The Viscount's Rose (The Farthingale Series Book 5)

Free The Viscount's Rose (The Farthingale Series Book 5) by Meara Platt

Book: The Viscount's Rose (The Farthingale Series Book 5) by Meara Platt Read Free Book Online
Authors: Meara Platt
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Regency
on to other amusements. He would then be thrown into her refuse pile along with the other men whose hearts she had broken. He longed for the day to arrive. This assignment had long ago grown tedious.
    He stopped staring at Rose and forced himself to keep his thoughts off the girl and her soft blue eyes.
    When the recital ended, the guests drifted off to various entertainments. Those who sought to dine found the supper tables groaning under the weight of the abundant cold meats, salted fish, and succulent sweets on display. Card tables were set up in the card room, and the Winthrops had engaged an orchestra that appeared to be ready to open with a waltz in the ballroom. Julian thought of his promise to Rose about her first waltz, a promise he desired to keep, but he dared not claim it here.
    He glanced around and saw that Rose and Nicola were now seated among the wallflowers, chattering between themselves and making it clear to all the young bucks in attendance that neither girl was interested in dancing. He understood Rose’s hesitation, for she had not quite recovered from her sprained ankle, but Nicola had no such impediment. Why wasn’t his blasted headstrong sister making herself available for a dance?
    “You seem far away, Chatham,” Valentina said, attempting to follow his gaze. Fortunately, the ballroom was packed and she wasn’t tall enough to make out what had distracted him across the room.
    “No, my love. Right here. Just making certain Braswell isn’t eyeing my sister.” That rankled Valentina. Braswell was her toady for the moment and she wasn’t about to share him with anyone. “Ah, no. I see he’s moved past her and is gulping down a cup of ratafia. No doubt he’s spiked it. The drink is vile. Not even I can stomach it plain.”
    He took Valentina into his arms as her frown eased, and he danced the waltz and then a quadrille with her. He gave silent thanks when Lord Braswell approached Valentina to claim the two sets he’d marked on her dance card.
    With Valentina occupied for another hour at a minimum, Julian took the opportunity to approach his sister and Rose. They saw him coming and scampered outside, Rose moving with surprising grace as they both hurried down the terrace steps to the privacy of the garden. Were they purposely trying to avoid him?
    Bloody nuisance.
    He followed after them, telling himself that it was only to protect the girls from the unscrupulous bachelors lying in wait for the first young innocent of ample fortune to walk down the darkened path and fall into one of their traps.
    Wasn’t he honor bound to protect them? After all, Nicola was his sister and Rose was his sort of responsibility ever since he’d pulled her out from her sabotaged pottery shed. In any event, he’d promised her mother that he’d look after her. It mattered little that they were talking about the upcoming trip to Darnley Cottage and not this musicale.
    A promise is a promise and I mean to keep it.
    If Valentina noticed, he’d simply tell her the truth. She’d believe that he’d been chasing after his sister to keep the irritating sibling out of harm’s way. No need to make mention of Rose. Indeed, the less said about her, the better.
    He strode down a darkened bend and almost barreled over the two girls, catching them up in his arms in time to prevent them from falling into a heap at his feet. “Nicola, why aren’t you on the dance floor?” He steadied both girls and then released them, nodding toward the crowded ballroom. His body still tingled in the spots where Rose had fallen against him, and his hand still shook from the ache of wanting to touch of her soft, warm body again.
    “No one asked me.” Nicola shot back a glower, obviously not in the least distressed to be considered a wallflower.
    He frowned. Any dutiful brother would be concerned to find his younger sister ignored by the reputable young bucks on the hunt for a suitable wife. “Let me see your card.”
    “No.” She tucked

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