Savage Deception (Liberty's Ladies) Read Free

and be a good wife.”
    Kingsley laughed, his ugly mood vanishing like a morning mist as he pulled her closer against him. “I know, my darling. You’re a complete innocent, undefiled in any way. I have a great many things to teach you, and believe me, there is more wonder to come, and pleasant duties await.” He winked at her.
    Diana didn’t have the vaguest idea what Kingsley was talking about or why he snickered in her ear. If there was so much wonder in her future, why didn’t she look forward to it?
    ~ ~ ~
     
    “I don’t know, Miss Diana.” Old Hattie, a longtime house slave at Briarhaven who had always looked after the mistress of the house, shook her turban-clad head and surveyed her charge with a frown. “That dress is red.”
    “I know what color it is.” Diana swished around the elegantly furnished bedroom, taking delight in the airy feel of the silk material against her flesh. She delighted in the off-the-shoulder bodice with a froth of creamy lace at the scooped neckline and elbow-length sleeves. She thought the vivid color quite set off her alabaster-smooth complexion, especially her bosom, which was pushed upward by the tight stays beneath. Her waist looked extremely small above the scarlet overskirt that gently billowed over the creamy flounced underskirt. Hattie had piled Diana’s dark hair high upon her head, leaving a long ringlet to hang bewitchingly over her right shoulder. But it was her eyes, a deep sapphire blue with golden sparkles in the center, that made her breathtakingly lovely.
    “Ain’t proper for a young lady to wear red to her engagement ball. When I done dressed Master Kingsley’s mother for hers, she done wore white. Why you got to be different, Miss Diana? Master Kingsley ain’t gonna like you wearin’ red like you is a fancy trollop. He’s gonna blame me for this, child.”
    Diana, used to doing what she wanted within limits, didn’t see the problem, but she did notice that Hattie was very worried. “Master Kingsley has no say over my clothes, Hattie, and if he’s upset with me, he better not take it out on you. You answer to me, not him.”
    “Yes, Miss Diana,” mumbled Hattie as a knock sounded on the door of Diana’s bedroom and Hattie admitted Anne.
    “Red! Oh, heavens, Diana,” were the first words out of her sister’s mouth. “I had no idea.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with the color. Red suits me better than white.”
    Anne Richmond’s gaze flickered over her. “But it’s just that … couldn’t you have worn pink? You’ll be the talk of the countryside.”
    Diana thought she looked rather nice in the gown. She’d chosen it because she was tired of being treated like a young girl. Since she was going to be mistress of Briarhaven, she wanted her future neighbors to see her as an adult, not the little girl over whom Anne still felt she must fuss. A moment’s qualm did distress her, but she dismissed it immediately. She was grown up now, as of this night.
    “I trust Kingsley will give me his approval.”
    Anne shook her light brown head, but even in her disapproval Anne was pretty in a gown of lavender satin, designed to hide the early stages of her pregnancy. “Well, I suppose you’ve made up your mind,” Anne conceded at length, and smiled back at Diana.
    Locking their arms together, Diana and Anne left the bedroom and descended the wide staircase to the festivities below.
    When Diana reached the bottom step she became aware that everyone was staring at her, their earlier conversation seemingly forgotten at the sight of Kingsley Sheridan’s fiancée in the scarlet gown. She nearly turned to run upstairs, but Anne steadied her with a grip on her wrist, a subtle reminder that she made her own choice and must live with it.
    Diana held her breath when Kingsley came forward. In a frock coat of beige and tan satin he was quite handsome, but she was more interested in his reaction. He raised a sandy eyebrow but she couldn’t read his thoughts.