按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ure。 He liked her well enough； now that Raffa had turned to Ronnie。 Blondes set off his own dark handsomeness。
It was unfair。 He and the prince alone； out of all that crowd； could not enjoy the party。 And while he was luckier than the prince； in being here and not under guard somewhere； he had no one to share his evening。 He watched the whirling dancers idly for awhile； then stared。 His father。 His father and Ronnie's aunt。 Talking； laughing； obviously enjoying each other。。。。 They danced by； and Lady Cecelia winked at him。 His father； and that old。。。
although she wasn't all that bad； really。 She danced remarkably well； in fact。
He just didn't want her as a stepmother； or aunt； or whatever she and his father might have in mind。 The two of them together were definitely too smart for him； he and Ronnie would never enjoy more pranks。 He turned away； ready to take a long walk somewhere； and almost fell over the girl ing his way。 Her eyes widened。 〃You're … you're George Starbridge Mahoney； aren't you？ Kevil Mahoney's son？〃 He knew what to do with that kind of look； and drew himself up。
〃Yes；〃 he said。 〃I am。〃
〃Somebody told me your nickname was Odious； but I don't believe it。 I think you're nice。〃 She had hazel eyes and fluffy hair of a red…brown shade he couldn't have put a name to。 Something about her made him feel protective； something more than the slender wrists and hands； he was sure； or the somewhat pointy face。 〃You don't know me；〃 she said； almost timidly。 〃I'm just one of the cousins； you've seen me out hunting； but usually covered with mud。〃
〃I should have seen beneath it；〃 he said gallantly。 He liked being gallant。
〃Would you care to dance？〃 He led her onto the floor。
〃I love Hunt Balls；〃 the girl said。 They whirled around； she danced as lightly as a fox over a fence on its way to take a chicken from the coop。 George drew back a moment； wondering。 Was he the hunter； or was she？ It didn't matter； he decided； she couldn't be that certain herself。
〃So do I；〃 he said； and took her past his father and Ronnie's aunt； enjoying their reaction。 〃So do I。〃
THE END
1
1