Finally. Amanda turned to the door. Lord Harold fell into step. They paced forward. Amanda prepared herself for the battle to come. She needed to breech this man’s reserve and fascinate him. She wanted him so enthralled that he would do anything she suggested without thinking twice about the request.
She would have all of about ten minutes to achieve this.
She smiled over at Lord Harold. He even smiled back. This might just transpire according to her plans. From what she could see, he was a handsome man. That would make it easier when he kissed her. He needed to do that. She could never lure him in deeper if he did not.
She knew she had looked perfectly ravishing when she left home. She had chosen well in being a shepherdess. It added a touch of innocence to what was otherwise a fairly scandalous dress. The décolleté barely skimmed above the nipples of her breasts. She had discarded the fichu that was supposed to provide some modesty.
A few kisses and caresses, then she would cast the bait. He would take it, of course. He was a man, after all. She walked taller while she savored the exhilaration of a plan well executed. She turned to bestow another warm smile on Lord Harold.
Only to discover he was gone.
Another man paced in his place. A man a bit taller with a bearing a bit stronger. She recognized the unruly dark curls and the very blue eyes. The Duke of Langford now walked beside her. The mask that surrounded his eyes hardly disguised him.
His slow smile did not resemble Lord Harold’s tentative, shy ones, and his eyes carried none of Lord Harold’s dismay. Quite the opposite.
She halted in her tracks and looked behind for her intended escort. A firm hand took her arm.
“He is well gone, but have no fear, sweet lady. You are not abandoned.” He sped her across the threshold and onto the terrace.
“But I . . . that is . . .”
“You set your sights on my brother and did not expect a substitution. That is understandable. However, Harry must retire from the game. He has a long journey tomorrow and could not dally here with you, alluring though the opportunity might be. I, on the other hand, have nothing else that requires my attention and can devote myself entirely to your pleasure.”
He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized what could be seen of her face. Then his gaze fell to what her décolleté indecently exposed. The veranda had a few lanterns and they stood within the pool of light from one. She eased into the shadows beyond it. He strolled along.
“While you and your brother may have much in common, you are hardly identical. You each cannot replace the other as if it makes no difference.”
“We look much alike, and that is enough for your purposes.”
“That is not true.” She angled to try and peer into the ballroom, to see if indeed Lord Harold had departed.
“Come now, it is not as if you knew his character prior to flirting with him.”
She leveled her gaze on the irritating man who had just ruined days of planning and hours of hard work. “One can tell much about a character without knowing a person. He looked a little shy to me. You do not.”
“He is not shy. He is, however, reserved in the extreme and very private. He is also no fun. Trust me, you are far better off with me.”
“Does his conceit match yours? Is that a family trait?”
“I speak honestly, not with conceit. We are all blessed with special talents. My brother’s gifts will benefit mankind down through the ages, I expect. My gifts benefit womankind here and now.”
“Your gifts must be significant if you assume in advance any benefit at all. Most men merely hope that their efforts are seen that way after the fact. I suppose your skills took much practice.”
“It always takes practice to develop a natural talent, but it is worth it. A life without purpose has no meaning.”
The word conceited did not do this man justice. He had just proclaimed himself a great lover, natural born from the sounds of it. Which probably meant he barely made do, but women pretended otherwise because he was rich.
Tempted though she was to prick the hot-air balloon of his pride, she needed to find out if anything of this night’s plan could be salvaged. “Your brother is leaving town, you said?”
“At dawn. He is a studious type. His home will be locked as tightly as a reliquary while he goes off to rusticate for a few months and write a book. See what I mean? No fun at all.”
Months?She almost cursed aloud due to disappointment. If Lord Harold would not be in town for months, she really had no use for him. With this news, the entire night became worthless. It was time to remove herself from this disaster and find another way.
“I was not looking for fun, whatever you meant by that. You misunderstood my interest in him.” It sounded very weak even to her own ears.
“Come now. You threw yourself at him. Like many people here, you came to flirt freely while hiding behind a mask. Well, here I am and I promise to accommodate you. Flirt away.”
She could not flirt now even if she wanted to. In the ballroom, Lord Harold had been at the disadvantage. Now she was instead. Thoroughly.
