grateful for her gloves, keeping those thin, damp lips from her bare skin. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Wheeler. Might I join you to watch Madame Fortunato’s performance this evening?”
The last thing she wanted to do was to sit next to this man and discuss opera all night, but her father was shooting her a look promising swift retribution if she was anything less than welcoming. She plastered on a smile and inclined her head. “Of course. That would be delightful. May I introduce you to my friend? Mr. Smythe, this is Mr. Cheadle. Mr. Cheadle, Mr. Smythe.”
Both men inclined their heads at each other, making no move to shake hands. Mr. Cheadle’s eyes skated down Natty appraisingly, and he seemed to be barely restraining a sneer. Natty only smiled lazily at him. He seemed to receive as many unspoken slights as she did.
“Miss Wheeler,” Cheadle said. “I believe the music is starting soon. Shall we find our seats?”
Cheadle smiled at her, slowly and too familiar for a man she’d just met. When he extended his arm to her, she had no choice but to accept it. Her father ushered them forward with a wide smile, as if he was already imagining them walking down the aisle together. No matter what her father might be plotting in his imagination, she fully intended to use one of her vetoes to eliminate Cheadle, if his suit became serious.
Over Cheadle’s shoulder, her eyes sought Natty one more time. He was there, smiling that same secret-keeping smile. Again, it caused a minor revolt in her chest. Then he raised two fingers to his forehead in a mocking salute before he turned away, leaving her to the dismal company of Mr. Cheadle for the rest of the night.
Chapter Four
Amelia crossed the room, flanked by her father and that pretentious ass, Cheadle. It was probably best she was removed from Nate’s company, since he’d been enjoying hers far too much. When he’d entered the room and spotted her eyeing Lord Radwill with such naked speculation, he’d found himself at her side and teasing her before he’d even made up his mind to do it. Even more troubling, he knew for a fact Lady Julia Harrow was attending tonight and it hadn’t even crossed his mind to seek her out once he’d seen Amelia. A terrible lapse on his part, one he wouldn’t allow again.
Weaving through the crowd, his height made it easy for him to spot Lady Julia. Happily, she was already talking to Mrs. Lamott, a widow he’d met a few times previously. Mrs. Lamott was no longer young, but she was still reasonably attractive and had made no secret that she’d welcome Nate’s less polite attentions. He was glad he’d never taken her up on the offer because it would have been damned awkward to have her introduce him to Lady Julia if he had.
“Oh, Mr. Smythe!” she said, lighting up as he approached her. “How delightful to see you again. And looking so...healthy.” Her eyes drank him in from his head to his feet.
“The delight is all mine,” he replied, choosing to ignore the rest. “And may I ask who your lovely companion is?”
Mrs. Lamott’s eyes flickered to Julia and even though they’d been pleasantly conversing only a moment ago, now the widow eyed the younger woman with contempt. “Ah, yes. May I introduce Lady Julia Harrow, daughter of the Earl of Hyde?”
He’d done his research and knew Julia Harrow to be twenty-four, rather old to still be unmarried, especially as the daughter of an earl. He was a bit surprised to find her attractive, albeit in an unconventional way. Her jaw was perhaps a bit strong, but it balanced her high cheekbones. Her most remarkable feature, however, was her eyes, dark blue and slightly slanted, half shadowed under her curling, blond fringe. Her expression hinted at intelligence, and the sparkle in her eyes at suppressed wit.
“It’s a delight to meet you, Lady Julia.” Giving her his best smile and bowing, he took her offered hand in his, caressing her fingertips very subtly with his,
The last thing she wanted to do was to sit next to this man and discuss opera all night, but her father was shooting her a look promising swift retribution if she was anything less than welcoming. She plastered on a smile and inclined her head. “Of course. That would be delightful. May I introduce you to my friend? Mr. Smythe, this is Mr. Cheadle. Mr. Cheadle, Mr. Smythe.”
Both men inclined their heads at each other, making no move to shake hands. Mr. Cheadle’s eyes skated down Natty appraisingly, and he seemed to be barely restraining a sneer. Natty only smiled lazily at him. He seemed to receive as many unspoken slights as she did.
“Miss Wheeler,” Cheadle said. “I believe the music is starting soon. Shall we find our seats?”
Cheadle smiled at her, slowly and too familiar for a man she’d just met. When he extended his arm to her, she had no choice but to accept it. Her father ushered them forward with a wide smile, as if he was already imagining them walking down the aisle together. No matter what her father might be plotting in his imagination, she fully intended to use one of her vetoes to eliminate Cheadle, if his suit became serious.
Over Cheadle’s shoulder, her eyes sought Natty one more time. He was there, smiling that same secret-keeping smile. Again, it caused a minor revolt in her chest. Then he raised two fingers to his forehead in a mocking salute before he turned away, leaving her to the dismal company of Mr. Cheadle for the rest of the night.
Chapter Four
Amelia crossed the room, flanked by her father and that pretentious ass, Cheadle. It was probably best she was removed from Nate’s company, since he’d been enjoying hers far too much. When he’d entered the room and spotted her eyeing Lord Radwill with such naked speculation, he’d found himself at her side and teasing her before he’d even made up his mind to do it. Even more troubling, he knew for a fact Lady Julia Harrow was attending tonight and it hadn’t even crossed his mind to seek her out once he’d seen Amelia. A terrible lapse on his part, one he wouldn’t allow again.
Weaving through the crowd, his height made it easy for him to spot Lady Julia. Happily, she was already talking to Mrs. Lamott, a widow he’d met a few times previously. Mrs. Lamott was no longer young, but she was still reasonably attractive and had made no secret that she’d welcome Nate’s less polite attentions. He was glad he’d never taken her up on the offer because it would have been damned awkward to have her introduce him to Lady Julia if he had.
“Oh, Mr. Smythe!” she said, lighting up as he approached her. “How delightful to see you again. And looking so...healthy.” Her eyes drank him in from his head to his feet.
“The delight is all mine,” he replied, choosing to ignore the rest. “And may I ask who your lovely companion is?”
Mrs. Lamott’s eyes flickered to Julia and even though they’d been pleasantly conversing only a moment ago, now the widow eyed the younger woman with contempt. “Ah, yes. May I introduce Lady Julia Harrow, daughter of the Earl of Hyde?”
He’d done his research and knew Julia Harrow to be twenty-four, rather old to still be unmarried, especially as the daughter of an earl. He was a bit surprised to find her attractive, albeit in an unconventional way. Her jaw was perhaps a bit strong, but it balanced her high cheekbones. Her most remarkable feature, however, was her eyes, dark blue and slightly slanted, half shadowed under her curling, blond fringe. Her expression hinted at intelligence, and the sparkle in her eyes at suppressed wit.
“It’s a delight to meet you, Lady Julia.” Giving her his best smile and bowing, he took her offered hand in his, caressing her fingertips very subtly with his,
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