Free Lady Libertine by Kate Harper Page A

moment – the breakfast table at Fendleton Hall – with a jolt of surprise. She dropped her eyes to plate, trying to collect herself, aware that her cheeks felt warm.
    That her entire body felt warm.
    Pins and needles prickled across her skin. The subtle ache that had somehow come to life within her, continued to beat out an unfamiliar, mysterious rhythm deep inside her.
    I don’t know what this is , Lucy thought dazedly, but now I understand why Lady Caroline was lurking in the fernery. The Earl of Hamersley was potent!
    It took her a moment to realize that her mother and sister had come into the room and that her mother had been addressing her. Lucy caught the querulous rise of her voice when she did not respond.
    ‘Lucy! Are you deaf, girl?’
    Lucy came back to herself with a start of surprise, but, smooth as silk, his lordship intervened, rising from the table and coming forward to greet the new arrivals. ‘I must congratulate you on your charming daughter, Lady Landon. Miss Landon is an excellent breakfast companion.’
    Lady Landon immediately softened. ‘What a gentleman you are! I am glad that you have not been bored. My lord, let me present my youngest daughter, Phoebe.’
    Lucy looked around at that, almost certain that her flushed skin had settled a little. Mama had been busy for poor Phoebe was dressed in her new sage green crepe, her pale golden hair dressed simply, but becomingly. She looked a little dazed, but then, that was hardly surprising. To have achieved so much in so little time must have left the poor girl breathless.
    Lucy looked at her sister curiously, wondering what Phoebe would make of the man. Would she be able to feel the strange pull that he must be able to exert at will? She wanted to retreat for a while, to regroup and settle her frazzled nerves. Lucy was not accustomed to having her senses assaulted and was quite impressed by his prowess. Perhaps he can do that any time he wishes , she thought in astonishment. Imagine being able to charm such a response out of a lady whenever one wished. It was... remarkable!
    Far from being overcome, Phoebe was her usual self, a little shy, a little quiet. Her sister had once confessed that she wished she were more like Lucy, who never seemed to be at a loss for words. As pretty as she was, Phoebe had a retiring disposition and found socializing with new people to be difficult. It was a different story if she was with friends, of course. Then she could relax and be herself.
    Lucy had found the revelation to be very funny. It was easy to be oneself (as much as one was able) in company if the company never took much notice and with each year, Lucy had found it even more so. Sometimes she thought she would end up as one of those peculiar old women who sat in corners with a hearing horn, bellowing inappropriate comments at the least auspicious time.
    Hamersley dropped the briefest of very correct kisses on Phoebe’s hand, talking easily, amiably, clearly keen to put her at her ease. Lucy had expected him to flirt and tease – just as he had threatened, for he was famous for his enthusiasm for blondes – but instead he was courtesy itself. Lucy glanced at her mother and found her to be watching the proceedings with satisfaction. Finally, a man worthy of her little girl; an earl was exactly what she was after and really, Hamersley was much finer looking than many that were on offer.
    Lucy contemplated her next move. Experience had taught her that she was now redundant to the conversation, if only because her mother did not like her to be overly talkative on such occasions.
    She rose from her chair, but the movement earned a quick, sideways look from Hamersley who was helping to seat her mother and was standing quite close beside her. He’d turned his head and arched an eyebrow at her. ‘Going somewhere?’
    ‘To change,’ she said sweetly, gesturing towards the hem of her gown. ‘My tramp across the fields, you know.’
    It was a wonder she could