His eyes gleamed at her. “So are you. If you’ll recall, you spoke to me first.”
He was flirting with her, of all things. In her role of poor relation, she rarely found herself the object of interest from such a good-looking fellow. “And I begin to think that was a mistake.” She cast a critical glance over his attire. “You are obviously not dressed for the occasion.”
“Something I’m already regretting.” His rumbling voice sent a jolt to her senses, which was utterly unwise.
“Were you even invited to the ball?” she pressed him.
He crossed his impressive arms over his equally impressive chest. “That’s a rude question. Were you?”
She laughed outright. “I don’t generally push my way into social affairs.”
“Why not? You fit in beautifully. Much better than I.”
“We’ve already established that,” she said dryly. “Although it hasn’t stopped you from lurking about out here like a thief.”
He drew himself up with mock pride. “I’ll have you know, madam, that I’m only a thief where lovely ladies are concerned.” He leaned just close enough to give her a whiff of his bay rum scent. “I do steal the occasional kiss.”
A thrill shot down her spine before she squelched it. “Then you should go inside. You’ll find plenty of kissing boughs to serve your purpose. Of course, if you were not invited—”
“Can’t you vouch for me?” he teased.
She eyed him askance. This mad flirtation had gone on long enough. “Not I. I must find my cousin.”
His amusement vanished. “Miss Nickman is yourcousin?”
“She is. And what is it to you, sir?”
He seemed all business now. “I have an important message for her from her brother.”
Cass started. “Douglas?”
“Unless she has another brother,” he said sarcastically. “Of course Douglas.”
Any friend of Douglas’s was a friend of hers and Kitty’s, assuming that this man wasn’t feigning the connection. A few gentlemen eager to marry a fortunehadmisrepresented themselves to Kitty in the past. “How do you know Douglas?”
“I’m a colonel in his regiment, the Twenty-Fifth Hussars, here on leave of absence.” He bowed. “Colonel Lord Heywood Wolfe, at your service.”
The floor melted away beneath her feet. This handsome fellow was Douglas’s boon companion? Who’d joined him in any foolish escapade, whose witty remarks Douglas had often repeated for effect in his letters, keeping her and Kitty vastly entertained?
If so, then heaven help her. The colonel was even more intriguing in person than on paper. Aside from his droll manner, he towered over her like a hawk over a swallow, though she wasn’t short for a woman. And his eyes assessed her with far too much interest. Good Lord.
But what if he was lying? After all, Douglas would surely have written to tell them that his friend was on his way to England. This man could claim to be anyone he wanted. She was alone out here with him, and she’d be wise to proceed with caution.
“Now,” he went on, “will you please do me the honor of telling me your name?”
Chapter 2
Heywood had clearly gone about this all wrong. That’s what he got for rushing over from the Nickman estate once he’d heard about Malet accompanying the women to Welbourne Place.
Not that Heywood could have entered the ball anyway. Aside from the issue of his travel attire, Malet would immediately know why Heywood was there: to prevent the man from marrying Miss Nickman. Heywood had made a promise to Douglas on that score.
And if, in the process of rescuing Miss Nickman, Heywood ingratiated himself with the young heiress? That wouldn’t be bad either. Douglas had already given his blessing to such a marriage, provided that Miss Nickman found Heywood appealing.
Unfortunately, all he’d done so far was put Miss Nickman’s cousin on her guard, which he regretted. He would need the cousin in his camp to gain Miss Nickman’s approval of the courtship.
Besides that, he liked the cousin. A friendly sort, she had a keen sense of humor and wasn’t bad looking either. Although he generally preferred blond women, her light brown hair suited her coloring and she had a peculiar attraction all her own.
She stared back into the ballroom, a frown forming on her smooth brow. He followed her gaze. The crowd seemed to be thinning out, possibly going off to supper. Any minute now the lady would realize the impropriety of their private encounter. Then she would hasten inside and he would lose his opportunity to speak with Miss Nickman.
