Free Candice Hern by The Regency Rakes Trilogy Page A

and pulled out a small jewelry case. Inside were the only treasures she owned: those jewels of her mother's which she had managed to save, the rest having been sold by her father to pay off gambling debts. There was a fine emerald pendant with matching earrings, a small diamond and ruby brooch set in gold filigree, and a single strand of perfect pearls with matching drop earrings. Emily removed the pearls and held them up to her throat. As Tuttle fastened them, Emily was suddenly reminded of her mother, whom she closely resembled. She could recall her beautiful mother wearing the pearls on several occasions. Emily had never until now had the occasion to wear any of her mother's jewels. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror, wishing her mother could see her now.
    At that moment there was a brief knock on her door. Tuttle opened the door to admit the dowager, who stopped in her tracks. "Good God!" she cried. She circled Emily, eyeing her up and down through her jeweled quizzing glass. She stopped in front of Emily, taking both her hands. "My dear girl, where have you been hiding? You look absolutely divine! Tuttle, my congratulations." She fingered the pearls at Emily's throat and raised a questioning brow.
    "My mother's," Emily said.
    "Perfect!" The dowager took Emily's arm, smiling triumphantly, and together they descended to the drawing room, with Charlemagne, as always, close behind.
     
    * * *
     
    Robert had preceded them and was pouring a glass of sherry. He looked up as the two women entered the room, and his breath caught in his throat. From the first moment he'd met her, he had thought Miss Townsend a very attractive woman. But just now she looked utterly beautiful. The glow of the candles in the nearby sconces set lights dancing in her green eyes and shot sparkling golden highlights through her hair. The new hairstyle gave her high-cheekboned face a softer look. He had never really noticed how tall she was, but just now she looked as regal as a duchess. Good God, she was glorious! His hand involuntarily reached out toward her.
    Emily smiled at the earl, and he smiled back with such warmth that she felt herself blush. He locked eyes with her as he began to cross the room, hand outstretched, oblivious to Charlemagne's determined dash toward his favorite chair.
    Dog and man collided with a force that sent Lord Bradleigh tumbling on his backside. Charlemagne growled accusingly at him, then made his way to the cherished fauteuil. The earl, thoroughly stunned, looked up at the grinning ladies in confusion.
    "You see, Emily," the dowager drawled, "I told you that gentlemen would be falling at your feet. Behold: your first victim!"
    The earl dropped his head into his hands and shook with laughter. The ladies could no longer contain their own amusement and laughed along with him. Finally each reached out a hand and helped tug him to his feet. After brushing himself off and running a careless hand through his hair, he reached down and took Emily's hand and bent over it.
    "Please forgive my clumsiness, but I am afraid you quite literally took my breath away, Miss Townsend," he said in a soft, seductive tone. "You look lovely."
    Even after such an ignominious fall, the charm that had helped establish his rakish reputation was much in evidence.
    "Thank you, my lord," Emily answered as she felt the telltale heat of a blush color her cheeks.
    "I can see that your shopping trip was a great success." He spoke without taking his eyes from Emily.
    She felt compelled at first to drop her eyes, not sure she could bear the heat she felt from his gaze, but rejected this instinct, and vowed to hold her ground. She was not, after all, a green girl fresh from the schoolroom. She locked her eyes boldly to his and held them, arching a teasing brow.
    "Indeed," the dowager said. "I am glad you approve, Robert. We will soon see our dear Emily relinquish all her old, dark round gowns in favor of more fashionable ones. She will set London on its