To Please A Lady (The Seduction Series) by Lori Brighton

palm, half-hidden by the plant, and took a glass of wine as a servant went by. Mrs. Richards chatted with a few patrons, but for the most part she strolled casually through the ballroom, her face unsmiling, her gaze only mildly curious, as if she’d merely stopped by on her way to something more important. Hell, what was wrong with him? He’d never cared about a client before. Caring interfered with business.
    “No, it can’t be,” a young woman in a brilliant yellow gown whispered furiously, drawing James’s attention. She stood only a few feet away, huddled close to another woman, both twitching their painted fans excitedly. “It is! That blonde hair… that cold demeanor… dear Lord, it’s Lady Beckett!”
    “Indeed! I never!” the older woman exclaimed.
    “Neither I! The epitome of elegance and grace, here?” They both giggled behind their fans, but spotting James they broke off, flushing. They had the courage to attend the ball, the gall to gossip about others, yet they would not look him in the eyes.
    “Ladies,” he murmured with a slight incline of his head, intent on teasing them.
    Their flushes spread and they clutched onto each other, scampering away as if he’d threatened to steal their virtue. James sighed, downing his wine, and found her again.
Lady Beckett.
A lady then. He wasn’t in the least bit surprised. Her elegance and the large jewels she wore gave her away. He started to turn away, his curiosity sated, when she inclined her head ever so slightly. Their gazes met. For the briefest of moments something warm and surprising flashed in her cold, blue eyes. Shock, a little nervousness, and something else he couldn’t quite identify. She jerked her attention away from him, and the moment was gone before it had barely had time to begin. But James was sure of one thing… she had recognized him.
    Aye, she’d recognized him, and he’d been thoroughly dismissed. He watched her walk away with a small group of other elegantly dressed women. Women who would never risk theirreputation by visiting Lady Lavender’s, yet she had visited, hadn’t she? James frowned, annoyed for some reason. He had a feeling he would never, ever see her again. Why that bothered him, he wasn’t sure. He turned away from her, determined to forget the woman with the sad eyes, a woman much too good for the likes of him.
    He had other clients to dwell upon and she was merely a fleeting star in a night sky full of brilliance. He glanced around the room, looking for someone who might be interested. There were plenty who whispered seductive words, who had grabbed his arse a time or two, but none of them appealed at the moment. Still, there was always a surge of interest when they made an appearance. And so he would smile mysteriously, wink at a woman or two, and come Monday there would be a few new clients added to the list.
    It was the same thing every year, over and over again. Most guests at the ball were either young and curious or old and bored with life. He should be grateful for his position, he’d reminded himself repeatedly in the last few days. After all, he’d never in his life tasted champagne before he’d met Lady Lavender. Never slept on silken sheets or worn the finest of French fashion. And never would he have been able to support his family.
    She’d promised him riches, and she’d come through. So he didn’t mind the lewd glances and occasional wandering hand from women… and men. At least he had never minded before. But tonight… tonight was different. Tonight he felt the odd desire to crawl out of his own skin, to be free of it all, to know something different.
    He shook off the unsettling feeling. He was here to do business for Ophelia, the woman he owed. More business meant more money for his family. And so he smiled charmingly at the ladies he passed, although he wanted to frown. He smiled, even when they looked him over like he was nothing more than prime horseflesh. Smiled although he knew he