Lady Emma's Dilemma (9781101573662) by Rhonda Woodward Page B

something about Jack Devruex with fondness. Forcing her disturbing thoughts back to the present, she sent Lord Monteford a bright smile.
    â€œDid you enjoy the play last night, Lady Fallbrook?” he asked in a silky voice.
    For an instant, she lost the rhythm of the music and made the
chasse
a second too slow. She studied his haughty features for a moment, wondering what he was about. She certainly did not intend to comment on the impudent actor’s bizarre departure from the play. “I thought the performances rather amateurish.” She kept her tone deliberately light.
    Monteford crossed in front of her, making conversation impossible for a few measures. When they met again in the center, he wore a slight smile. “Is that all, Lady Fallbrook? There were a few moments when I would have sworn that you were enjoying yourself.”
    He was an intriguing man, she thought as they made the
demi-prominade.
If he intended to impress her, making veiled references to his public appearance with his mistress was not the way to go about it. “The evening held a few diversions,” she said.
    Not that she cared about Lord Monteford’s behavior, but even her departed husband, a man with a complete want of sensitivity, had taken pains to be discreet about his affairs.
    Passing behind Lord Monteford, she concentrated on the steps for a few moments. Again they met in the middle, clasped hands, and spun around in place. He looked deeply into her eyes and she found something compelling in their unexpectedly beautiful depths.
    â€œYou are an astoundingly fine-looking woman,” he murmuredsoftly, “and I have every intention of furthering our acquaintance.”
    As he released her, Emma’s brows shot up. His tone was so confident, so definite, that she could not resist the immediate desire to take the wind out of his sails. Besides, she was not a woman to tolerate being flirted with by a man who flaunted his mistress without a hint of shame.
    Sending him a dry look, she said, “Gracious me, Lord Monteford, I would not have thought that you would have the time.”
    He watched her for a moment, his gaze sharp and assessing. “I have time for all the things that interest me.”
    Emma decided that notwithstanding his exceedingly pretty eyes and impressive address, she would not be adding the viscount to her list of potential paramours. Being among the “things that interest him” held no attraction for her.
    The set ended a moment later and Lord Monteford led her back to her grandmother. Spreading open her fan, Emma turned to him with a cool smile. “Thank you for a most pleasant interlude, sir.”
    His fair brows rose and Emma could see his barely concealed displeasure. Evidently Lord Monteford was unused to being dismissed. He briefly bowed over her hand, and as he straightened, he looked into her eyes with unconcealed annoyance and confusion. Without a word, he turned and melded into the crowd.
    With a dismissive shrug, Emma watched Lord Monteford’s retreating back before turning to her grandmother and friends. Grandmère gazed at her with an expression of pride and pleasure.
    â€œConsidering the attention you are receiving, you comport yourself exceedingly well, m’dear,” Grandmère murmured in a tone the others could not hear. “No one would suspect that you have spent the last decade rusticating. Well done, my dear. You are certainly my granddaughter,” she murmured on a note of pride.
    â€œYou no longer think I am so provincial?” Emma sent her a rueful smile.
    â€œCertain instincts may have gotten rusty, but you never forget. Are you enjoying yourself?”
    â€œActually, I am,” Emma replied. And she meant it.
    But Grandmère’s point was not lost upon her. Emma could not help but be keenly aware of the interested stares and whispers directed toward her. She found it rather disconcerting and was grateful for the company of