Free Bewitched by Melissa Lynne Blue Page A

Colton’s return.
    “Lord John, ” the door attendant said. “Might I…”
    “ No.” John cut the servant off . “ Where is my brother ?”
    The attendant blinked, momentarily flustered. “ Th-the duke is in the back, milord.”
    With a curt nod, John strode deeper into the establishment, gaze fixed forward to avoid any unwanted greeting or conversations. He wasn’t in the mood. Within moments he spotted Colton’s dark head. He sat at a table with two other gentlemen John didn’t readily recognize.
    Colt glanced up and grinned . “John. Would you care to join us?” He motioned to one of the open chairs.
    “It’s done,” John stated without preamble , fixing his brother with a steel gilded glare . “Keep your bloody urn. Penelope knows of the ruse.”
    Colton’s jovial expression faltered. He shot to his feet and jerked his head toward a n open doorway . He stomped into the abandoned hallway.
    John quickly followed.
    Colt whirled, eyes flashing. “What do you mean she knows?”
    John sighed. He didn’t wish to delve into the tale of fairytale love potions and G ypsy hokum. “I told her. I know what it is to be toyed with , and s he needed to know before we hurt her any further.”
    “Hurt her? How would she be hurt? You were supposed to call on her a few times and make her feel special . ”
    “And then what?” John demanded. “Was I supposed to simply drop the chit without a word?”
    Colton raked a palm through his hair, frustrated. “I suppose I hadn’t considered that.”
    “That’s the problem, Colt. You never plan ahead.” John hesitated. “Or did you believe no girl would be interested in me?”
    Sheepish, Colton met John’s gaze. “Perhaps.”
    “Regardless,” John said, pushing the subject forward, “she knows you put me up to it, and we did hurt her feelings.” Guilt seized John’s heart. Guilt and a few other rusty emotions he’d nearly forgotten existed . “Are you ready to explain fully what this whole charade was about?”
    For a second , Colton’s staid expression faltered. He looked haunted. In the blink of an eye, the vulnerability evaporated, and he stubbornly set his jaw. “ Leave it alone, Johnny. You are no longer involved. ”

 
    Bewitched
     
     
    Eleven
     
    “ My , you had some excitement while the girls and I were out!” Aunt Laura exclaimed, breezing into Penelope’s bedroom that evening. Kate and Marie rushed in behind her .
    “Oh, yes.” Penelope quickly sat up, resting the book she’d been attempting to read on the blue and green coverlet. “I never would have guessed little Simon had been stealing from us.”
    “Yes, yes, George told me all about that. ” Aunt Laura waved dismissively. “ But Colonel Holbrook proposed. Penelope, that is wonderful! Everything we’ve hoped for. ”
    Penelope’s heart sank and she glanced down at her hands, folding them nervously in her lap.
    Kate and Marie sat on either side of her. Kate reached over and clasped Penelope’s hands. “Do you want to marry Colonel Holbrook?”
    Penelope looked up, meeting her cousin’s worried gaze. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came readily to her lips. All afternoon she’d tried to picture herself as Colonel Holbrook’s wife. Standing at his side, sharing his bed, being his partner in life, but all she could see was John.
    John set fire to her blood.
    The memory of John’s hands made her hungry for more while the mere thought of Colonel Holbrook’s intimate touch turned her stomach. “I… I don’t know,” she whispered, afraid to look at her aunt.
    Penelope knew she could not rely on the generosity of her aunt and uncle forever. They would never turn her out, but being responsible for th ree girls out in society was exhausting, and m arriage offers weren’t exactl y pouring in for Penelope .
    “ Kate , Marie, leave Penelope and I to a mome nt alone.”
    For once the twins did not argue with their mother and filed slowly from the room after giving