Read The Switch for Free Online Page B

itching at her back beneath the shirt.
    Charlie would have loved to release her breasts from their bondage. Even just long enough to take a really deep breath or two. She would have liked to wash her hair and enjoy a nice long bath as well. But any of the above options were far too risky to attempt. Radcliffe could return at any moment.
    Thinking about the man made Charlie sigh unhappily. The fact that she had not managed to purchase the pistol or slip away with Beth had not really struck her on first awakening. Now it did. That meant another day's travel away from their intended destination.
    Setting the brush aside, she retied her hair and pulled the collar away from her skin far enough that she could slip the braid of hair back into her shirt.
    She could not say she was really sorry about being unable to escape. Radcliffe had been kind to them. She did not feel right about sneaking out on him in the middle of the night.
    A tap at the door made her stiffen briefly, then Charlie quickly resettled the wig on her head and stood as the door opened, relaxing when Beth's head poked around it.
    "Oh, good. You are alone." Slipping inside, she moved to Charlie's side as she stood.
    "I was unable to obtain a pistol," Charlie began apologetically.
    "Good," Beth said abruptly. When Charlie blinked in surprise, she shrugged. "I did not really wish to run out on Lord Radcliffe. Besides, it has occurred to me that London may be the better destination for us just now after all. Think on it. How much better would it be to arrive at Ralphy's with actual funds rather than just jewels? And with Radcliffe's assistance, we are sure to get a fair price for Mother's jewels. Later we can make our way to Ralphy's… if we must."
    Charlie's gaze narrowed at that. "What mean you by 'if we must'?"
    "Well…" She pursed her lips slightly. "It does occur to me that we might like a coming out."
    "Beth, we could not possibly!" Charlie gasped in dismay.
    "Why not?"
    "What do you mean, why not? The answer is obvious. The moment Uncle Henry heard of our appearance in London, he would—"
    "Why must he hear?"
    "How could he not?" Charlie snapped impatiently.
    "He would not hear if we did not give our true names," Beth pointed out simply.
    Charlie rolled her eyes at that. "Oh, aye. I am sure that fake names would do the trick. Just exactly how many twins do you think there are in England, Beth? And how many of them do you believe are our age and likely to have a coming out this year? And how many have brown hair and midnight eyes?"
    "Why must we tell them we are twins?"
    "You do not think they would notice?" Charlie asked dryly.
    "Nay. I do not… Charles."
    Charlie stiffened at that, comprehension dawning over her. It was followed quickly by a pain that she hid by turning away. "I see. You would like me to continue this charade so that you might have a coming out," she murmured unhappily.
    "Charlie," Beth whispered, reaching to touch her arm, but her twin jerked away.
    " 'Tis all right."
    "Nay. You misunderstood. I thought for us both to find a husband."
    Charlie gave a harsh laugh at that. " 'Twould be hard for me to attract a husband as a man, sister."
    "Not if we took turns at being one." When Charlie stared at her blankly, Beth explained, "We could switch back and forth. One night you be the brother and I will be the sister, and the next we'll switch. That way we can encourage whomsoever we choose. We can eventually tell the truth when we are sure of the men in question."
    Charlie stilled at that and faced her. "You would take turns at being a boy?"
    Beth nodded solemnly, her lips quirking slightly after a moment to ruin the effect. "Truly, it does seem that you get to have more fun as a boy, Charlie."
    "Fun?" Her eyebrows shot up at that.
    "Aye. Well, just look. Yesterday Lord Radcliffe took you shooting. Then last night, you got to stay up all night
drinking until you passed out drunk."
    "Passed out drunk?" Charlie stared at her sister, horrified.
    "Aye.