Free His Perfect Lady by Jenn Langston

loving the fresh scent of the plants and a floral bouquet she’d never enjoyed before. When coming upon a more private path, Jonathan stopped and sat her on a bench surrounded by flowers. She felt like a queen upon her throne.
    “So do you approve of the desert decorations?” Jonathan asked in a conversational tone.
    She tilted her head to the side. “Do you believe anyone could answer that question in the negative?”
    “I suppose not.” He remained standing across the path from her.
    She wanted to tell him to sit beside her or to demand he kiss her again, but she bit her tongue.
    “Is it always like this?”
    “A different theme, but yes. Lady Laramie is known for taking an aspect of one of her travels and sensationalizing it. I attend every year and am never disappointed.”
    “I hope I will be able to return next year.”
    She looked down at the flowers as she thought about next year. By that time she probably would have married her third husband and possibly buried him just as quickly. Perhaps then, her uncle would turn her funds over to her, and she could live in London. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about husbands or being cursed.
    Jonathan watched her with intensity in his eyes. “I could—”
    “There you are,” Lord Dudgery said, huffing and puffing, most likely from the exertion. “I saw the two of you come out here but lost you.”
    “Mrs. Gates expressed an interest in viewing the oasis, so I obliged,” Jonathan smoothly inserted.
    Catherine nodded with a small smile. She had no desire to upset Lord Dudgery if he wanted to take a chance with the curse and marry her, but she wished him anywhere but here. Frustration crept over her, making her tightly clasp her hands in her lap to stop them from giving away her thoughts.
    “Wonderful. Now, Mrs. Gates, you owe me a dance. Please allow me to escort you back onto the dance floor.” The earl extended his arm and offered her a sweet smile.
    One glance at Jonathan’s face told her he didn’t intend to intercede. Without a choice, she allowed Lord Dudgery to take her further away from Jonathan. It took every ounce of willpower she had to keep from glancing back to see if he followed them. Did he even care that the earl took her from him?
    The remainder of the night she had no opportunity to speak with Jonathan. He didn’t approach her for another dance or for any other purpose, but she noticed who received his attention. He divided his time on the dance floor between two stunning women. One had hair as dark as midnight and the other as red as the sunset. Two different women who looked nothing like her.
    Unjustified jealousy burned within her, and she could do nothing but swallow it down. She didn’t own him and couldn’t expect him to act differently now than he did before she arrived.
    Regardless of the other women, she wanted to spend more time with him, and perhaps share another kiss or two. Thinking of his lips on hers brought back the burning within her body. She couldn’t wait to see him alone again.
    Over the years, she could only think of one possible way to remove the curse from herself. As her eyes followed Jonathan as he spun the redhead around the room, she realized he’d be perfect. With any luck, he could help her remove her curse before anyone else died.

Chapter 5
    “It feels different to be back at the old place,” Richard commented.
    Jonathan sat with Richard and Greyson at a table in the back of Ravenhurst. Sitting here reminded him of the carefree days before his two friends married, and before he inherited Linwood.
    Greyson shrugged. “I don’t see why. The club hasn’t changed.”
    “You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Jonathan observed. “When you both sold your portions to me, you didn’t set any stipulations for me to follow. Therefore any issues you have are irrelevant.”
    Richard laughed but Greyson merely looked around with his typical emotionless, albeit slightly disdainful, face. Marriage had only