Free Princess Charming by Nicole Jordan

polite bow.
    When his gaze locked with hers, Maura felt her heartbeat quicken at the impact of those vivid green eyes. Indeed, Beaufort’s mere presence had the power to unnerve her. Then her gaze dropped to his mouth, and she shivered, remembering her dreams about his sensual kisses.
    Quickly, she cleared her throat. “My lord, what brings you here at this early hour?”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Have you forgotten our engagement this morning?”
    “Engagement?”
    “To ride.”
    They had made no such appointment, but he gave her no time to argue as he shifted his attention to her stepsisters. The fact that the girls were still in their dressing gowns must have dawned on them both at the same time; Lucy giggled, while Hannah turned red in the face.
    Beaufort did not seem to notice their dishabille, though. No doubt because he was accustomed to seeing females in various stages of undress.
    “Will you introduce me to these lovely young ladies, Miss Collyer?”
    She complied. “These are my stepsisters, Hannah and Lucy Collyer.”
    He offered them a bow and a charming smile. “A pleasure to meet you, ladies.”
    Both girls were clearly awestruck by his attentions and by his stylish elegance. He wore a burgundy riding coat, buff breeches, and shining black boots, attire that molded his broad shoulders and long legs to perfection.
    Hannah sat staring at him, tongue-tied, while Lucy giggled again.
    It
was
rather disturbing, Maura thought in sympathy, having a noble rake of his caliber in their breakfast room. Even so, she was a fool to let Lord Beaufort affect her so. She didn’t even know why he was there. On second thought …
    I think you and Ash may be meant for each other
.
    Remembering Katharine’s declaration last night, Maura pressed her lips together. The suspicion that her friend was bent on matchmaking filled her with dismay. As if she didn’t have enough to worry about just now.
    Her first inclination was to be rid of the marquis as soon as possible, but apparently he had other ideas.
    “Pray, do not rush yourself, Miss Collyer,” Beaufort said easily as he pulled out a chair across from her and settled in it. “It is a lady’s prerogative to keep a gentleman waiting. However, you could offer me breakfast. The ball ran so late, I didn’t rise in time to dine this morning before our ride.”
    Maura’s eyebrows shot up at his boldness in inviting himself to eat at their table, but while she debated how to answer, Lucy broke in.
    “Yes, please do join us, my lord,” the girl implored. “Our mama will be enraptured to meet you.”
    That reminder settled the issue for Maura. She had no desire to have Beaufort’s escort on her morningride, but she urgently wanted to get him out of the house before her stepmother appeared and made him a captive audience.
    Setting down her napkin, Maura rose with alacrity. “His lordship will have to meet Mrs. Collyer at some other time, Lucy. We should go, my lord. You won’t want to keep your horse standing.”
    He had provoked her into letting him accompany her, and the smile in his eyes suggested he knew it. When she stood waiting impatiently for him, Beaufort rose also and snagged an apple from the bowl of fruit on the table before following Maura from the room.
    She held her tongue as she hastened to collect her gloves and hat from the footman at the front door, not wanting to argue in front of Priscilla’s servants. Then she quickly led the marquis outside and down the steps to the street, where her mount was being held by a groom.
    Yet when Beaufort asked in that amused tone of his, “What is the hurry, Miss Collyer?” Maura explained in a low undervoice. “Even if you are an unwanted guest, you don’t deserve to be subjected to my stepmother. She would toady you to death.”
    “Your effort to spare me is much appreciated,” he murmured in return, “although it wounds me to be considered unwanted.”
    Refraining from replying, Maura allowed the groom to