Free The Viscount and the Virgin by Annie Burrows Page A

lighthearted chatter suitable for a party bound on an evening of pleasure. All the way to the theatre, she felt as thoughshe was floating on air. This was the first stroke of good luck she’d had in an age. Even if the gentlemen she met tonight did not take to her, it sounded as though Monty would be prepared to help her find the kind of man she could enjoy being married to. Perhaps, he might even take one look at her, and… Her heart skipped a beat. How wonderful it would be if Monty himself, the hero of all her girlhood dreams, took a shine to her. If he proposed and whisked her away from London, just when she was most in need of rescue!
    She could not stop smiling, all the way up the stairs to the upper tiers. Though her heart was beating so fast that it made her feel a little shaky. By the time they reached the door to Monty’s private box, she was clinging to Rick’s arm for all she was worth.
    And it was just as well. For the first person she saw, when the door swung open, was none other than Viscount Mildenhall. He was lounging against one of the pillars that sup ported the gilded ceiling. Very soberly dressed, for him, in a dark coat, plain waist coat and only one ring adorning his little finger.
    The castles she had been building in the air came crashing down about her in ruins. However much Monty might want to help her, the Viscount would prevent any man he considered a friend from getting entangled with her!
    Viscount Mildenhall met her horrified gaze with lowered brows. Then he looked at Rick. Then at the way she was clinging to his arm. Then back at Rick.
    â€˜Rick,’ he drawled, pushing himself off the pillar and coming forward with his hand out stretched. ‘Welcome. And this is?’ His eyes flicked to Imogen again, his features now fixed in an expression of polite enquiry.
    â€˜My sister!’ said Rick, as though it must be obvious.
    â€˜Your sister,’ he repeated, looking at her long and hard.
    Imogen bristled. What was he doing acting as though he was the host tonight, the arrogant pig! It was Monty who had invited them! And then, to her horror, Rick said, ‘She has been really looking for ward to meeting you properly, at last.’
    Imogen felt heat flood to her cheeks. If that was not enough to destroy her reputation in this man’s eyes, she did not know what would. He had already accused her of pursuing him. Though nobody else seemed aware anything was wrong, she could tell from the way his eyes glittered he thought she was so brassy she had even roped her brother into her schemes.
    She lifted her chin and glared at him. ‘I was not in the least keen to meet you , Viscount Mildenhall. My brother told me he was to introduce me to an ex-officer from his regiment.’ She scanned the other occupants of the box again, wondering which one of the young gentlemen it could be. Neither of them looked in the least like the Monty of her imagination.
    â€˜You already know each other?’ Rick asked, glancing down at her in surprise.
    â€˜We have crossed each other’s paths, once or twice. But we have never been formally introduced,’ said the viscount.
    â€˜Well, then, Monty, let me do the honours. This is my sister, Midge. Well, my step sister, Miss Imogen Hebden, I suppose I should say, to be perfectly ac curate. And her maternal aunt, Lady Callandar.’
    â€˜M-Monty?’ Imogen’s eyes swivelled back to Viscount Mildenhall and widened in horror. ‘ You are Monty? B-but—’
    At exactly the same time, Lady Callandar rounded on her. ‘ This is your brother’s friend Monty?’
    Finally, even Rick picked up on the fact there was some thing amiss.
    â€˜Oh, ah, well, suppose I should have explained he’s Viscount Mildenhall, nowadays.’
    â€˜The family name is Claremont, as I am sure you are aware, madam,’ he said to Lady Callandar, bowing stiffly from the waist. ‘My brother officers still tend to