Persuasion Read Free Page A

frankness, Lily. Forgive me if it takes me a
    while to adjust to your temperament for there are hardly any like us
    amongst these jackals. But, in my situation, I find that as my mother tends
    to dominate me and all other conversation and always has, it does me well
    to read others.”
    Lily chuckled at that. She had to admit that she wasn't used to such
    bluntness amongst this set. In the country, it was different. Naturally people
    tended to guard their tongues, but there were many who didn't, especially
    the matrons. “For me, it has been rather a lesson in self-protection.”
    “Yes, the number of obsequious toads in London is rather appalling, is it
    not?”
    Laughing, Lily flipped out her fan and raised it to cover her smile. “Yes.
    Indeed. I like you, Anna. Would you call on me tomorrow?”
    “Why, thank you, Lily. I share those sentiments.”
    “Lady Lily? May I have this dance?” a man, she recognized as Lord Lycombe,
    asked and held out a hand for her.
    “Excuse me, Miss Sampson,” she murmured and took his hand. Inwardly,
    she sighed and grimaced. Outwardly, she was entirely composed.
    Anna bowed her head. “Til later, your ladyship.”
    “I must declare upon your beauty tonight, my lady.”
    “Thank you, Lord Lycombe.”
    “Is your mother not here?”
    “No, she remains in the dower house of our estate, I'm afraid, although she
    reverts to the estate from time to time.”
    “Your brother insisted and so soon?” he asked and then paused as he
    stepped in to the line of dancers and was separated momentarily from her.
    Lord Lycombe had been acquainted with her parents and had even attended
    one of their many house parties. She was fully aware that unmarried men of
    a certain age could and did make an offer to totally unsuitable females on
    the mart and Lily would fight to ensure that she was not one of them!
    Her brother had told her that she could have a come out, if she so wished
    and believing that it would inspire her mama out of her lethargic
    indifference, Lily had agreed. Julia had taken it into her head that her grief
    was having a dampening effect on Lily's life and that her only daughter was
    missing out on the joys of the ton. And so, she along with Devlin and Aunt
    Millie had decided that this was the best way to disprove her mother's belief.
    Although, Lily was quite sure that her aunt had forgotten all that, for the
    older lady was quite clear in her intentions to have Lily wed by this time next
    year.
    Not if Lily had anything to do with it, though!
    She did not particularly want to marry and if she were to do so, it would be
    to a man she loved.
    A creature she had yet to meet and one she doubted even existed and so,
    here she was. Dancing with an old rake hell who more than likely had sights
    on her fortune and beauty. Lily was many things, but immodest was not one
    of them. She had seen her appearance in the mirror and while she was not
    an ordinary beauty, not enough to be classed as a diamond of the first water
    at any rate, Lily had had sufficient admirers to know that she was found
    attractive and combined with name, rank and dowry, her aunt had told her
    that she would be lucky not to be surrounded by hordes of men.
    The thought did not fill her with happiness.
    The future months ahead of her seemed dire if the prospect was spending
    time with men that wanted her for anything but the parts that truly made
    her Lily. Parts like integrity and intelligence, kindness and generosity. No,
    they simply saw her auburn hair, green cat eyes and the smart figure that
    had her looking svelte in even the largest of pelisses!
    “No, Devlin did not require it,” she retorted with a bite, when they met once
    more on the floor. It was then that she remembered not having seen
    Lycombe on the approved list of people to invite, which meant that, once
    again, Aunt Millie had interfered! “Mama simply thought it time to move out
    and the house is full of memories. Naturally, she felt overburdened