Tempted by a Lady’s Smile

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Book: Read Tempted by a Lady’s Smile for Free Online
Authors: Christi Caldwell
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Regency
destiny.
    Gripping her by the forearms, Beatrice steered Gemma forward. She gave her a slight nudge between the shoulder blades. “Off you go. Third door down the corridor, on the right. Make him see reason.”
    Gemma frowned. Make him see reason? Wasn’t love about illogical thought and maddening passion? The manner of dizzying desire that had gripped her in a stranger’s arms. She turned to ask her friend as much, but like a slip of fog rolled back by the morning light, Beatrice disappeared. With a sigh, Gemma forced her legs to move.
    If Mother knew Gemma even now crept down the silent, candlelit corridors, seeking out the company of a gentleman… Alone. Unchaperoned. Which, in thinking, really was quite redundant, the whole alone and unchaperoned business… Gemma gave her head a clearing shake. Even nervous in her silent musings.
    She paused at the end of the hall. Third door down the corridor, on the right. Third door, on the right. Gemma stole one more glance backward. After all, a person could never be too certain there weren’t servants about. Or in the case of the early evening…stewards about. Stewards with firm lips and thick, chestnut hair and wicked, if mocking, grins. Her skin heated as she thrust thoughts of the duke’s steward aside and fixated on the task at hand. More importantly, avoiding discovery so she might profess her love, at last.
    Holding her breath, Gemma continued on to the billiards room. She would have explaining to do if it were say, Mama and not Emery, who’d found she’d snuck off in the dead of night. “And what would she say if she knew it was all an attempt to see a gentleman—alone?” she mumbled to herself. The dashing, charming brother of her dearest friend but still, a clandestine meeting was a clandestine meeting, and one that were she to be discovered would no doubt find Gemma packed off to an abbey.
    But some men were worth braving scandal over and Lord Westfield was one of them.
    Yes, he was whispered about as something of a rogue, but surely even a charmer such as he would not go about kissing young women he did not know and grab them closer than ever could be appropriate. Her lips burned from the memory of earlier that evening and she paused in the corridor, touching her fingertips to her lips. Then, gaining control of her thoughts, she refocused on Lord Westfield. She didn’t give a fig if he was a duke or destitute. She’d loved him since he’d rescued her from a dance-less debut at Almack’s. She’d loved him for being a devoted brother who cared about the happiness of his family, when most lords only cared about wagering and carousing. And she loved him for every kindness he’d shown her through every painful London Season.
    Gemma wiped her damp palms along the sides of her wrinkled skirt and continued walking. Except, with each step, her courage deserted her. She touched the handle of the door…and then froze.
    What are you doing, Gemma Reed ? Young ladies did not steal upon a gentleman who sought privacy, declare their love, and make an absolute cake of themselves all in the hopes that he would return those very sentiments.
    It was that small lingering hope that he would, in fact, profess his love that compelled her to press the handle, entering the quiet room. She closed the door behind her so softly the faint click barely registered with her own ears.
    It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the darkened billiards room. But for a handful of candles, the thick black of night shrouded the room in an eerie quiet. She searched the grand space adorned in crimson curtains and heavy, red mahogany furniture. She stilled as her gaze found the tall figure seated on the leather winged back chair. As if sensing her presence, Lord Westfield stiffened in profile and then made to rise.
    “D-do not!” she called out, and he froze. “Stand, that is.” Her voice echoed around the room. Digging deep for the courage to share the words she’d kept silent for too long,

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