“I—” she paused. “It has been a while since I have attended a ton’s masquerade. As I said before, some ladies are not nice.”
Especially since my father passed and my brother sunk us into debt.
“I am sorry you’ve suffered such discrimination,” Lord Hansen said, “And please, call me Graham.”
She laughed. “As much as I would love to, Madame Tillerman would rise from the grave and smack my knuckles with a ruler at the impropriety. Please bear with me as I call you my lord, until I feel comfortable calling you as you requested.”
“You attendedthatMadame’s school?” he peered at her. “My sister went there too and nearly buckled under the pressure.”
She blushed. “Perhaps it was because I stayed in the library most of my time there, and buried my nose in books, scrolls, and tomes as thick as that column over there.”
As she nodded to the column, her eyes glanced up to a balcony above, where the Devil lord leaned on the balustrade, overlooking his domain like a dark king. She swallowed and turned to Lord Hansen.
Ignore him. Lord Hansen is a staid choice and a sensible one. He is the sort of man I should be looking to be courted by. Forget the devil lord and the man in the alley, do the best for yourself, and choose a respectable man.
“My lady,” he smiled. “Would you like to dance?”
CHAPTER 7
“Have your little fun, pretty lamb,” William murmured while keeping his eyes locked on the lady below, her white costume a beacon in the dark. “I will see you soon.”
“Arlington,” Colin came closer. “Some of the lords are convening in the billiards room for cards and drinks. Will you join us?”
“No,” William replied while not losing sight of the little angel below. “Go enjoy yourself.”
From the corner of his eye, he spotted Colin’s brows draw together, then he followed William’s train of sight, and a liberal sigh left him. “Good god man, please do not tell me you are planning on corrupting the pure girl?”
“And how do you know she is pure?” A possessive growl left William’s mouth.
“But you are planning on corrupting her.”
“Answer my question first.”
Instantly, Colin had his hands up. “I have never touched her. Matter of fact, I do not know who she is, so please, shelve the undue jealousy for God’s sake.”
Sedated, William grunted. “I won't be tempted to the card table or drink. Not only am I unwilling to risk what I barely have, I am also in training for the Circuit, Thornbury. Hard liquor impedes my judgment.”
Glancing at the lady below who was twirling with Hansen, Colin smirked, “I see something else that is impairing your judgment.”
“Thornbury?”
“Yes?”
“Go away, enjoy your cards, cloying cheroot smoke and liquor.” William’s eyes lifted to the clock on the far side of the room and grimaced. It was a quarter to eleven and his time to win the kiss from the lady was slipping away. “I need to think.”
Cackling, Colin walked away, and William descended the stairs to the ballroom as the jig ended and the minuet was announced. He joined the line strategically where he would be able to be one of the angels’ partners.
By the end of the night, I must learn her name.
He fixed his gaze on her face, willing her to look up and meet his eyes, but the way she kept her head down and her blush trailed to her hairline… he smirked. She damned well knew he was there.
The dance began and while William hated such a stodgy dance, he would endure it if he got to touch her again. On the first turn, his palm met hers and her eyes dropped.
“Keep your eyes on me,” he ordered softly, and when her lashes swept up, he smiled. “There you are, sweet girl.”
They parted and met different partners, but William craved going back to her and forced himself not to hasten the steps and spoil the dance for the others.
When he twirled to his angel again, he pressed his hand tighter to her. “The next waltz is mine,” he told her as he met her eyes. “Whatever you have with Hansen, I care not, butthatwaltz is mine.”
