The Courtesan's Secret Read Free Page B

with your particularly odd strain of humor. I told them they'd be quite welcome."
    "And so they are, darling," Sophia said. "As to being frightened... have I frightened you, Lord Ruan?"
    "I'm forced to admit you have not, Lady Dalby," Lord Ruan said in a low voice.
    "Then I shall just have to try harder, Lord Ruan, shan't I?" Sophia answered softly. "Now that you've found your way to my door, I daresay I shall have ample opportunity."
    "Let us be precise, Lady Dalby," Ruan said silkily. "I have found my way past your door, past all your defenses, which, I find I am also forced to say, were rather more meager than I had expected."
    "You had expectations," Sophia said, raising her black Wedgwood cup to her lips. "And they were not met." The contrast to her pale skin was particularly flattering. "Have I just been insulted, Lord Ruan? Shall it be pistols at dawn?"
    "If we must duel," Ruan answered softly, his voice a deep rumble of amusement, "I have a sword of which I am particularly fond."
    Upon which Sophia let her dark-eyed gaze travel the long length of Ruan's form before saying, "I don't doubt it, Lord Ruan."
    Louisa could feel herself blush. This is what came from taking chocolate with a former courtesan; the conversation could not help but be coarse and rife with innuendo. Louisa looked at the Marquis of Ruan: a startlingly tall man with black hair and piercing green eyes in a face that had seen a good share of life. He looked only slightly older than Sophia, and what was more, he looked entirely and inappropriately at ease with the conversation.
    " 'Tis obvious you've met," Dalby said in an undertone that could be heard by the entire room.
    "Only recently, at the Duke of Hyde's assemblie where Caroline became so delightfully engaged," Sophia said, turning her gaze from Ruan to Penrith. "But you, Lord Penrith, you are an old friend. Tell me, how is your darling mother? Are she and your sister still traveling through Greece?"
    "Yes, Lady Dalby," Lord Penrith answered, "and enjoying it immensely according to mother's last letter. They were hoping to visit Lord and Lady Elgin."
    "How lovely that will be," Sophia said. "By all accounts Mary, Lady Elgin, is the most pleasant of women. I do envy them their ability to travel so widely upon the world."
    "And what keeps you from traveling, Mother?" Dalby said from his elegant slouch upon the milk blue damask sofa.
    "Why, my children, darling," she answered with a soft smile. "A mother simply should not leave her children at such a sensitive time in their lives as this."
    "Sensitive? Sensitive in what regard?" Dalby asked.
    "She means to see you married," Penrith said, his golden green eyes sparkling. Lord Penrith, whom Louisa had never had occasion to meet, was a remarkable looking man. Everyone, absolutely everyone, commented upon it.
    He was tall, as fashion preferred, and golden, which fashion perhaps did not prefer but which compelled everyone who saw him to immediately discount fashion. His hair was longish and dark blond. His skin was dark gold. His brows were straight and cleanly drawn over almond-shaped eyes. His nose was shaped with poetic beauty and his brow was noble and intelligent.
    But, of course, he could not truly compare to Dutton.
    "Married?" Sophia said to Penrith's remark. "Without question, Markham. You must marry, but not yet. You are far too young to marry."
    "Thank God we agree on that," Dalby muttered.
    "I am quite certain I shall embarrass you by saying that I should be much surprised if we did not agree on absolutely everything," Sophia said. "Take, for example, Lady Louisa."
    All eyes, male eyes, turned to look at Louisa. Louisa did not find it in the least agreeable. She lowered her eyes to her cup of chocolate and gazed into its brown depths as if it were the most fascinating object on three continents. Poise at its best, actually, as there was nothing even remotely interesting about a half-drunk cup of chocolate.
    "I'll take her," a male voice said.