Page 10 of Reckless Desire

Stirling gave an exaggerated sight. “Are you going to force me to challenge you to a duel?”

Kenna blinked. Despite the nonchalance in Stirling’s voice, she noted a slight edge to his words.

“Beware, Stirling, I am much better with a sword than I used to be,” Lord Wilshire replied without rancor.

“You know I never let such considerations interfere with a duel,” Sir Stirling said.

This time, to Kenna’s relief, laughter laced his voice.

Lord Wilshire shook his head. “I will never understand what you see in him, Lady Chastity.” His eyes remained on her. “You are fortunate to have married her before I met her, Stirling.”

“Enough,” Lady Chastity said. “There are introductions to be made. My lord, this is our friend, Miss Ramsay.”

The gentleman faced her. His eyes sparkled with devilry. “I assumed the gaggle of young bucks were here to pay homage to you, Lady Chastity. Now, I wager they are worshiping this goddess, as well. You must be the young lady everyone is talking about.” He bowed. “William Masters, at your service, Miss Ramsay.”

“Not the William Masters who shot the Duke of Moore two months ago?” she blurted.

His brows shot up.

“Your reputation precedes you,” Sir Stirling said.

Was that disapproval in his voice? She hadn’t known Sir Stirling to be anything but cordial.

Lord Wilshire swept her a deep bow. “I am humbled that you have heard of me.”

“Everyone has heard of that foolishness,” Viscount Hensley said. “You nearly killed the man.”

“In all fairness, he did try to shoot me first,” Lord Wilshire replied.

“You seduced his wife,” the viscount muttered.

“That is enough, Hensley,” Sir Stirling warned. This time, the edge in his voice was clear.

The viscount’s mouth thinned, but before he could reply, Lord Wilshire turned to Kenna, and said, “I believe the current dance is about to end. May I have the next dance?”

“You may not,” Viscount Hensley stood. “Miss Ramsay has promised me the next dance.”

Lord Wilshire’s gaze remained on her. “Pity,” he said. “I am a superior dancer.”

Kenna glimpsed the anger that flashed in the viscount’s eyes and she quickly stood. “Lord Hensley, we should go to the dance floor if we are to dance the next set.”

He hesitated, then bowed and led her from the alcove.

“You are a troublemaker, William,” she heard Lady Chastity say.

“Aye,” he replied without a hint of remorse, then Kenna was out of earshot.

Chapter Four

Bryson had no idea what to expect when he next saw Miss Ramsay. As a child, he’d heard the details of how the Newhall men lost their hearts upon first sight of their future brides, but as he’d grown older, he’d concluded the stories contained is much myth as truth. The Maxwell men did love deeply. That, he decided, was the biggest contribution to the romantic evolution of the stories. His male ancestors had, no doubt, been struck by the beauty of their future wives. The notion that a person could instantly know they’d found that one person meant for them wasn’t logical. He would have liked to discount altogether the idea that any one person was meant for another. The relationship between his parents made that difficult.

As a lad, he had never truly fancied himself in love. He’d been besotted, but hadn’t believed any of those ladies were forever. That didn’t stop him from making a fool of himself. Making a fool of oneself was another requirement of the Maxwell men. In truth, he hadn’t minded that so much. Until he reached his twenty-fifth year. Then, he learned that it wasn’t the beauties who were befuddling his brain, but lust, pure and simple.

Now, staring over the balcony at Miss Ramsay as she danced with Viscount Hensley, his brain muddled, not with lust, but with an emotion he hadn’t thought himself capable of: jealousy.

Not only did the man step too close during the quadrille, Bryson easily discerned the way his gaze slid down the front of her bodice. No gentleman ogled a woman. Bryson took a step toward the stairs, but was halted when a large hand clapped him on the back.

“I did not think to see you here tonight.” The hand fell away, and his father stepped up beside him