One More Kiss Read Free Page A

Earl of Belmont, and even Nora Kendrick has some influence.” Brent shook his head, looking even more uncertain.
    “What is there not to love about your girls? The two are bound to be welcome wherever they go.”
    “We are prejudiced, Jasmine. Their father and their godmother can hardly be expected to harbor any objectivity.”
    “You do know that I have enough cachet, even as a dowager, to present them? I am only hoping for them to know a few people before we arrive in town. It will make the girls so much more comfortable from the start.”
    “It could happen.” Which was what Abel said when he knew he was being stubborn, but did not want to say so aloud.
    “Which brings me back to Lord Jess.” She had best clear that up now. “There will be rogues aplenty dangling after them in London and a small flirtation with someone like Jess will teach them how to handle it.”
    “But what if he seduces one of them?”
    “Have some faith in your daughters.” Jasmine could not quite control the edge in her voice. “Besides, I have warned Jess to be on his best behavior.”
    “His brother the duke must be disgusted with him.”
    “I have no idea,” Jasmine lied again. “His sister and her husband will be joining us. Perhaps you can ask them when you return.”
    Brent laughed, as the countess had intended. “I wonder how Mrs. Wilson will handle Lord Jessup’s presence with a chick of her own to launch.”
    “They seemed to be on the best of terms when they arrived. He came in the coach with them since her husband was unable to come and Jane dislikes traveling alone.”
    “He came with them?” Brent’s expression was incredulous.
    “I told you he was charming.”
    “Now you see, that is what makes me nervous. My girls have no experience with men like that.”
    “Well, they will after this next fortnight, won’t they?” And that was the last of it, the countess decided. “I am going to greet the latest arrivals. The girls should be here any moment.”
    A S B EATRICE FOLLOWED the footman she saw the countess leave a room up ahead, walking purposefully in the other direction. As she expected, the footman opened the door to the room the countess had just left.
    “Papa!” Cecilia exclaimed, hurrying over to her father before the footman had even closed the door. “Is everything all right?”
    “Why are you still here?” Beatrice asked with much less tact. “Where is Roger? Is he still here, too?”
    “Roger is in the study on the first floor, where he cannot find anything but books to flirt with.”
    Abel Brent dominated the space with his size and the aura of power he carried with him. He had the kind of presence that made people stop on the street and ask each other who he was. Not a gentleman by birth, he was still a man who commanded respect.
    “Roger never flirts! He is a complete gentleman. The finest I have ever met.”
    “So you remind me whenever I want to dismiss him.” Papa folded his arms and looked down at her.
    Beatrice mimicked his stance but had to look up, which did spoil the effect. “You would never find another machine designer half as talented as he is.”
    “Precisely why I let you convince me to keep him on.”
    His smile made Beatrice smile in return. She did love her papa, even when he was annoying.
    Cecilia came between them and took her father’s arm. “Did you have us come so you could wish us well one last time, Papa?”
    “Of course,” he said as if that thought had just occurred to him. “And the countess insisted that I give you the guest list. She says one’s memory is never perfect when dealing with so many new faces. A dozen guests in all. I have added two and scratched out one who had to send a regret at the last minute. So it’s to be twelve,” he said again, “though not all are arriving today.”
    He pulled the thrice-folded list from his pocket. “Now tell me the names you recall,” Papa demanded, draining a little more fun from the air.
    “There was a