Read The Diabolical Baron for Free Online Page B

you admirably. I have come to beg the honor of taking you for a turn in the park.”
    Caroline blushed and looked at the carpet. “It would be a great pleasure, my lord, but... but I am engaged to my sister.”
    “Oh, that is quite all, right, Caro,” Gina said help fully. “We can go tomorrow. I shouldn’t wish to interfere with your enjoyment.” She cast a roguish look in Lord Radford’s direction. “Besides, Gideon will be here soon and we are also going for a drive.”
    “Indeed, Caroline, it was very bad of you to keep his lordship waiting,” said her stepmother sternly.
    “She did not know when I was coming, Lady Hanscombe. But I do hope you are now free to accept my invitation,” he said to her.
    “Of course, Lord Radford,” she said, still studying the carpet. “If you will but give me a few moments to freshen up, I will be with you directly.” With that, she turned and left the room quickly enough to qualify it as flight.
    She hurried up the stairs in confusion. What was the man doing here? Surely he had better things to do.
    She entered her room and took a quick inventory of her wardrobe. The gray morning dress with dark blue trim should do; she always looked as if she were succumb ing to a minor illness when she wore it. She changed quickly, and spent a moment combing her hair over her brow to conceal her face more.
    To complete the ef fect, she took her least favorite bonnet, one of her step mother’s castoffs. It had been unimpressive even in its salad days, and age had not improved it. She drew a deep breath to calm herself, then proceeded down stairs to meet her fate.
    Lord Radford studied her as she entered the salon. He gave her several points for the speed with which she had made ready, but had to subtract them for the poor results. Really, the girl dressed a fright. She had looked quite pretty when she came in from outside; now she looked like a nondescript governess. Her wardrobe must certainly be altered as soon as they were betrothed.
    Even a young woman as inattentive to fashion as Caroline could not fail to notice Lord Radford’s high- perch phaeton. It was magnificently black, with ac cents in silver. The superbly matched black horses were clearly of superior lineage, and their harness con tinued the black-and-silver theme.
    Jason watched Caroline’s eyes widen and asked, “Do you approve?”
    “It is not for me to approve or disapprove, your lordship.”
    “Nonsense. You are entitled to an opinion, and I’m sure you have one, even if you are not in the habit of stating it,” he said as he helped her up into the vehicle.
    “Well, it is very dramatic,” she said hesitantly as she settled herself against the black velvet squabs. “But perhaps a little . . . ominous.” She certainly couldn’t tell him it exactly confirmed her naming him the Dia bolical Baron.
    “Your mother likes it. Before you returned, she told me it was most handsome.”
    “Stepmother.”
    “Ah, we are making progress, Miss Hanscombe! That is the first comment you have made that goes be yond the minimum necessary to answer my remarks,” Jason said genially. He was pleased to learn that the girl was no blood relation to Lady Hanscombe. He would rather not have a wife from that mold.
    “I ... I’m sorry, Lord Radford.” She flushed and looked at the glossy horses before her. “I did not mean to be uncivil.”
    Jason cursed his misstep. He wasn’t sure whether she took his remark as a criticism, or merely had no sense of humor; in either event, he had lost any ground he had made.
    Glancing sideways, he guessed the lovely porcelain skin would always betray her feel ings in easy blushes. Unfortunate for her, perhaps, but convenient for him.
    “I am sure you have never been uncivil in your life. Is this your first visit to London?” Back to the neutrali ties of their first meeting at Almack’s; it seemed safer.
    English weather was always good for extended con versation, so Jason spent the drive