“Because of the dimple,” whispered Penelope. She was still absorbed in watching Lord Boor. “Look—when he smiles—”
“Because he’s fearfully rich, and a viscount,” said Abigail, a true and loyal friend.
“Oh.” Penelope’s gaze didn’t waver. “That’s very attractive, too. But you must admit he’s the most compelling figure in this ballroom.”
“Compelling,” snorted Joan, thinking of all the insults he’d hurled at her in the last two days alone. “And rude and belligerent and coarse ...”
“He must have some charms, besides his fortune and his title and his shoulders and that wicked dimple. As if he would need more than ... all that,” Penelope finished rather breathlessly.
“Mama will never allow it,” said her sister. “In fact, if she should notice you staring, you’ll find yourself locked away from all disreputable gentlemen until you reach old age.”
“It might be worth it.” But Penelope reluctantly turned away.
“I suppose he does look rather well without his shirt on,” Joan muttered, still lost in her own thoughts.
As one, the Weston sisters turned to her, eyes round and mouths open. “Joan,” one of them managed to gasp. “When did you—?”
“He opened the door half naked, when I called upon my brother,” she said, ignoring the traitorous warmth creeping over her cheeks. “Apparently he’s taken up residence in Douglas’s house.”
Penelope began to smile. Abigail tried not to, and ended up sighing. “Oh, Joan.”
“It could have happened to anyone!”
“But it only everdoeshappen to you,” Penelope pointed out. “And I am growing terribly jealous.”
“Perhaps this will dispel it. He has my copy of the latest50 Ways to Sin.”
Their reaction was all she could have hoped for. Penelope jerked around, eyes wide, and Abigail sucked in her breath. “There’s a new one? Since when?”
“And how did he get it?” demanded Penelope.
Joan lowered her voice even more. “After I visited my brother, I went to Madox Street, to that bookseller you told me about. And he said he’d only received some copies that morning! But Lord Burke,” she said wrathfully, “followed me, and made me so furious I stormed out before the bookseller could bring it out. I presume he bought it instead—because tonight hetauntedme with it!”
“Only you,” said Abigail again.
“So he’s got it right now?” Penelope’s face screwed up in concentration. “We could lure him outside and take it from him ...”
“Or Joan could simply ask him for it,” said Abigail, who was still facing the room. “He’s coming this way.”
Joan froze. She had an awful inkling of what he might do. Any man who would open the door in a shocking state of undress, allow a woman to display her bare nether regions, and practically kidnap another woman wouldn’t hesitate to exact the most horrible vengeance for that fist to the nose.
And he did. The dreadful man swept to a stop in front of them, that wicked little smile lurking about his lips, and bowed. Obediently all three girls curtsied back, and Joan muttered the appropriate introductions. And then he struck.
“May I have the next set, Miss Bennet?”
She kept her chin up. “Why? Do you expect rain soon?”
He blinked, then that grin curled his mouth again. “Would you let me hide beneath your skirts, if I did?”
Joan could feel the amazed, shocked glances of her friends. In truth, she was rather shocked herself. The boor! It was bad enough for him to say it to her, but to repeat it in front of her friends ... “Not even if there were a hurricane,” she replied sweetly.
He barely moved, yet seemed to be closer by the minute. “Would you dance with me if I said I wished to apologize?”
“One needn’t dance for that. In fact, you might wish to concentrate on one task at a time; you seem easily distracted, sir.”
“Hmm.” His gaze flicked to Abigail and Penelope, still shamelessly watching and listening. Lord Burke lowered his voice and this time he most definitely leaned toward her. “Perhaps if I relinquish your illicit object from the shop in Madox Street?”
Now she was caught. Surely she, Abigail, or Penelope would think of a way to smuggle it home. There was always her garter, after all ... A quick sideways glance showed that her friends were in full favor of her making the sacrifice. In fact, Penelope looked ready to make it for her, which tipped the scales. “You have finally said something persuasive,” she told him. “I accept.”
