Page 30 of Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love 1)

“Is that a statement or a question, my love?”

Eugenia flushed at the endearment that flowed so easily from his mouth. So easily that it had shocked him as well. She reached across and touched his knee. Heat immediately raced from that spot to his groin. Bloody hell. He was really in a bad way.

“Please do not be upset.” She sat back, settling her hands demurely in her lap. “Perhaps I do not understand. That is all.”

“Not so. Perhaps you understand even more. I must admit you have encouraged me to give it some thought.”

Her bright smile at his words warmed him. How he wanted to cover those luscious lips with his own, not in a perfunctory kiss as he usually bestowed upon her, but a reckless plunder of her mouth. To taste her sweetness, run his tongue over the inside, sweep past all the places that would have her moaning. The memories of the few times he had, in fact, ravished her mouth, had him hardening.

He shifted uncomfortably on the bench, and was still attempting to gain control of his raging blood when the carriage rolled to a stop and a footman opened the door. They followed the stream of guests approaching the house. Hundreds of candles burned inside, reflected on dozens of mirrors, casting the outside of the home in bright light.

They offered warm regards to others as they inched their way into the house. Once Devon handed his invitation to the butler, Eugenia turned to have the butler remove her wrap.

Devon’s stomach plummeted to his feet.

This was no Ice Queen standing before him. Eugenia’s creamy cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright with excitement. Several curls had been left to brush her pale, smooth skin.

But her gown!

The red silk material hugged her bodice to fall in waves about her lithe body. The neckline was once again scandalously low for Eugenia. The cap sleeves rested on her upper arms, but off her shoulders. Nestled between her plump breasts, a gold and ruby necklace lay against her skin, drawing his eyes to the delectable sight. All that bare skin cried out for his touch, for his mouth. He groaned inwardly and fought the urge to remove his jacket and plop it onto her shoulders.

Instead, taking a hard swallow, he extended his arm and they walked to the top of the stairs where they were announced. It might have been his imagination, but more than the usual amount of attention seemed to come their way. They barely made it to the bottom of the stairs before two men walked up and requested dances.

Flushing even further from the attention, Eugenia wrote their names as another man approached.

Bollocks! Eugenia was a married woman, and her husband stood no more than two feet from her. Devon moved closer and wrapped his arm around her waist, in a move so possessive he almost laughed at himself.

“My dear, shall I escort you to visit with your friends?” Eugenia always sat with the matrons, and rarely, if ever, ventured to the dance floor more than two or three times an evening. They moved across the room, dodging more men stopping her every few steps to chat, flirt, and request a dance.

Devon rotated his neck and ran his finger along the inside of his cravat. If one more arse stepped in front of them, he would surely plant him a facer. He was getting mighty tired of all the attention directed at his wife. Didn’t these men respect that she was a married matron, who should be sitting right now with the other matrons, watching the young girls and commenting on their behavior?

They had no sooner reached the matron area when another young pup stopped them and asked Eugenia for the dance the orchestra was just starting up. By God, the woman would certainly refuse him since she hadn’t even yet caught her breath from fighting her way across the ballroom.

“I would be delighted, my lord.” Eugenia curtsied to the bloody fool, who then turned the brightest shade of red Devon had ever seen. Put his wife’s gown to shame, in fact.

“My dear, perhaps you should rest a bit.” Damn, now he sounded like an idiot.

She raised her eyebrows. “We have just arrived. I think I can handle a dance or two.” With humor in her eyes, she walked off with the young fool panting after her.

A flush crept up his face at the sound of tittering among the matrons sitting like overstuffed crows at a banquet table. Turning on his heel, his back straight, he left the ballroom and headed for the card room.

No matter how hard he tried, he could not concentrate on the game or the cards in his hand. He hadn’t played so badly in years. Every time he looked at the cards he saw Eugenia in her red gown, laughing gaily, joining hands with some pock-faced youth as they skipped up and down a row of dancers. If her gown dipped any lower she would be in disgrace. His Eugenia!

“Devon.” He looked up as three sets of eyes stared at him. “Are you with us, man? Do you want another card?” Lord Bentley’s irritation hinted that he’d been woolgathering for some time.

He glanced quickly at his cards. “No. I’ll stay.”

The round ended with him losing again. Devon pushed his chair back and stood. “Gentlemen, I will bid you good night.” They barely noticed his departure as Bentley dealt another hand. Lord Ponsoby quickly took his seat.

It was nearing time for the supper waltz. He and Eugenia always shared that dance, then the supper that followed. Normally, he would then leave for his club and she would depart for home. Tonight she would probably be so tired from all the dances she might be willing to leave for home now.

He wended his way through the crowd until he spotted her in a circle of three men. He gritted his teeth. This was nonsense. He should be happy that his wife was having a good time. And once he snatched her out of the arms of half the men of the ton, he would be happy for her.

And himself.

Holding out his hand, he said, “’Tis time for our supper waltz, my dear.” He nudged one of the men aside to take her hand.

“Oh, dear.”