The Untamed Earl by Valerie Bowman Page B

lady in orange couldn’t possibly be Lady Lavinia. The one in blue certainly seemed the more difficult of the two. That one seemed like a viper. He’d do well to steer clear of her. She might be his future sister-in-law, but that didn’t mean they needed to spend much time in each other’s company. He turned his attention to the orange.
    â€œI am Lord Owen Monroe,” he announced. After all, it seemed fair that they didn’t remember him either. Until Cass had pointed her out, he hadn’t remembered Lavinia himself. No bother.
    â€œI know who you are,” the lady in orange said, smiling up at him with a dreamlike expression on her round face. Upon second look, she was a beautiful little thing. Smaller than her sister but infinitely more appealing, with wavy dark hair and the most warm, appealing brown eyes framed by thick black lashes.
    He smiled at her. Why had his father thought this might prove difficult? Why, the girl was already practically eating from his palm. “That makes it infinitely easier for me to ask you to take a turn around the room with me.”
    She blushed beautifully. “You want to walk?” She pointed at herself. “With me?”
    He chuckled. “Yes, my lady. If you would do me the honor.” He bowed again and then held out his arm.
    The lady in blue gave him a strained pinched look and addressed her sister. “Go on, then. I’ll be at the refreshment table.”
    â€œVery well.” The orange beauty put her hand on his arm. Marriage to her wouldn’t be so bad. She was not only lush but she seemed biddable, too. The perfect combination.
    He covered her hand with his larger one. She was a bit too stiff, too anxious. He could tell by the rigid way in which she held her arm, the slight shaking of her palm on his sleeve. Owen was used to ladies who danced effortlessly, who flirted effortlessly, who laughed at his bawdy jests, and drank a bit too much wine. These balls for innocents were quite a different affair altogether. They were full of nervous would-be wives who shook as if they might break.
    â€œAre you frightened?” he ventured.
    â€œNo. Why?” But the alacrity with which she’d said those two words belied their truth.
    He shrugged casually. “I don’t know. You seem a bit … anxious.”
    â€œAnxious? Me? No!” Again, the words were uttered far too quickly, and her chest was rising and falling rapidly, indicating that her breathing was increasing. Though he had to admit he was enjoying the view of her décolletage, which was on full display. He could see it well, since he was a full head taller than she.
    â€œNot anxious?” he asked, slowing their pace a bit, hoping to put her at ease.
    â€œN-n-not at all.” She pushed up her chin, and Owen had to give her a mental point for her bravery. She was clearly filled with nerves but didn’t want to admit it. Well played, Lady Lavinia. Courting her in the span of a month was going to be a simple task indeed. He had to wonder, however, if she knew he was her intended after all. Why else was she so full of nerves? He sighed and decided not to give it another thought. Perhaps it was merely her disposition. Father had sworn the lady knew nothing about their intended courtship.
    â€œSo, tell me, my lady. How are you enjoying the ball?” he asked, staring deeply into her eyes. He’d yet to find a lady who wasn’t enthralled with his dark blue gaze.
    She glanced away first. He’d won.
    â€œI like it very well,” she said with the twinge of a tremor in her voice. “Though I don’t think my sister is enjoying herself much.”
    â€œIt’s kind of you to have such regard for your sister.”
    â€œIt’s rather a pastime in our family,” she replied.
    Owen narrowed his eyes on her. Now, that was an interesting thing to say. Perhaps Lady Lavinia wasn’t so vapid as he’d expected her to