The Lass Who Lost a Shoe Lee, Caroline (great novels .TXT) š
Book online Ā«The Lass Who Lost a Shoe Lee, Caroline (great novels .TXT) šĀ». Author Lee, Caroline
And Vanessa was terrified she knew the reason why.
āLadies.ā The two men stood when the butler led them into the parlor, but only one was smiling. And it wasnāt the one whoād spoken, Roland Prince. āThank ye for joining us.ā
āOf course, milord!ā Mother tittered as she dipped into a deep curtsey. āWe are honored.ā
It wasnāt until Bonnie followed their mother that Vanessa remembered her manners, and forced herself to stop looking at Roland long enough to curtsey as well.
Heād stepped up to Motherās side, and was leading her toward the little arrangement of chairs facing a cold hearth. āLady Machara, Baroness Oliphant, may I present my brother? Mr. Phineas Prince.ā
āYou most certainly can!ā Mother winked at Roland, her outrageous flirting curling something deep in Vanessaās stomach. āBut a mere āmisterā? Oh dear,ā she pretended to bemoan as she offered the youngest Prince brother her hand. āI was certain such a handsome Prince as yerself would be a lord.ā
āAlas,ā quipped Phineas stiffly as he bowed over Motherās hand. āI am one of those bores who believes the future of humanity rests in knowledge and study, and thus I am content with my lack of title.ā
āHow amusing! Ye must meet my other daughter, Bonnibelle! Bonnie, come meet the delightful Mr. Prince! Ye two can bore one another!ā
As she laughed at her own joke, Mother missed the way the faces around her went carefully blank at her insult. Vanessa didnāt, because she couldnāt seem to tear her gaze away from Rolandās eyes.
When he turned to her, she was quick to arrange her expression into the smile she knew made her look beautiful, yet approachable. He studied her for a moment longer than was necessary, making her feel as if he wasnāt quite impressed with her efforts.
Finally, he inclined his head, and Vanessa felt herself begin to breathe again. āMiss Oliphant,ā he murmured politely, as he took her hand. āWe meet again.ā
It wasnāt a Iām so glad weāve met again, or a Of course weād meet again, since I invited ye, after all, or even a What in the hell are ye doing here, so that we could meet again? It was just a simple statement, and Vanessa found herself floundering in intentions.
āAye, milord.ā She remembered to keep her voice breathy and alluring, the way Mother said men preferred. āThank ye so much for having us. This is the highlight of our week.ā
He straightened, but didnāt release her hand. His touch, the way it had in the past, sent little shivers of delicious warmth through her, and she felt as if she could spend the rest of her life hold his hand, despite the layer of soft glove she wore. When she felt his thumb trace a small circle across the backs of her fingers, she wanted to drop her gaze to confirm, but couldnāt seem to stop looking at him.
And the way he was looking at her.
Despite the warmth of his touch, his gaze wasā¦closed off. Not at all the open and laughing young man sheād danced and flirted with at the ball. But at least he wasnāt in the icy anger sheād felt from him when heād come to the Inn for tea.
āAye,ā he finally murmured, and when she shifted frantically through her memory to the last thing said, she bristled at his agreement. As if this should be the highlight of her week.
With a faint sniff, and telling herself it didnāt matter how nice his touch felt, she pulled her hand from Rolandās and straightened her shoulders. Surprisingly, his lips curled upward at her haughtiness, but it wasnāt a warm smile.
He inclined his head once more. āTea, Miss Oliphant?ā
When he gestured to the collection of chairs, where Bonnie and his brother were already speaking animatedly about something-or-other, she lifted her chin and swept past him, her stomach all in knots.
Why was he acting this way? She studied him surreptitiously as she poured the tea, and was disconcerted to find him watching her. Oh, she was used to men looking at her, but Roland was studying. Noting her moveā¦judging. She could feel his regard, and didnāt care for the sensation.
Mainly because she was worried he might not like what he saw.
* * *
Vanessa should be nervous, because she knows what Roland heard her say about his brother. But she has no idea what he has planned for her! If youāre in the mood for more fun, flirty Highland fairytales, check out Vanessa and Rolandās enemies-to-lovers story, The Lass Who Kissed a Frog!
Other Books by Caroline Lee
Want the scoop on new books? Join Carolineās Cohort, an exclusive reader group! Or sign up for my mailing list by texting āCarolineā to 42828 to get started!
Steamy Scottish Historicals:
The Sinclair Jewels (4 books)
The Highland Angels (5 books)
The Hots for Scots (8 books)
Highlander Ever After (3 books)
Sensual Historical Westerns:
Black Aces (3 books)
Sunset Valley (3 books)
Everland Ever After (10 books)
The Sweet Cheyenne Quartet (6 books)
Sweet Contemporary Westerns
Quinn Valley Ranch (5 books)
Riverās End Ranch (14 books)
The Cowboys of Cauldron Valley (7 books)
The Calendar Girlsā Ranch (6 books)
Click here to find a complete list of Carolineās books.
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About the Author
Caroline Lee has been reading romance for so long that her fourth-grade teacher used to make her cover her books with paper jackets. But it wasn't until she (mostly) grew up that she realized she could write it too. So she did.
Caroline is living her own little Happily Ever After in NC with her husband, sons, and new daughter, Princess Wiggles. And while she doesn't so much "suffer" from Pittakionophobia as think that
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