Lovell scowled, but bowed to the inevitable. “Lady Emma Crosby, this is my cousin, the Marquessof Lymington.”
Lady Emma sank into a dainty curtsy. “How do you do, Lord Lymington?”
Samuel frowned. Her voice…had he heard it before?
There was something familiar about it, but he couldn’t quite place it. It hovered just at the edges of his consciousness, teasing him. Smooth, a trifle husky, it conjured up images of—
He froze.
A lady, silhouetted in a pair of glass doors, then drifting across a darkened library, her movements fluid, silent. A lovely, sylphlike creature, floating inches above the ground, mysteriousand ethereal.
Yes, he’d heard her speak before, a whisper in the darkness.
The dainty wraith, her pale hair limned in moonlight.
And thatvoice.
It had beenherhe’d seen last night at the Pink Pearl, that extraordinary face hidden under her hood, that distracting figure concealed undera bulky cloak.
But there was no mistaking that voice, nodisguising it.
Samuel stared at her in astonishment. What had Lady Crosby’s pure, sweet granddaughter been doing sneaking into a notorious brothel after dark? What sort of sheltered young innocent who’d never before set foot in London had a secret meeting with an infamous courtesan?
Lovell cleared his throat. “Lady Emma was just about to grant methe favor of—”
“Will you dance, Lady Emma?” Samuel didn’t dare look at Lovell as he held out his hand to her. It was inexcusably rude to cut another gentleman out, and God knew he’d done it clumsily enough, but he didn’t have any intention of turning his vulnerable cousin over to a lady who roamed London’s brothels at night.
“For God’s sake, Lymington,” Lovell sputtered, outraged. “What do you thinkyou’re doing?”
“Inviting Lady Emma to dance.” If he didn’t dance with her, his cousinwould, and by the time Lovell returned her to her grandmother, he’d have persuaded himself he was besotted with her.
“You know very well Iwas about to—”
“It’s quite all right, Lord Lovell.” Lady Emma’s curious gaze rested on Samuel’s face. “I’m perfectly happy to dance with Lord Lymington.”
Lovell was still fuming. “Nonsense, Lady Emma. Youdon’t have to—”
“Oh, but I think I must, my lord. Lord Lymington didn’t so much invite me to dance ascommandme. Did it not sound like a command to you?”
“Every word out of Lymington’s mouth sounds like a command.” Lovell glared at Samuel before returning Lady Emma’s smile. “It’s gracious of you to indulgehim, my lady.”
Lady Emma curtsied to Lovell, then with a dazzling smile Samuel deemed far too sophisticated for an innocent debutante, she accepted his hand, and let him escort her to the floor.
Once Samuel had Lady Emma alone, however, he hadn’t the faintest idea what to say to her. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, biting back an impatient grunt.
He’d have liked nothing more than to deliver Lady Emma a blunt warning to stay away from his cousin, and advise her to avoid London’s brothels while she was at it, but a gentleman couldn’t speak plainly to a lady. No, he must tiptoe his way around it, come at it from the side, hide it under flowery compliments and charming chatter, all of which he was hopeless at—
“I’m afraid you’re uncomfortable, Lord Lymington. Would you prefer not to talk?”
“Iwouldprefer it,” Samuel snapped, before he could think better of it. “But we can’t remain silent for an entire cotillion. It might have been all right, if it were ashorter dance.”
It wasn’t at all the thing to say, but Lady Emma’s smile never faltered. “Very well, if you like. Tell me, Lord Lymington. Have you any particular plans for your stay in London?”
“No. Nothing out of the ordinary. Drury Lane, the Royal Academy, Rotten Row, and whatever card parties and suppers I’m unable to avoid.” He waved an impatient hand, as if it was all very tedious.
Which, of course, itwas.
“I’m afraid I’m rather hopeless at cards.” Lady Emma peeked up at him from under thick, dark eyelashes. “I do long to visit the Royal Academy, however. My grandmother and I plan to go tomorrow, to see the Reynolds exhibit. Do you admire Reynolds, Lord Lymington?”
