When she would have explained that with a polite smile, the color drained from her face. Everything and everyone else in the room suddenly faded away. Light conversations of those around her ceased, it was as if she had stepped into another room that was softly lit, and there was the man who stood only a few feet away. And she knew him...
Her hand went to the pendant she wore, the pearl and diamonds warm at her fingers, even as she heard her name, pulling her back.
If she were to describe it afterward, she would have told Lucy that it was as if she went away for those few moments to some other place that she'd never seen before... and there was someone there, someone she knew, and he was waiting for her.
Lucy would have laughed and told her that it was just her imagination, nervousness over all the details of the wedding, or perhaps too much champagne.
The room seemed to right itself again. Everything was as it had been—voices, sounds, the tinkling of a champagne bottle against a crystal goblet as she finally took a deep breath. And the man was still there, something in the gaze behind the startling eye-patch over one eye.
He was tall and handsome, in spite of the eye-patch or possibly because of it, his overlong sun-streaked hair curling slightly at the collar of his waistcoat and pristine white shirt with gray cravat, immaculately polished boots, and the intense expression on his face.
Her first impression was that he seemed perfectly at ease and out of place at the same time, a gentleman and someone who could be dangerous if one let down their guard, someone capable of restraint at the same time the word wouldn't even exist for him, a man of sharp contrasts that sent a tingling across her skin.
Four
That sense of familiarity Zach had first experienced washed over him again. The feeling was disturbing, and he carefully masked it as a dark-haired man with dark eyes appeared at the young woman's side, the expression on his face reflecting several emotions.
"Here you are," Jerrold said as he joined them. Then, with a look at Elyse, "Are you feeling unwell? You're quite pale. I hope you're not thinking of fainting."
Thinking of fainting? How did someonethinkof fainting? She wondered. "I never faint," she replied.
That intense gray gaze fastened on her with a mixture of amusement and genuine concern, and something else behind that black patch across one eye.
"Ah, yes," Jerrold said with that same air of aloofness as he made introductions. "St. James, I heard someone say."
Her striking blue gaze met Zach's. "I don't believe that we've been properly introduced, sir."
Zach's concern for this beautiful young woman shifted to amusement with her smile. "Is there an improper way?"
Whatever had caused her first reaction certainly wasn't affecting her now. She seemed to have fully recovered as she laughed at his comment. He wished he could say the same for Barrington.
Jerrold frowned at the off-hand comment. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, inserting himself once more.
''Jerrold Barrington," he announced.
Zach smiled as if he found something amusing in Jerrold's manner.
"William St. James," he introduced himself and took her hand.
His smile deepened. Taking her gloved hand, he raised it and gently dropped a kiss across the back of her fingers. As he did so, he turned his head slightly for a glimpse of the man who had suddenly appeared at her side as if to rescue her. Or was it something else in the way the man frowned, almost as if he intended to reprimand her?
Barrington was tall and dark, with the sort of looks that were almost too polished, too perfect, as if he spent a great deal of time making certain they were just that. Unless Zach missed his guess, the heir to Barrington Shipping and other assorted enterprises was more than a little displeased with the lady's comments.
His lips curved into a secretive smile. So, it seemed Mr. Jerrold Barrington was a man given to propriety and appearances, as well as greed and ruthless business dealings. As Zach knew only too well, it was easy to act the part of the perfect gentleman. But the young lady who'd captured him with her unpretentious greeting was less easily understood.
He held onto her hand, knowing how it must look to those who stood with them, and couldn't care less. Unless he missed his guess, she must be Elyse Winslow and the man beside her and the assorted guests had gathered to celebrate their forthcoming marriage.
He saw the play of emotions on her face, surprise, followed by embarrassment, then curiosity, as pink spread across her high cheekbones. Those magnificent eyes rimmed in dark lashes tilted faintly at the corners as she met his gaze.
"Miss Winslow is soon to be Lady Barrington." Jerrold Barrington elaborated, setting boundaries much like an animal.
'Soon to be'fixed in Zach's mind as he nodded. "Then congratulations are in order." That was the reason his inquiries earlier that evening had met with such surprise. He glanced down, unable to understand his disappointment at learning that she was to marry this man.
The smile he gave him was as much a mask as the one he wore over his eyes and hid his contempt for the Barrington name. For now.
"We've never met, sir, but we've had business dealings."
"You're not English," Jerrold commented.
