The Phantom Lover Read Free

enticing little ringlets at the nape of her neck. Her shoulders and back, bare because of the rather-too-daring cut of her gown, gleamed whitely in the dim light of the carriage. His eyes traveled down to her tiny waist, now partially hidden by the shawl which had slipped from her shoulders, to the beautifully molded thigh whose outline he could discern through the thin silk of her dress, and finally to the shapely ankle peeping out from beneath the hem. To possess that loveliness would be well worth the trouble of taming her willfulness. He put his arm around her shoulders and made her face him. “I’m sure you can’t blame Mama for feeling that your standards of behavior would benefit from a bit of guidance,” he said indulgently, “although I assure you that no one blames you for your indiscretions, since you’re known to have lost your mother at so young an age. Nevertheless, being brought up by Lady Sybil, who everyone knows is a bit rackety herself, cannot have been good for you. You’ll have to admit that your behavior has been, at times, quite scandalous.”
    Nell drew back from him and raised her eyebrows haughtily. “Scandalous? In what way has my behavior been scandalous?”
    â€œCome now, my dear, there’s no need to set up your bristles. I did offer for you, knowing full well that you need a strong hand. Neither I nor my mother places any blame at your doorstep. It isn’t your fault that you were orphaned, after all—”
    â€œSo I need a strong hand, do I?” Nell demanded, her eyes glinting dangerously. “You place no blame on me? How very kind! Pray be specific, sir. What have I done for which you and your Mama find it necessary to make these allowances?”
    â€œWell, you must admit, if you are to be at all honest with yourself, that racing Tubby Reynolds through Hyde Park on that shocking blue phaeton of Lady Sybil’s, or telling Lady Sheldrake to her face that her perpetual diet has done her no good at all, or wearing that shockingly revealing gown to Almack’s, or jilting two perfectly respectable suitors in three months—not that I blame you for that, for neither one of those fellows would have suited you at all—are indisputable examples of scandalous behavior.”
    â€œAre they indeed? Well, you are certainly at liberty to think so, but for one thing, my race with Tubby was held in the morning , when Hyde Park is very thin of crowds. For another thing, Lady Sheldrake brought the incident on herself by asking everybody within earshot if she looked any thinner—we could all see that she was fatter than ever, poor thing, and no one could think of anything to say that wouldn’t be an out-and-out lie. And as for my gown, which you say was so revealing, it was only your Mama who found fault with it. Lady Jersey herself told me that I was in very fine looks that evening. There is only one act for which I may be brought to task, and that is jilting Lord Keith. And poor Neddy Overton, too, I suppose. Perhaps I was hasty in crying off from those entanglements, for neither one of them ever told me I was scandalous!”
    â€œThey were both afraid of you. I am not,” Nigel said with a condescending smile.
    Nell clenched her hands in her lap. “I think, Nigel,” she said, fighting to keep her temper in check, “that it is becoming quite clear that you and I don’t suit.”
    â€œNonsense!” Nigel declared, unperturbed. “A mere difference of opinion about a family dinner—”
    â€œIt’s much more than a small difference about dinner. I believe our differences to be fundamental. I’ve quite made up my mind. Our betrothal was a mistake, and I must ask you to release me.”
    Nigel stared at her, his mouth gaping. “You can’t be serious,” he managed at last.
    â€œBut I am.”
    He shook his head in disbelief, but the firmness of her chin convinced him that