you?” Mischief glittered in his eyes. “But you just said—”
“I only meant that everyone was talking about you. But I… er… did not listen to any gossip. Or at least I tried not to listen.”
“Ah. So you’re admirable enough to mind your own business. I’m afraid I’m not. If people are so indiscreet as to speak where I can hear, I tend to listen. And tonight I’ve overheard a number of interesting things.”
She supposed she deserved that.
With a smirk at having won his point, he added, “Ah, but I’m forgetting what I came for. I was hoping to have the honor of your hand for the next dance.”
A new voice entered the fray. “Sorry, old chum, but Miss Merivale promised it to me.”
Katherine turned to findSydneystanding with two glasses of punch, his resentful gaze fixed on Lord Iversley. Goodness, this got worse by the moment.
“I beg your pardon, Sir Sydney,” Mama put in, “but I believe you’re confused. Katherine has already danced one set with you, and I know she agreed to let you have the last before supper.” Her triumphant smile grated on Katherine’s nerves. “It would be most improper for you two to dance more than that—what would people think? Why, you’re not even betrothed.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Sydneylooked positively apoplectic, while Lord Iversley looked as if he might burst into laughter. Katherine couldn’t decide whom she wanted to strangle more— Lady Jenner for bringing Lord Iversley over in the first place, Sydney for lying, or Mama for catching him in the lie. She settled her anger on the earl. “I’m sorry, my lord, but I don’t much feel like dancing at the moment.”
A lady was never supposed to refuse a gentleman’s request to dance. Surely that would send him off insulted.
No such luck. If anything, he looked even more amused. “A pity. I wanted to tell you that interesting gossip I overheard. But if you’d rather we discuss it with your mother and Sir Sydney, we can sit this dance out.”
Surely he was bluffing. If he said anything about what they’d done on the gallery, it would reflect as badly on him as it did on her.
Iversley never met a rule he didn’t break.
She couldn’t take the chance. Besides, from the dagger glances Mama was shooting at her, she’d never hear the end of it if she turned him down. “When you put it like that, how can I resist?”
IgnoringSydney’s wounded expression and Mama’s suddenly sunny smile, Katherine took the arm the earl proffered and let him lead her to the floor.
Chapter Five
Plotting to seduce a woman is like planning
a military campaign. You must outflank
her at every turn until her only choice
is surrender.
—Anonymous, A Rake’s Rhetorick
As Alec carried Katherine off to the floor, he reveled in the resentment festering on Lovelace’s face. Too bad, “old chum.” You had your chance. She’s mine now . And for one of those new waltzes, too, which was even better.
Then Katherine faced him, her lovely eyes glinting mutinously. Uh-oh, perhaps his gloating was premature.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html She tossed back her pretty head. “I hadn’t realized you were so desperate for female companionship you’d resort to blackmail to gain a dance partner.”
“I merely asked you to dance,” he said, feigning innocence.
“And I asked you to leave me be.” Despite her sharp words, a blush stained her cheeks. The music started. Deliberately, he drew her into his arms far closer than propriety allowed for the waltz.
“You didn’t mean it.”
As she fell into step, anger turned the amber glints in her brown eyes to flames. “You are the most pompous, arrogant man I’ve ever met.”
“Ah, but I’m dancing with you, while your poet friend can only watch.”
No doubt the baronet was getting an eyeful, too. Katherine danced surprisingly well for a country girl, with a
“I only meant that everyone was talking about you. But I… er… did not listen to any gossip. Or at least I tried not to listen.”
“Ah. So you’re admirable enough to mind your own business. I’m afraid I’m not. If people are so indiscreet as to speak where I can hear, I tend to listen. And tonight I’ve overheard a number of interesting things.”
She supposed she deserved that.
With a smirk at having won his point, he added, “Ah, but I’m forgetting what I came for. I was hoping to have the honor of your hand for the next dance.”
A new voice entered the fray. “Sorry, old chum, but Miss Merivale promised it to me.”
Katherine turned to findSydneystanding with two glasses of punch, his resentful gaze fixed on Lord Iversley. Goodness, this got worse by the moment.
“I beg your pardon, Sir Sydney,” Mama put in, “but I believe you’re confused. Katherine has already danced one set with you, and I know she agreed to let you have the last before supper.” Her triumphant smile grated on Katherine’s nerves. “It would be most improper for you two to dance more than that—what would people think? Why, you’re not even betrothed.”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Sydneylooked positively apoplectic, while Lord Iversley looked as if he might burst into laughter. Katherine couldn’t decide whom she wanted to strangle more— Lady Jenner for bringing Lord Iversley over in the first place, Sydney for lying, or Mama for catching him in the lie. She settled her anger on the earl. “I’m sorry, my lord, but I don’t much feel like dancing at the moment.”
A lady was never supposed to refuse a gentleman’s request to dance. Surely that would send him off insulted.
No such luck. If anything, he looked even more amused. “A pity. I wanted to tell you that interesting gossip I overheard. But if you’d rather we discuss it with your mother and Sir Sydney, we can sit this dance out.”
Surely he was bluffing. If he said anything about what they’d done on the gallery, it would reflect as badly on him as it did on her.
Iversley never met a rule he didn’t break.
She couldn’t take the chance. Besides, from the dagger glances Mama was shooting at her, she’d never hear the end of it if she turned him down. “When you put it like that, how can I resist?”
IgnoringSydney’s wounded expression and Mama’s suddenly sunny smile, Katherine took the arm the earl proffered and let him lead her to the floor.
Chapter Five
Plotting to seduce a woman is like planning
a military campaign. You must outflank
her at every turn until her only choice
is surrender.
—Anonymous, A Rake’s Rhetorick
As Alec carried Katherine off to the floor, he reveled in the resentment festering on Lovelace’s face. Too bad, “old chum.” You had your chance. She’s mine now . And for one of those new waltzes, too, which was even better.
Then Katherine faced him, her lovely eyes glinting mutinously. Uh-oh, perhaps his gloating was premature.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html She tossed back her pretty head. “I hadn’t realized you were so desperate for female companionship you’d resort to blackmail to gain a dance partner.”
“I merely asked you to dance,” he said, feigning innocence.
“And I asked you to leave me be.” Despite her sharp words, a blush stained her cheeks. The music started. Deliberately, he drew her into his arms far closer than propriety allowed for the waltz.
“You didn’t mean it.”
As she fell into step, anger turned the amber glints in her brown eyes to flames. “You are the most pompous, arrogant man I’ve ever met.”
“Ah, but I’m dancing with you, while your poet friend can only watch.”
No doubt the baronet was getting an eyeful, too. Katherine danced surprisingly well for a country girl, with a
Similar Books
