Read My Lord Hercules for Free Online Page B

sitting in the same
room as you when Lord Harrison mentioned his sister.” Miranda
narrowed her eyes on Penny. Really, did her little sister think she
had the memory of gnat?
    “ But now she’s come to call
on you,” Penny gushed as she clapped her hands together. “He must
mean to propose, and she wants to know what sort of girl you
are.”
    He most certainly did not
mean to propose. Miranda’s face heated anew at the memory of Lord
Harrison’s kiss then his words a moment later: If you want to be ruined, Miranda, you need only
ask . As though she wanted to be ruined. For
a brief moment she’d felt as though she’d floated to the clouds
until he’d said such an awful thing. “She’s come to see Louisa,”
Miranda stressed their sister-in-law’s name. “Did you not hear
Hibbert?”
    But Penny paid her no attention, like
always. Her sister leaned closer to Miranda and said, “Where did
you meet him? You never said.”
    Heavens. Penny was as bad as Cerberus
with a bone. Miranda rose to her feet. “I’m feeling a bit piqued. I
think I’ll retire until dinner.”
    Before she could escape, however, a
pretty girl stepped into the parlor. Her light brown hair trailed
over one shoulder, making her appear both innocent and slightly
regal at the same time. She was young, however. Close to Miranda’s
or Penny’s age to be sure. But then, Lord Harrison had mentioned
that fact last night in the hack, hadn’t he? The lady smiled
sweetly, her green eyes, so much like her brother’s, landed on
Louisa. “Lady Marston, so wonderful to meet you. Your cousin, Emma
Heathfield, is a dear friend of mine.”
    Louisa nodded her head in greeting.
“Yes, Emma has spoken highly of you, Lady St. Austell. We’re so
glad you’ve come to call.”
    “ Oh, Pippa, please,” the
countess said, touching a hand to her chest as she crossed the
floor. “I do hate to stand on ceremony with friends, which I
sincerely hope you will be.”
    “ Then you must call me
Louisa.” Their sister-in-law gestured to Miranda, standing before
the settee and Penny still seated on it. “My new sisters, Miranda
and Penelope Bartlett.”
    The countess flashed a winning smile
in the sisters’ direction. “I’m so pleased to make your
acquaintance.”
    “ The pleasure is ours,”
Louisa replied. “Do join us, Pippa.”
    “ Sit, Miranda,” Penny
hissed. “It’s you she’s really come to see.”
    That statement drew Lady St. Austell’s
green eyes from Louisa to focus on Miranda as the countss took a
seat in a chair opposite them.
    Perfect. Penny and her big
mouth.
    “ I’ve come to see all of
you,” the countess protested, “and to extend an invitation to my
ball tomorrow night.”
    “ Miranda,” Louisa said
quietly, though there was an edge to her voice, making it quite
clear that she needed to reclaim her seat.
    Defeated, Miranda sank back onto the
settee beside Penny and folded her hands in her lap, wishing she
was anywhere else in the world.
    “ Lord Harrison mentioned
your ball before he took Miranda riding,” Penny said, as though she
was incapable of keeping any information to herself. She would make
a terrible spy. Thank heavens, Miranda hadn’t entrusted any of her
secrets to her little sister. All of London would know them if she
had.
    A genuine smile lit Lady St. Austell’s
face, and her green eyes twinkled happily. “Did you go riding with
Harry today?”
    Harry? Was that was his
family called him? Miranda nodded her answer instead of speaking.
What was she to say to the countess? Oh,
yes. Your brother took me riding and even let me drive. And then he
kissed me senseless before breaking my heart. How was your
afternoon? No, it was better just to
nod.
    “ We are looking forward to
your ball,” Louisa said, breaking the awkward silence. “I promised
the girls we would all go.”
    “ I am delighted to hear it,”
Lady St. Austell replied. “My husband mentioned today what great
friends he was with Mr. Bartlett, and he’s