Read Kat, Incorrigible for Free Online Page A

things or put my faith in wild rumors that sound like dreadful gothic novels.”
    “That is unfair,” I said. “Elissa’s the one who reads gothic novels.”
    “She adores them,” Angeline said. “And I’m starting to think she has a fancy to become a gothic heroine. You should have seen how noble she looked as she was saying it. I’m sure she was already picturing herself in her shroud, looking beautiful and being wept over by all the peasantry.”
    “We can’t let it happen,” I said.
    “ I won’t,” said Angeline. “ You need to stay well out of it. I mean it, Kat. I only found my way back into Elissa’s good graces by finally pretending to agree with her and repent my bad behavior.”
    “But if Mrs. Watkins told her—”
    “I told Elissa exactly what Mrs. Watkins had said, and Elissa just told me that that was what came of Gossiping with the Lower Orders.”
    “What a prig! As if she didn’t gossip with Mrs. Watkins all the time!”
    “Just try telling her that,” Angeline said. “Or, rather—don’t. Truly. Don’t tell her anything, don’t argue about her decision, and especially do not run away or come up with any other nightmarishly bad schemes for her rescue. I have everything in hand, and the last thing I need is for you to interfere.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    Angeline scooped up the magic books. “I’m going to find myself a wealthy fiancé,” she said, “and well before Sir Neville works up the breath to propose.”
    I frowned at her. “Mr. Carlyle—”
    “A wealthy fiancé with a brain and a sense of humor, who happens to be old enough to be married,” Angeline said firmly as she stood. “We won’t leave for Grantham Abbey for at least another week and a half. That’s plenty of time to get started. And once we’re there, it should be at least another month before Sir Neville proposes, no matter how much Stepmama flaunts Elissa before him. With Mama’s magic to help, I shouldn’t have any difficulties. Once I’m betrothed to a man just as wealthy as Sir Neville, there won’t be any reason for Elissa to accept his offer, no matter how much of a martyr she longs to be.”
    I eyed her warily. “Maybe we can take Mr. Carlyle along with us, just in case.”

    Over the next week, I grew less and less convinced that Angeline did have everything in hand. It was bad enough that Frederick Carlyle slid out of Papa’s study at every opportunity to follow her around the house and gardens. No matter how rude she was to him, he still made moon-eyes at her to an extent that Stepmama said was positively shocking. Even having to share a bedroom with Charles hadn’t dimmed Mr. Carlyle’s ardor for Angeline, which was ample proof in itself that a magic spell must be at work.
    But none of Angeline’s other spells were working. Oh, she didn’t say so, but I knew that look on her face. The way she snarled at me the fifth time I asked was every bit as good as an outright confession. It was all very well for Angeline to say she could manage everything herself. Angeline always knew best, according to Angeline. But Frederick Carlyle wasn’t the first evidence of one of Angeline’s mistakes … and the storm-cloud look on her face as she bent over the new gown she was sewing for our trip was all I needed to know exactly how her great plans were proceeding.
    Three days before we were due to leave for Grantham Abbey, I decided I had waited long enough. Elissa might be the prissiest female in all of England, but she was still my oldest sister. She was the one who’d carried me out to the back garden to play near Mama’s roses when I was only a baby. She was the one who’d made up a thousand excuses to Stepmama over the years to keep me out of trouble, no matter how sternly she’d lectured me afterward. If she was to be saved from Sir Neville, there was only one thing to do. It was time for me to take the situation in hand.
    I waited until midnight and then crept out of bed. I