Читать книгу A Most Indecent Gentleman - Bronwyn Scott - Страница 10

Chapter Four

Jocelyn was not fast enough to cover up his surprise. Amery pounced on his reaction. “She was with you!” Amery said with mild, disapproving shock. He exchanged a worried glance with Channing. “Burroughs moved faster than we thought if his niece has already hunted down Eisley.”

“What makes you think she was with me?” Jocelyn challenged. Sometimes Amery was far too perceptive.

Amery downed the rest of his champagne and deposited the glass on the tray of a passing footman. “Simple deduction, Eisley. You both entered through the same door. You were outside together.”

“Is it true, Jocelyn? Were you with her?” Channing pressed.

A stone settled in Jocelyn’s stomach, the magic of the evening severely curtailed. But magic was all illusion anyway, wasn’t it? Just a trick, a sleight of hand to delude the beholder. Oh, he’d been deluded all right. He’d believed the spontaneity of her kiss, of her bold vivacity.

“Yes, I was with her.” But he’d be damned if he’d offer any details.

“She’s a pretty piece. It’s hard to believe she’s related to old Burroughs,” Amery said slyly. “What happened in the garden?”

Channing groaned. “Tell me you didn’t seduce her? The last thing we need is—”

“I didn’t seduce her,” Jocelyn interrupted with a protest. “It was just a kiss.” Only it had felt like much more than a kiss at the time.

“Just a kiss?” Amery grinned. “You’re a fast one, Eisley. You didn’t even know her name and you had her out in the garden for a kiss on a five-minute acquaintance. It serves Burroughs right for trying to uncover us.” He elbowed Jocelyn good-naturedly. “Well done, sir, well done.”