A Taste of Temptation by Amelia Grey Page A

chest defiantly.
    “But nobody is asking you about it,” Miss Banning said in a composed tone.
    “That’s not true,” the Lord Mayor’s wife complained.
    “Lady Lynette asked.”

    Andrew was ready to throw them all out.
    “Ladies,” Andrew said tightly as he walked past them and to the door. “I really must insist that you go back downstairs and rejoin the party. As Miss Loudermilk suggested, anything that needs attention can be dealt with by the two families tomorrow.”
    “So true, Andrew,” his aunt said and joined him by the door. “It’s time we all returned to the party.”
    “I trust that all knowledge of this incident will stay in this room,” Andrew said, though he knew it was too much to ask. “I wouldn’t like to see Miss Banning’s reputation tarnished over something that was of no consequence whatsoever.”
    “Of course you can trust me to never breathe a word of this to anyone,” Mrs. Farebrother said.
    She might have been the first to declare the vow, but Andrew saw exhilaration in her eyes that told him she couldn’t wait to get downstairs and tell others what she had seen. He wouldn’t be at all surprised to find out that the stout, loud-speaking woman was one of the ladies who constantly fed information to the writers of the scandal sheets.
    Even Lady Lynette, who was known to be one of the kindest of the spinsters in the ton, had a compassionate smile on her face, but an unusually bright gleam of excitement in her eyes.
    It was uncommon for a duke’s daughter to remain unwed past her twenty-first birthday, but as far as he knew, Lady Lynette, who was nearing, if not past, thirty, had never been seriously courted. She’d been born with a dark red birthmark on the side of one cheek. It wasn’t hideous, but most people would consider it unsightly the first time they saw her. She was also taller than most men, which unfortunately added another strike against her marriage-able prospects.
    To her credit, she had lovely green eyes and a full womanly figure, and she was always cheerful. She’d never let her quite noticeable birthmark keep her in hiding. She attended most of the parties each Season and occasionally she was asked to dance.
    Andrew had no doubt that when this incident got out, it would be the Lord Mayor’s wife who tattled to the gossips, and not the duke’s daughter. He was certain the story would be all over the party within the hour, and highly embellished to boot.
    “Please, ladies,” he said again. “I must insist you go belowstairs.”
    Miss Loudermilk lifted her chin. “I’ll expect you tomorrow afternoon before tea.” She then took hold of her niece’s arm just above the elbow and almost herded her out of the room with Dorothy, Lady Lynette, and his aunt following them.
    His last glance at Miss Banning caused his stomach to tighten. She was a good actress. She had a convincingly distraught expression on her face, but he was sure the entire evening had gone according to her plan.
    But he would take over from here.
    Andrew had no intention to alter his bachelor lifestyle and take on the responsibilities of a wife. And a beautiful chit with tempting lips wasn’t going to change his mind about that.
    As soon as the ladies were gone Andrew shut the door behind them. He took a deep breath and ran both hands through his hair.
    What an evening.
    First, a priceless urn had fallen from the shelf where it had been sitting for the better part of fifty years. It landed only inches from him. If it had landed on his head he could have been killed. And now a very appealing miss was trying to leg-shackle him.
    What nerve she had to enter his room, pilfer through his things, and set a plan to become his countess.
    He’d come close to being forced to marry once before and had managed to escape. He’d find a way to cheat Cu-pid once again.
    The only thing he could do right now was to go downstairs and act as if nothing had happened. And on his way down, he would take a vow