Scandalous Endeavors (Ladies and Scoundrels Book 1) by Amanda Mariel
Authors: Amanda Mariel
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back, in an attempt to make herself visually appealing despite the widow’s weeds. “You are no intrusion at all,” she replied. “Quite the opposite really, I am happy to see a kind face. My days have grown so desolate and boring.” Amelia sighed audibly. “Oh how I do go on. I am sorry, Lord Roseington. Please get what you came for and forget what I have said.”
He scowled, “How am I to forget a dear friend’s sorrow? Would it help ease your burden if I stayed for a moment?”
She continued to gaze into his hazel eyes, noticing their color for the first time. “Actually, Lord Roseington, if you truly want to help me feel better”--she batted her lashes--“what I desire the most at this moment is to dance.” She smiled sweetly, but noticed her body’s lack of reaction to him. Where were the tingles? The racing pulse brought on by the duke? Lord Roseington was just as handsome. Why did she feel nothing in his presence?
Lord Roseington appeared thoughtful for a moment, then frowned deeply. “Lady Amelia, I care about your comfort but...”
“I know it is scandalous. Forgive me, I should not have asked. I am just so weary of mourning, and isolation; I thought a dance would help me forget, if only for a moment.” She turned and walked toward the hearth, feigning embarrassment.
“You must not be upset, Lady Amelia. One dance will be all right. I do not suppose it would hurt anyone.”
She slowly turned to face him and placed her hand in his outstretched one. “Thank you, Lord Roseington. I adore dancing, and it has been saddening me a great deal to sit in here and hear the quartet play, knowing all the while that I could not dance among my peers.”
He held her in the proper manner. “I assure you, Lady Amelia, it is my honor to dance with you.”
She tipped her chin up, making contact with his hazel eyes, and giggled. His arms felt warm and strong wrapped around her as they waltzed across the library, but she could not help but wonder why she did not feel excited. Focus on the plan, Amelia . She listened carefully to the music.
Amelia misstepped, effectively tripping him, as the music came to an end. Lord Roseington fell onto the chaise, where she landed in his lap. His arms wrapped tightly around her small waist. Amelia placed her hands behind his neck with ease and looked into his eyes. “Please forgive my clumsiness. I do not know what came over me.” She grinned when his eyes seemed to soften.
“You have no reason to apologize.” He turned his head toward the room’s entrance, then stood so quickly that she stumbled before finding her footing.
Amelia followed his stare, fully expecting to see Lady Sarah standing there. Her heart skipped a beat. The Duke of Goldstone filled the space, and her gaze locked with his. She glanced back at Lord Roseington, who paled considerably.
Lord Roseington stepped away from her. “I came to retrieve a book for my sister; this is not what it looks like. Lady Amelia tripped and--”
“You have no need to explain to me, Roseington. I care not what you do.” He turned his gaze on her and smirked roguishly. “Lady Amelia’s reputation will not be tarnished on my account.”
Had he noticed the angry heat ensconced on her cheeks? He peered at her devilishly, then chuckled and shook his head. Amelia’s heart pounded against her ribs and a throbbing developed between her thighs. How did he always manage to make that happen to her?
Lady Sarah traipsed into the room, stopping abruptly at the sight of them. Her eyes met Amelia’s for nary a moment before they turned to her brother, “Pray tell, what is going on here?”
His Grace answered, “Nothing at all. Roseington came to get your book and I came to check on Lady Amelia.” He did not allow anyone else the chance to speak. “Come now, Roseington, let us retrieve that novel and leave Lady Amelia in peace. She’s in grieving you know.”
“Of course, Your Grace, you have no need to remind me.” He
He scowled, “How am I to forget a dear friend’s sorrow? Would it help ease your burden if I stayed for a moment?”
She continued to gaze into his hazel eyes, noticing their color for the first time. “Actually, Lord Roseington, if you truly want to help me feel better”--she batted her lashes--“what I desire the most at this moment is to dance.” She smiled sweetly, but noticed her body’s lack of reaction to him. Where were the tingles? The racing pulse brought on by the duke? Lord Roseington was just as handsome. Why did she feel nothing in his presence?
Lord Roseington appeared thoughtful for a moment, then frowned deeply. “Lady Amelia, I care about your comfort but...”
“I know it is scandalous. Forgive me, I should not have asked. I am just so weary of mourning, and isolation; I thought a dance would help me forget, if only for a moment.” She turned and walked toward the hearth, feigning embarrassment.
“You must not be upset, Lady Amelia. One dance will be all right. I do not suppose it would hurt anyone.”
She slowly turned to face him and placed her hand in his outstretched one. “Thank you, Lord Roseington. I adore dancing, and it has been saddening me a great deal to sit in here and hear the quartet play, knowing all the while that I could not dance among my peers.”
He held her in the proper manner. “I assure you, Lady Amelia, it is my honor to dance with you.”
She tipped her chin up, making contact with his hazel eyes, and giggled. His arms felt warm and strong wrapped around her as they waltzed across the library, but she could not help but wonder why she did not feel excited. Focus on the plan, Amelia . She listened carefully to the music.
Amelia misstepped, effectively tripping him, as the music came to an end. Lord Roseington fell onto the chaise, where she landed in his lap. His arms wrapped tightly around her small waist. Amelia placed her hands behind his neck with ease and looked into his eyes. “Please forgive my clumsiness. I do not know what came over me.” She grinned when his eyes seemed to soften.
“You have no reason to apologize.” He turned his head toward the room’s entrance, then stood so quickly that she stumbled before finding her footing.
Amelia followed his stare, fully expecting to see Lady Sarah standing there. Her heart skipped a beat. The Duke of Goldstone filled the space, and her gaze locked with his. She glanced back at Lord Roseington, who paled considerably.
Lord Roseington stepped away from her. “I came to retrieve a book for my sister; this is not what it looks like. Lady Amelia tripped and--”
“You have no need to explain to me, Roseington. I care not what you do.” He turned his gaze on her and smirked roguishly. “Lady Amelia’s reputation will not be tarnished on my account.”
Had he noticed the angry heat ensconced on her cheeks? He peered at her devilishly, then chuckled and shook his head. Amelia’s heart pounded against her ribs and a throbbing developed between her thighs. How did he always manage to make that happen to her?
Lady Sarah traipsed into the room, stopping abruptly at the sight of them. Her eyes met Amelia’s for nary a moment before they turned to her brother, “Pray tell, what is going on here?”
His Grace answered, “Nothing at all. Roseington came to get your book and I came to check on Lady Amelia.” He did not allow anyone else the chance to speak. “Come now, Roseington, let us retrieve that novel and leave Lady Amelia in peace. She’s in grieving you know.”
“Of course, Your Grace, you have no need to remind me.” He
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