her dress. It was taffeta, she knew, just by the way it sounded as she arranged the long skirts. A grosgrain taffeta; she could feel the nap beneath her sensitive fingertips. Other than that, she had no clue what Maggie had dressed her in.
“You look lovely in that shade of yellow.”
“Thank you. I was wondering what color this gown was.”
“The hue reminds me of a summer day.”
“Good heavens, brother, I do believe that Lady Lucy’s penchant for description is rubbing off on you.”
“Do you? I had rather hoped that it would be the other way around—that I might be rubbing off on her.”
“And what makes you think you are not?”
“Because she made it known, in no uncertain terms, that she finds me rather loathsome.”
“Posh,” Lizzy said, waving away her brother’s worry.
“Lucy is confused, is all. She feels for you, Adrian. I can sense it. She doesn’t loathe you at all. She is merely trying to understand what it is you do to her. Besides, we had a chat over tea this morning, after that horrible business was concluded, and she asked me a few questions about you.”
“Really?” The covers rustled, as though he was sitting up. “What questions?”
“I am not at liberty to share our discourse, but suffice it to say that I think you have captivated her, despite her best intentions not to notice you.”
“And when did you become an expert in affairs of the heart?”
BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23, 2012
9780373776627_CS5_txt.indd 85
12-01-31 4:03 PM
86
TEMPTATION & TWILIGHT
“After the stacks of penny dreadfuls Isabella and Lucy have been reading to me these past weeks.”
“Ah,” he said, laughing. “Advice from overwrought literature. You are indeed an expert.”
“Mark my words, Adrian. Lucy will be your wife, and will fall head over heels in love with you. Every bit as much, if not more, than you love her.” She was met with silence, and she listened for the sounds in the room. Nothing. Adrian must be lying there, hands folded behind his head, studying her. Drat the man, he was too observant. She never could hide much from him.
“Lizzy?” he murmured, and she heard the silent question in his voice.
“I only came to find you, to see if you might need anything.”
“Well, here you are,” her brother drawled, sounding amused. “Risking life and limb to check on me and my aching head. Isn’t that what you claimed?”
“Indeed. How is your head?”
“I took a sulphur tonic and it is much improved.” Curling her lips, she said, “I thought I smelt something foul upon entering this room, but felt it was impolite and far too personal to point it out.” Adrian laughed again and she heard him settling back onto his pillows. “And what of the other questions, Lizzy?”
She never could fool Adrian. There was a time, when she was much younger, that Adrian had been nothing but a thorn in her side. He’d been mean, taunting, but then he had grown quite ill, and was whisked away by their father to a remote estate. It had taken months for him to heal from his ailment, and when she had next seen him, he had been a changed man. Kind and thoughtful. Pro-BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23, 2012
9780373776627_CS5_txt.indd 86
12-01-31 4:03 PM
CHARLOTTE FEATHERSTONE
87
tective without being overbearing, and so very, very understanding of her needs. She had been completely blind upon his return, and she frequently lamented the fact that she could not see his face. See the man he had become.
“Let’s have the real reason, Lizzy. Out with it.” Shrugging, she fidgeted with her hands. “I came to ask about Lucy. I wondered, with the events of the morning, how she was. She seemed rather determined to avoid the topic with me.”
He sighed. “I sent her home with a footman to protect her. I read the note to you, so you know the bastard might have just as easily killed her—the redhead in the note, no doubt—as opposed to Anastasia. And the thought of it chills me to the
“You look lovely in that shade of yellow.”
“Thank you. I was wondering what color this gown was.”
“The hue reminds me of a summer day.”
“Good heavens, brother, I do believe that Lady Lucy’s penchant for description is rubbing off on you.”
“Do you? I had rather hoped that it would be the other way around—that I might be rubbing off on her.”
“And what makes you think you are not?”
“Because she made it known, in no uncertain terms, that she finds me rather loathsome.”
“Posh,” Lizzy said, waving away her brother’s worry.
“Lucy is confused, is all. She feels for you, Adrian. I can sense it. She doesn’t loathe you at all. She is merely trying to understand what it is you do to her. Besides, we had a chat over tea this morning, after that horrible business was concluded, and she asked me a few questions about you.”
“Really?” The covers rustled, as though he was sitting up. “What questions?”
“I am not at liberty to share our discourse, but suffice it to say that I think you have captivated her, despite her best intentions not to notice you.”
“And when did you become an expert in affairs of the heart?”
BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23, 2012
9780373776627_CS5_txt.indd 85
12-01-31 4:03 PM
86
TEMPTATION & TWILIGHT
“After the stacks of penny dreadfuls Isabella and Lucy have been reading to me these past weeks.”
“Ah,” he said, laughing. “Advice from overwrought literature. You are indeed an expert.”
“Mark my words, Adrian. Lucy will be your wife, and will fall head over heels in love with you. Every bit as much, if not more, than you love her.” She was met with silence, and she listened for the sounds in the room. Nothing. Adrian must be lying there, hands folded behind his head, studying her. Drat the man, he was too observant. She never could hide much from him.
“Lizzy?” he murmured, and she heard the silent question in his voice.
“I only came to find you, to see if you might need anything.”
“Well, here you are,” her brother drawled, sounding amused. “Risking life and limb to check on me and my aching head. Isn’t that what you claimed?”
“Indeed. How is your head?”
“I took a sulphur tonic and it is much improved.” Curling her lips, she said, “I thought I smelt something foul upon entering this room, but felt it was impolite and far too personal to point it out.” Adrian laughed again and she heard him settling back onto his pillows. “And what of the other questions, Lizzy?”
She never could fool Adrian. There was a time, when she was much younger, that Adrian had been nothing but a thorn in her side. He’d been mean, taunting, but then he had grown quite ill, and was whisked away by their father to a remote estate. It had taken months for him to heal from his ailment, and when she had next seen him, he had been a changed man. Kind and thoughtful. Pro-BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23, 2012
9780373776627_CS5_txt.indd 86
12-01-31 4:03 PM
CHARLOTTE FEATHERSTONE
87
tective without being overbearing, and so very, very understanding of her needs. She had been completely blind upon his return, and she frequently lamented the fact that she could not see his face. See the man he had become.
“Let’s have the real reason, Lizzy. Out with it.” Shrugging, she fidgeted with her hands. “I came to ask about Lucy. I wondered, with the events of the morning, how she was. She seemed rather determined to avoid the topic with me.”
He sighed. “I sent her home with a footman to protect her. I read the note to you, so you know the bastard might have just as easily killed her—the redhead in the note, no doubt—as opposed to Anastasia. And the thought of it chills me to the
Similar Books
