifter full again. “I swear I don’t remember that exquisite creature.”
    Ellery remembered every handsome female he’d ever met. “How unlike you.”
    â€œExactly.” Ellery sipped this brandy with a little more care. “And how could I forget her? She