She yanked her eyes away from the other dancing couples and stared at him in surprise. How could he read her thoughts so easily?
At his smile, she flushed guiltily. She must seem such a snob, but he was well aware of his reputation, and he must know that she couldn’t chance any slip in what was deemed proper for a young lady of her stature. “I appreciate your discretion.”
His hand tightened at her waist, and her flesh tingled, sending sparks up her back. The fingers that held her hand loosened, and he slid his thumb over the thin material covering her palm.
Her lips parted, and she immediately snapped her mouth shut again. She mustn’t let her attraction for him become so evident. When she met his eyes, there was amusement reflected. He knew precisely what affect he was having on her.
The last note of the waltz faded, and they stood in the middle of the floor, neither moving. Finally, he relinquished his hold on her and stepped slowly back. He bowed in front of her. “Until midnight, my lady.”
Chapter Three
“Bloody fool!” Viscount Dudley rounded on his son with all the ferocity of a lion. “What do you mean you let her attend Lady Lockhart’s ball without you?”
Stuart flinched and curled his lips into a pout. “It’s not as if I had a choice,” he whined.
“Imbecile! It’s bad enough Penbury took off to Italy mere months before the marriage, but he left Lady Jenna to her own devices. Silly chit has no business flitting about London. It’s unseemly.” He studied his son and thought for the hundredth time since his birth what a complete waste of seed he was.
But Stuart was the only heir he had thanks to his incompetent wife. Now that she was dead he could focus solely on the task at hand. He must get that locket back from Penbury’s daughter.
This task should have been taken care of years earlier, but the earl had insisted that Jenna not wed before her twenty-first birthday. Ridiculous condition. The chit was beyond the normal marriageable age. But no amount of persuasion had swayed the earl to let the marriage occur before now, and he’d feared if he had pressed further, the earl would have backed out of the contract.
So he had watched and waited. It had been relatively easy to make sure Jenna hadn’t discovered any untoward information. After all, the earl rarely took his family out of Westerleigh. He’d monitored her activities as best he could with frequent visits. He’d also paid close attention to any change in attitude toward him or Stuart.
And now when he was so close to achieving his objective, the earl had suddenly decided to take a trip with the countess and had allowed Jenna to stay in London.
He rubbed his jaw in concentration and watched in disgust as Stuart turned to a nearby wall mirror and meticulously checked his appearance. Bloody fop. How had such an insult to manhood sprung from his loins?
“Listen to me, boy,” he commanded. Stuart jerked around to face his father again.
“I’m listening, sir.”
Dudley snorted. “Don’t you let the Penbury chit out of your sight until season’s end. Is that understood? It is imperative that your marriage take place. I don’t want to chance her turning fickle and fancying herself in love with some other chap. You get me, boy?”
“I understand, Father. But Sebastian won’t like it.”
Dudley winced as his son’s voice grew whiny once more. “Quit sniveling. I don’t care what Sebastian likes or doesn’t like. Lady Jenna is your intended bride, and as such, it is your duty to see her about town.”
Stuart nodded and Dudley’s gaze dropped to the pink waistcoat his son wore. “You could start by getting a more suitable wardrobe.”
Stuart looked at him in shock. “My entire wardrobe was fashioned by thepremieretailor in London. He only fashions clothing for a select number of thetoneach year. I was very fortunate to gain his services.”
Dudley’s scowl grew larger. “Bloody hell, you look like a back door banger.”
Stuart’s cheeks reddened, and he stared at his father with what Dudley could only describe as hatred. He swore to himself. He’d let his anger get the better of him once again. If he was going to carry off his plan, he’d need Stuart’s cooperation.
Swallowing every ounce of his disdain, he managed what he hoped was an apologetic expression and said, “Do forgive me, Stuart. It’s been a trying day, and I am more than a little perturbed at Penbury dashing off to the continent in such an untimely manner.”
Stuart nodded stiffly. “I’ll do my best to keep in stride with Jenna, but she is the model of propriety. I would not expect her to act with anything but the utmost decorum.”
“It’s the quiet, unassuming ones you have to watch,” Dudley grumbled.
“I beg pardon, sir?”
Dudley cleared his throat. “Nothing, just a bit of dust in my throat. Carry on then and keep me informed.”
###
Gray swallowed the expensive whisky and swirled the remainder in the glass he held. He eyed the clock as the minutes ticked by. Would she come?
