A Little Bit Sinful(16)
She did. It hurt, especially after she’d developed such strong feelings for George and she’d thought they’d been reciprocated. “He might not have made the list himself.”
“I suppose that is true.” But Ella seemed unconvinced. “You and Franny Cooper are so very different though.”
“I believe you must know more about her than I do.” Clarissa had met the girl on a handful of occasions and she seemed friendly enough. “What is it about her that makes her so different? Other than the obvious that she’s taller and thinner and more exotic looking?”
Ella’s features scrunched. “She’s more worldly, brazen, bold. My mother’s friends find her a vastly interesting bit of conversation. They’re always exchanging stories about some of Franny’s behavior. There are rumors that she enjoys men stealing kisses in the moonlight, but as far as I know no one has caught her.”
“So it’s all speculation,” Clarissa said.
“I suppose, but you’ve seen her, the dresses she wears. She’s certainly more brazen than either one of us.”
Brazen and worldly. Perhaps that was why George hadn’t yet proposed to her.
“We should probably get downstairs for the dinner party,” Ella said. “I only wanted to discuss this with you beforehand. Though the conversation didn’t exactly go the way I’d planned.”
“Ella, you’ll still love me and be my dearest friend if I become George’s wife, won’t you?”
Ella smiled warmly. “Of course.”
“You go ahead, I’ll be down in just a moment.” Ella left her alone and once again Clarissa stood in front of the mirror. The dress did accent her curves nicely, but the blond ringlets clashed with her womanly figure. There was nothing brazen or worldly about her.
She’d certainly felt both of those things in Justin’s arms, while he’d kissed her, while she’d kissed him back without thought to how her behavior might be perceived. Her dear, late sister-in-law, Rebecca, would no-doubt have been horrified by that, but it had been a different time when she’d met and married Charles. Things were different now, women needed more than a big dowry to catch a man’s eye. Perhaps it was time for Clarissa to start thinking about how she could get George’s attention for good. She might not know how to be worldly and brazen, but she was a quick study.
Chapter Four
Justin was shown into the parlor at the Kincaid townhouse. Marcus and his new wife, Vivian, stood in the room conversing with Marcus’s cousins and a young woman whom Justin did not know. Immediately, Vivian stepped over to him. Marcus followed behind her after patting some older gentleman on the shoulder.
“Mr. Rodale,” Vivian said. “I’m so pleased you could come tonight.”
“We are friends now. You must call me Justin.” He shook Marcus’s hand. In the world he’d grown up in, full of the wealthy and titled who always found a reason to disparage him, Justin had always trusted Marcus. “Welcome back from your honeymoon. I will not inquire as to how it went.”
Vivian blushed and Marcus smiled broadly. He grabbed his wife around the waist and pulled her to him. “It was a lovely break from London,” Vivian said. “I am glad to be back though.”
“Pleased my sister didn’t get herself into any more trouble in our absence,” Marcus said as Clarissa entered the room. She caught Justin’s gaze and her steps faltered. Evidently she hadn’t known he’d been invited.
Clarissa was radiant in a bright yellow dress that accented her golden hair. The gown fit her perfectly, molding to her curves. It had only been the night before that those curves had been pressed against him, her sultry mouth pressed to his.
Justin swallowed. Perhaps she hadn’t gotten herself into trouble, but only because she hadn’t been caught going to his townhome. And because no one had seen them kissing at the museum. Now Justin was the one making an ass of himself. He had no business looking at Clarissa in such a way, let alone while her older brother and his dear friend, stood next to him. Thankfully Marcus could not read his carnal thoughts.
“Justin, I did not realize you’d been invited to our family dinner,” Clarissa said.
“Clarissa, where is Maureen?” Vivian asked, saving Justin from having to respond to Clarissa’s quip.
“She said she was not feeling very well and for us to send up a tray,” Clarissa said. She went and stood by the other young woman and the girls put their heads together, whispering.