Would it be inappropriate to turn and run like I had never heard her?
It would be rude, and while that didn’t bother him, Eleanor had promised to help him find a wife. If he went around ruining her efforts, she would have his head.
“Lady Nottinburough, how is the Earl of Nottinburough this evening?” Andrew’s gaze scanned the room, looking for the woman’s husband.
The Countess trailed her fingers over his shoulder, her hand dropping to her side the moment someone passed a little too close to them. “I was wondering what kept you away for so long, Your Grace.”
He didn’t miss the sultry undertones in her voice or the way she looked at him from beneath her short lashes.
“Our affair is over,” he said, voice soft so the ladies and gentlemen passing around them couldn’t hear what was said. “You’re a married woman.”
Her bottom lip jutted out slightly. “Oh, come now, Your Grace, you simply can’t be so fickle. You hardly cared about my marriage before.”
Andrew shifted away from her when she reached for him again. “Enough of this, Lady Nottinburough. Your husband is a client of mine, and this is affecting my business. I will not continue whatever you believe to have existed between us.”
“Oh, Your Grace,” she said, a slight whine to her voice like she was on the edge of pleading him for more attention.
Andrew didn’t have time to deal with her nonsense, but he didn’t want to be cruel either. He should be the one to make her realize that what they had must end.
“Can’t you see, Your Grace? I adore you. I would leave Nottinburough for you. Happily.”
“I’d advise against that.” Andrew shifted to the side, glancing at the curving staircase to the right of the ballroom, waiting for the moment when that little feral creature might appear at the top of them.
He hadn’t been expecting to see the mystery woman again, but his time with her on the terrace was the most entertained he had been all evening.
And he still couldn’t get over the way those amber eyes glowered at him, shining bright even in the dim lighting. Or the way those strands of her honey-blonde hair felt when his fingers had brushed her cheek.
If we had a few more minutes alone…
It would’ve been all too easy to tease her until she gasped, to slip his tongue along her lip, twine it with hers, and show her all he was capable of doing.
“Your Grace, did you not hear me?” Lady Nottinburough sighed, her arms crossing. “You always do this. You speak with me and then you never listen to what I actually say.”
“You said you would leave your husband for me, and I have to say, that is ill-advised.” Andrew shifted closer to her, his voice low. “And you forget yourself if you think you can be so familiar with me.”
She took a step back, her eyes widening. “I don’t know why you’re acting this way. We enjoy being around each other, Fox—Your Grace.”
“I am sorry, but I have to think of my business now. While it was not my intention for you to be hurt when this came to an end, it would seem that it is unavoidable.”
She looked at him with glassy eyes, making guilt take up permanent residence in his chest. “I love you.”
“This was never about love for me, and I made that clear when we entered our arrangement.” Andrew tried to walk away from her but she stepped back into his path with her arms crossing over her chest.
He glanced around the room and sure enough, people were starting to stare. He needed to diffuse the situation as soon as he could.
He tucked his hands into the pockets of his breeches. “I suggest you return to your husband. I must do business with him later this evening and I can’t have our dalliance getting in the way of that. I am sorry.”
Even thinking about going to speak with Lord Nottinburough at that moment would mean more problems for his business. Whispers were starting around thetonabout one of the few affairs he had that wasn’t public knowledge.
Lady Nottinburough stared at him for a moment longer, her bottom lip quivering like she was going to say something to him. Without another word, she spun on her heel and strode off, disappearing into the crowd.
Eleanor appeared at Andrew’s elbow, her hands clasped together. “Well, I see that went well. I hadn’t known about that particular problem, but I have heard the rumors about their marriage being for wealth alone.”
Andrew sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as a round of applause filled the room. The musicians began another piece almost immediately.
“Really, Andrew, I want to help you find a wife, but if your paramours are going to confront you in public, it’s going to be hard to present the fact that you’re available to women of good standing. Those potential fathers-in-law won’t be able to overlook the fact that you’re a rake then.”
“Is part of your intention in helping me find a wife to lecture me at every turn?” Andrew’s hand dropped to his side, and he looked around the room, catching the eyes of several young women.
