Free Love by Deception (Age of Innocence) by Debra Elizabeth Page A

touch.
    She
gave him her most beautiful and engaging smile, revealing straight white teeth.
“Good evening, Mr. Tisbury. Such a pleasure to see you this evening,” she said,
batting her eyelashes.
    He
bowed. “Miss Larkinson, the pleasure is mine.” He turned to Dalton. “May I
introduce you to Mr. Hunt.”
    Dalton
gave her a bow. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Larkinson.”
    Kathryn
curtsied to the young men, but before she could ask Colby to save her a dance,
Dalton spoke first.
    “Miss
Larkinson, would you do me the honor of a dance this evening?”
    Colby
took the opportunity to make his escape. “Well, I’ll leave you two to discuss
your dancing preference. Good evening, Miss Larkinson.” He gave her a quick bow
before he turned on his heel and walked away.
    Kathryn
fumed at his sudden departure, but there was nothing she could do as she
watched his receding back. Colby had slipped her grasp, at least for now, but
she would try again before the evening was over to get him alone or, at the
very least, to enjoy a dance together. In the meantime, perhaps a harmless
flirtation with Dalton Hunt would help stir Colby’s jealousy.
    She
smiled at Dalton. “Why, of course. I’d be delighted, Mr. Hunt.”

 

Chapter 8

 
    Emily
Richardson paced the front parlor of her London home. Ethan had bought the
house for her last year as a gift so she could visit the city whenever she
desired. It was so typical of her husband’s generosity, and it was one of
things that so endeared him to her. It was not far from her parents' home and
she made good use of the proximity to visit them often when she was in town.
    “Mrs.
Richardson, would you like some tea?” the housekeeper asked.
    Emily
looked over her shoulder. “No, not at the moment, Mrs. Fullerton. I’m expecting
Mrs. Giles this morning. We’ll have tea once she arrives.”
    “Yes,
ma’am,” Mrs. Fullerton said and left the room.
    Emily
sat on the couch and picked up her embroidery. She tried to make her stitches even,
but she could not focus and ended up pulling out all of them. She put it aside
and tried to wait patiently for Mia. It had been months since she last saw her
dearest friend and was thrilled when she had agreed to come to London for a
visit. She missed her and their long talks together, but understood that Mia
was married with a child to care for, so visits would be fit in when she could.
Her husband Charles provided a comfortable living for them, but they did not
own a London home, so when Emily was in London, visits were far and few
between.
    Emily
longed to chat with Mia and hold her godson Lucas again. She’d spent a few
weeks with Mia when Lucas was born, but babies grew so fast. Would he be
smiling now? Had he turned over?
    “My
dearest, is something on your mind?” Ethan asked as he strode into the parlor.
    Emily
glanced at her husband. He cut a dashing figure in his well-tailored soft brown
jacket, dark trousers, and gleaming black boots. “No, not at all. I was merely
wondering how much Lucas had grown since I last saw him. I can’t wait to see
him again.”
    “I
dare say, you’ll soon find out. It shouldn’t be long now before they arrive.”
    Emily
stood and went to her husband. “Are you going out?”
    Ethan
pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her sweet lips. “Perhaps I should go
later. Your lips are quite tempting, Mrs. Richardson.”
    Emily
chuckled and ran her finger along his strong jaw line. “Oh Ethan, you are
insatiable.”
    “Indeed
I am, but is that a bad thing?”
    “No,
my darling,” she said and kissed him again. “Never a bad thing as far as I’m
concerned, but Mia should be here any time now. I’m afraid I’m otherwise
engaged. May I ask if you can hold your passion at bay until later?”
    Ethan
kissed her forehead. “Of course. I suppose I can wait until you are mine again
this evening. I shall be thinking of you while I’m gone. I do have some
business to attend to, but I