Read Always True to Her (Emerson Book 2) for Free Online Page B

she pulled a
heavy volume from the shelf.
    Without thinking, James reached out to help her, his
fingers brushing against hers as he did so. He felt a shock go through his
body. And from her sudden discomfited expression, he believed she had felt it,
too. Her accompanying blush flooded his body with lust. As a distraction, he
examined the book in his hands. “It’s a book of art.”
    “I had a feeling Lord Layton might have such a
volume. It has reproductions of great pieces of art from museums all over
Europe. I thought perhaps Miss Emerson might like to look through the book
while you and I converse.”
    It was a remarkably kind and intelligent suggestion,
making James wonder if this lady was truly related to Cedric. He placed the
book on a table, then pulled out a chair for Anna. “Would you like to look at
the book while Miss Wallace and I talk?”
    His little girl nodded, then readily sat in the
chair, which he pushed closer to the table. In the meantime, Miss Wallace had
already gone to the settee halfway across the room. She was a rather assertive
young lady, always leading the way.
    Fortunately, her actions also afforded him an
excellent view of her backside. It was a reminder of just how female she was.
And he was usually quite persuasive with women.
    Perhaps this Miss Wallace was a soft touch. He might
be able to persuade her to help him with only a few kind words. She was
obviously unmarried, though three years past her debut if he had to guess. She
was likely starved for male attention. It shouldn’t be that hard for him to
turn her into an ally.
    When he joined her, he gave her the smile that had
brought more than a few women to his bed. He was pleased to see it made her
blink in surprise. She took a step back, bumping into the settee. He reached
out to steady her and felt that damned shock again.
    She pulled away and sat, looking off balance in all
ways. He took a seat in the chair opposite her, trying to regain his own
composure. He decided to go on the offensive.
    “I must say, Miss Wallace, you are not what I was
expecting of Cedric’s sister.”
    “Yes, well, I imagine my brother had better things
to do in America than talk about his younger sister.”
    “His younger, beautiful sister. I must confess
myself surprised that you are yet unmarried. Have the gentlemen in England
gone mad since I was last here?”
    She narrowed her eyes just the slightest. “Are you
trying to charm me, sir?”
    “Not at all.”
    “I believe we have our answers reversed. If you
were to ask me if your efforts were working, I would reply ‘not at all.’
However, I believe you are doing your best to turn me up sweet. Hence the
smile with your remarkably white teeth and the compliment about my marital
status, though it was not really a compliment at all.”
    James was taken aback. He was rarely rebuffed. And
while she had noticed his admittedly very white teeth, it came as a surprise that
she was not more receptive to his efforts. For a moment, he feared he’d lost
all his appeal, until he remembered the ladies onboard the ship on his journey
to England. More than a few had made it known that they would welcome his
advances. He reckoned he could get a bed partner for that very night if he’d
been so inclined.
    Yet, this chit had not only rebuffed him, she’d had
the audacity to recognize the game he was playing. Cedric had been a bit of a
halfwit. It was looking more and more likely that not only had Irene Wallace
been given a full portion of brains, but she’d somehow also acquired the half
that Cedric had been denied.
    A beautiful woman who was also intelligent. He
wasn’t sure he was ready for that.
    “How was what I said not a compliment?” he asked.
    “You implied that I am unmarried solely because the
gentlemen of England had gone mad. Perhaps I am still unwed because I simply did
not say yes to any proposals. Perhaps the gentlemen of England are even more clever
than you remember, yet I still felt I would