Free ROOK AND RAVEN: The Celtic Kingdom Trilogy Book One by Julie Harvey Delcourt

ladylike and to suppress the devil in her had just become too much.  She thought of these nights out as a way to release some of the pressure before she burst.  For years now her life had been a tight rope walking act and she was heartily tired of it. 
    Maybe she would be happier to be like the other women she worked with and give up this life trying to pursue complete respectability.  Did it really suit her?  And did she really need to live up to the standards of the ton ? Life did exist outside these rarified circles.
    But who was she trying to fool?  How often had she felt as if her mother’s ghost was present?  Each time she had almost crossed the line, such as when Viscount Darlington had made her first offer of a carte blanche when she had so little and was struggling, there was the shade of her mother.  She could not betray her mother and her blood to become a high class whore.  No matter that she didn’t think less of her fellow actresses who did do it, she couldn’t do it.  She could live with relative respectability outside of society.  She had her own house, her own career, true friends, but then she hadn’t worked to be accepted in society all these years just for herself.  
    Jessy spied Mrs. Whittier walking from the supper room with her usual horde of admirers surrounding her.  Rakes, Corinthians, and a few dandies in outrageous colors, vying for her attention.  She was a willowy, raven haired beauty who exuded sexual allure as naturally as breathing.  It was said that
    Byron himself had been love sick for her and that she would have nothing to do with him.  “Mad as a hatter and more trouble than he is worth.  Now if the man had a dime of his own he might be worth a week or two, but surely no more than that!” she was reported to have said of the infamous poet. 
    It sounded just like Ellen.  Byron, of course, had not been pleased at the characterization or rejection.  Ellen did no more than shrug him off.  Ellen Whittier always did exactly as she pleased, but that was her prerogative being married to a man rich as Croesus and needing the approval of no one.
    As Jessy made her way down the steps and to the coach she couldn’t shake a feeling between her shoulder blades that eyes were following her.  It was a prickle of awareness, but seemingly without source as when she turned she could not spot anyone overtly staring at her.  She was used to people looking at her, but this felt different and it made her uneasy.
    Sebastian had walked from David’s lodging to Grosvenor Square working himself up to an apology.  Strategically he knew he was supposed to continue his character of worthless nobleman but the need to find Jessy and apologize overrode all else.  After unburdening himself to his friend, David had agreed he needed to try and set things right as soon as possible.  It was highly probable the Duke would propose again tonight. David clearly told Sebastian if he had any idea at all of attempting to court Jessy he needed to stop that from happening. When he complained he wasn’t sure he had any future aspirations regarding Jessamy Powers, David had simply stared at him like he had lost his mind and started laughing like a loon. 
    So, here he was making his way toward the woman who had just earlier made him angry enough to throttle her.  He sighed with resentment, why did life have to be so damned complicated?  He was a grown man now, but still found she made him want to pull her hair one second and kiss her the next.  The thought of hair pulling and kissing put a smile on his long lips.  Maybe their childhood play had been nothing more than a prelude to passion.  
    Turning into the square he saw Tamworth practically leap unto a horse held waiting for him.  It was highly odd to see a gentleman in evening wear riding off on a horse with such urgency.  No doubt in Sebastian’s mind what the scene meant, but for now he was not in play and his time was his own, at least