Free Miss Mischief - A Regency Romance by Kate Harper

use honesty?’ He looked up and met a pair of dancing dark eyes. ‘What say you, Sir?’ she inquired wickedly. ‘You seem like a well-traveled man. I am sure you have seen no end of pretty women. How do I measure up?’
    ‘Johanna!’ Sir Antony expostulated. ‘Really, my child, that is… that is not the kind of question one asks a gentleman.’
    ‘Oh that’s quite all right,’ Marcus assured him. He had turned in his seat and looked up at her. She had changed into an afternoon dress of pale blue muslin with long sleeves that clung to her slender arms and that was adorned with only a thin satin ribbon that was worked into the material, drawing in to tie beneath her breasts. In truth, she looked stunningly lovely. The dewy fresh skin was flawless, the small, straight nose entirely perfect and, while her full lipped mouth might be a little too lush for classical tastes, there was no doubt its shape might lead most men to sinful thoughts. Her silver hair had been arranged into an artful tumble of curls, threaded through with blue ribbon that matched the one on her dress. Those large brown eyes, with their ridiculous fringe of sooty lashes, regarded him challengingly, as if daring him to meet her taunt. He collected his wits and continued on smoothly. ‘I am all for honesty and I have to say that, while you are certainly a beauty, Miss Claybourn, you are quite correct. I have travelled extensively and have seen many lovely women. You certainly measure up favorably,’ he allowed, ignoring the small gasp that came from somewhere around the table. ‘In fact, in a year or two you will probably be quite remarkable. But it takes more than a fair face to make a beautiful woman, don’t you think? There are so many other qualities that contribute.’
    ‘Is that so?’ Far from being put out by this outrageous observation, Miss Claybourn was obviously entertained. ‘And what, in your excellent estimation, might I do to increase my cachet in that area? I will allow that I am inclined to follow my impulses -’
    ‘Certainly something you should curb.’
    ‘ – and occasionally I allow my temper to get the better of me -’
    ‘Certainly an area to work on.’
    ‘ – but generally,’ she said, raising her voice a little, ‘I have not had many complaints!’
    He met her eyes. ‘People are very kind, are they not?’
    This surprised a gurgle of laughter out of her. ‘Oh! How unkind you are.’
    He tilted his head and pretended to give the matter his consideration. It was an absurd conversation and he knew he was overstepping the lines of propriety in leaps and bounds, but the ridiculous chit was in no way offended and he found it all too easy to participate in the farce. Perhaps she reminded him of Millie, with her outrageous attitudes and obvious enjoyment of the absurdities of Polite Society but those sparkling eyes were hard to resist.
    ‘You did ask my opinion. All I’m suggesting is if you cultivated a more restrained manner – you are quite forward, you know – and considered before you spoke -’
    ‘Very difficult,’ she assured him. ‘For I have never been able to do so.’
    ‘Restraint, Miss Claybourn,’ he returned gravely, ‘must be learned. Few women are born with it.’
    To which she gave a peal of laughter and came forward to drop a kiss on her grandmother’s cheek. ‘Is he not outrageous, Grandma? I swear, if he had not behaved in such a gentlemanly fashion by rescuing me from the mud I would be quite overset.’
    ‘You’re a shocking flibbertigibbet,’ her grandmother said, but there was a soft gleam in her eyes as she looked up at her granddaughter. ‘I don’t know what our guests must be thinking of such a jaunty piece o’ goods as you.’
    ‘Oh, they know me well enough,’ Miss Claybourn said, glancing at the group who were staring at her, expressions reflecting their opinions all too well.
    ‘And I must protest at Hathaway’s extremely unkind summation,’ the fair-haired