Not Proper Enough (A Reforming the Scoundrels Romance) Read Online Free

Hester’s sake. “My lord.”
    “Mrs. Bryant.” He took her hand even though she hadn’t offered it to him. “A pleasure to see you, as always.”
    Liar. She drew her hand free of his. She was a liar, too. “Likewise.”
    “How is Mountjoy?” Mountjoy was Eugenia’s eldest brother. He did not care for Fenris, either.
    “In good health, thank you.”
    His gaze flashed over her. “I hope Lord Nigel and his bride are well.” Lord Nigel was her youngest brother, and, like Mountjoy, recently married. As Fenris well knew.
    “They are.” She plastered on what she hoped was a friendly smile that was not, actually, quite friendly enough. “Thank you for asking.”
    “And Lily?” He meant his cousin Lily, Eugenia’s dearest friend in all the world, and now Mountjoy’s wife. “Have you had letters from her recently?”
    Lord, would he stop this inquisition? He knew Eugenia did not like him, and he knew exactly why, too. He ought to
want
to let her alone, no matter their family connection. “Blazingly happy, my lord.”
    “I have no doubt of that, Mrs. Bryant.” He pointedly glanced at Hester. Hester gazed back. So calm. As if one encountered a wealthy, handsome future duke every day of one’s life. Honestly, you’d think she was forty-two not twenty-two. With a sideways look at Eugenia, Fenris cleared his throat.
    “You are already acquainted.” If he insulted Hester bynot remembering her, she’d make it her mission in life to see him suffer.
    “I don’t believe so.” Fenris looked only mildly interested, but that, Eugenia reflected, was better than outright disdain.
    “Miss Rendell, may I introduce Lord Fenris?”
    “Rendell?” Fenris tilted his head an infinitesimal degree. She hated that habit of his. Behind him, she saw Lane working his way toward them, and her sense that only ill would come of this encounter increased. What if Fenris was one of Dinwitty Lane’s nasty pack of dogs? What if he made some hateful dig at her? Eugenia tensed, prepared to defend Hester to the very ends of the earth.
    “It’s Hester, my lord.” Hester spoke just as naturally and easily as you may. She held out a gloved hand. Her smile appeared, warm and soothing. How could anyone not wish to know a woman of such poise? “Captain Charles Rendell’s sister.”
    “Charles’s sister?” Fenris’s eyes opened wide. “Miss Rendell? Good Lord, it is you.” He took her hand and bowed over it. Eugenia remained tense, for she did not trust him. Not at all. “Well. You’ve certainly grown up.”
    “It was inevitable, sir.”
    On the ballroom floor, couples had begun to line up for the next dance. Mr. Wilson, the son, pushed off the wall he’d been holding up and made his way to a young woman with vapid good looks. The orchestra played some preliminary notes.
    Lord Fenris grinned, a genuine smile, and he was quite unfairly more handsome than any man had a right to be. “Miss Rendell. I am both delighted and astonished to meet you again. Are your parents here?” He placed his other hand on top of hers so that he held her hand with both of his. “I know Charles isn’t, as I’ve just had a letter from him, but where are you staying? Why haven’t I heard you’re in Town? Why wasn’t I told?”
    If she hadn’t known he couldn’t possibly mean it, Eugenia would have thought he was serious. None of that charm wasreal, as she well knew. Not genuinely. All the same, she was glad, burningly glad, at his effusive and out-of-character greeting because it mattered. Fenris’s opinion mattered a great deal. Mr. Lane imagined he set fashion. Fenris actually did, and if he paid attention to Hester, well then, so would others.
    “Mama and Papa are at home. I’m staying with Lady Eugenia while I’m in Town.”
    “That’s splendid.” He continued to hold Hester’s hand but glanced at Eugenia. “May I say that you have a most amiable hostess?”
    “You may, for it’s true.”
    “Are you engaged for the next dance?”