Free Bewitched by Sandra Schwab Page B

exquisite !” she breathed. “Surely it’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen!”
    “It is a hoax, of course,” the young guide said. Naturally, he had no idea he was crushing another man’s dreams.
    Lord Munthorpe’s face fell. “But…”
    “It’s only the root of an exotic plant. The Royal Society found it out even before it was presented to us as part of their Museum of Curiosities some forty years ago. Excuse me, I have to assemble the group. We need to continue.”
    With a woebegone expression, Lord Munthorpe gazed after the young man. Isabella merely blinked, obviously struck speechless that she had just admired nothing but an old root.
    Stapleton left Amy’s side to clasp Munthorpe’s shoulder. “Don’t take it to heart, Munty. After all, this doesn’t prove your barometz doesn’t live somewhere in some faraway country. Who knows what is possible when dragons did indeed once roam our land?”
    Indeed, even in this day and age there was still ample opportunity for a man to perform chivalric deeds—as became clear when they entered the room where the spoils of Lord Elgin’s Greek expedition were displayed.
    “Oh la, what a wonderful frieze of riders,” Isabella exclaimed, then half turned to flutter her lashes at her companion. “What do you make of them, Lord Munthorpe?”
    At being granted another dose of Isabella’s attention despite the sheep disaster, he perked up a little. His chest swelled. “Rather splendid specimens,” he pronounced.
    “Oh yes, and look at these…” Isabella’s gaze was drawn to a group of headless and thinly clad women of stone. Faced with the sheerness of their garments, she wrinkled her nose. “I say! How shocking.”
    Stony fabric clung to the women’s breasts and outlined them in loving detail. In fact, the imaginary fabric was so delicate that even the women’s marble nipples could be seen clearly.
    “Hm,” Mr. Stapleton murmured beside Amy. “I find these rather splendid.” When she glanced up at him, his eyes twinkled with silent laughter—and another emotion that made her cheeks flush.
    As she watched, one corner of his mouth lifted into a provocative smile before he turned his attention back to the stone women in front of them, subjecting each to a thorough perusal. Shockingly, Amy imagined herself in place of the statues, his gaze traveling over her.
    As if her fantasy had suddenly become reality, Amy could feel her breasts swelling against her stays, and her face grew even hotter than before. Heavens! The things he was doing to her! Never before had she entertained such wanton thoughts. But then, she mused, she had never been in love before, either.
    Dreamily, her gaze wandered to the next exhibit, the head of a stone horse, nostrils flared, and the next—Isabella gave a shriek and fainted artfully into Lord Munthorpe’s strong arms—a stark naked man. And while his hands, feet, and half of his nose were missing, his other appendage most certainly was not.
    “Oooh,” Isabella moaned.
    A hectic flush blooming on his face, Lord Munthorpe fanned air at her with his free hand. Other ladies of their group were quite overcome by the sight too, and had to be escorted from the room. Angry murmurs could be heard.
    “Shocking!”
    “Most indecent…”
    “…should be forbidden!”
    “Heavens, man!” one of the gentlemen barked at their guide. “How can you allow ladies to enter this room without giving fair warning beforehand?”
    The young museum attendant paled even more. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down and he gulped. “I-I apologize m-most profoundly,” he stuttered. “If you would like to step into the next room.”
    Amy couldn’t help chuckling at the whole brouhaha—all because of a little bit of stone. Quickly, she raised her hand to her mouth to stifle the sound, but obviously not before Mr. Stapleton heard.
    “Miss Bourne!” he said.
    She looked up at him, still trying to subdue her merriment. A cinnamon-colored eyebrow