Read The Nobody: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) for Free Online Page A

early—and unescorted! With only a
message
to Lady Selcroft! Oh, she had definitely crossed the line. She had committed an unforgivable solecism, and her unknown assailant had given her her just desserts.
    She frowned, unseeing, at the bedpost. It was absurd the way her mind kept returning to that man. No amount of self-scolding succeeded in banishing him from her imagination. Despite the evidence of the bloodstains he had left on her gown, she could not convince herself he was a sinister individual whom she was fortunate to have escaped. It was maddening to think she would probably never discover his identity.
    On the other hand, she reminded herself with a shudder, I am excessively glad that he will probably never discover mine!
    It would have relieved her considerably to confide the story to a sympathetic listener, but that was out of the question. If any part of the tale came to Lady Lynwood’s ears, Aunt Harriet would probably wash her hands of her hoydenish niece and send her back to Hertfordshire without more ado. And Emily would be scarcely less shocked than Aunt Harriet at Caitlin’s wanton disregard of the proprieties.
    Serena might understand—but then a dreadful thought occurred. Caitlin had stupidly seconded Lady Elizabeth’s advice with her own shocking conduct. The next time she saw Serena, she would probably receive a crushing snub. Caitlin had alienated her only friend in London, and she had no one to blame but herself. Her eyes suddenly filled with remorseful tears.
    Caitlin set her chocolate cup down, dashed the tears from her eyes, and resolutely scrambled out of bed. If it killed her, she would go down to breakfast with a semblance of her usual cheerful calm. Emily would be longing to confide the story of her presentation. Caitlin hoped fervently that the
ton
had given Emily a warmer welcome last night than her sister had experienced.
    She would not wait for Jane to come and help her dress. Besides, she must not grow accustomed to the life of luxury she was leading at Lynwood House. Caitlin had waited on herself all her life, and since she was doubtless returning to Rosemeade in disgrace in the near future, she would probably wait on herself forever. She dressed hastily and dragged a comb through her hair, trying to arrange the copper-colored tresses as Emily had taught her, then grimaced at her reflection. In her white muslin morning dress, she looked like nothing so much as a—a lit candle!
    She hurried downstairs, dreading what she might find there; she could not help fearing that sensitive Emily had been slighted as she had been. But when she stepped through the breakfast room door Emily flew out of her chair with a cry of joy.
    “Caitie! How I wish you had been with us last night!”
    Caitlin laughed, and hugged her younger sister. “Indeed, Emily, I wish I had been,” she replied, thinking Emily could little know how heartfelt that sentiment was. “Did you enjoy yourself? Was it everything you hoped?”
    Emily’s soft blue eyes glowed, and her cheeks were more than usually pink. “Oh, it was lovely! Everyone was so kind.”
    Caitlin sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving. If Emily succeeded in joining their aunt’s world, Caitlin felt she herself could happily return to obscurity in Hertfordshire. “But this is excellent!” she remarked, her eyes twinkling. “If everyone was kind to you, Emily, you must have been a great success.”
    This brought a chuckle from Aunt Harriet, sitting at the head of the table with the morning post scattered beside her breakfast plate. “A portionless girl from the country cannot expect to cause a sensation, Caitlin!” she announced, her satisfied expression belying the admonition. “But on the whole, our little Emily did very well. Very well indeed.”
    Lady Lynwood was a plump little woman who retained much of her youth’s prettiness, and almost all of its giddiness. With her correspondence and tea things heaped about her like a nest, she reminded