Page 44 of Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love 1)

When the dance ended, he’d have a word with yet another man to remind him where Eugenia’s face was located, because his eyes seemed to have a hard time moving up from her bosom. The fleeting thought that he might be the alleged lover caused him to stumble, garnering a surprised look from Miss Stanhope.

He shook his head at the idea. Eugenia was much too sophisticated for Milestone, who was known as an addlepated arse. More to the point, the mysterious Lord R could not be him. The infernal dance ended and, with a relieved sigh, he led Miss Stanhope back to the other ladies and waited for Eugenia to return.

She was chatting away with Milestone, her eyes bright, her cheeks flushed. That was how he’d remembered her the one time they’d truly made love. How he had longed for a repeat, but still confused about the proper way to treat her, he’d kept from her bed. Also, there was the concern about her suspected liaison.

He took her elbow as she joined the group. Milestone hied off, most likely to find his next partner to ogle. He would speak with the man the next time he saw him at his club. “My dear, I would like to add my name to your card for the next waltz.”

“Of course, my lord.” Eugenia fumbled with the card until she’d turned it upright. He wrote his name, noting a cotillion was next, followed by the waltz.

Resigned to his fate, he turned to Lady Fletcher and asked for a dance. At least she did not find it necessary to chat away the entire time they danced. She was graceful and charming. The dance passed quickly, and soon he held Eugenia in his arms as they glided across the floor.

He took in her flushed cheeks and the loosened curls dangling near her temple. “You seem to be enjoying yourself, my dear.” He pulled her a bit closer to avoid another couple. The feel of her body against his, improper though it was, stirred his loins, so he kept her close. He wanted to whisk her away from the ball and hurry her home, then up to his bedchamber. Instead he smiled at her, ever the proper gentleman.

Bloody hell.

“Yes, I am, my lord. Although three dances in a row have left me overwarm, I am afraid.”

He looked down at her upturned face and pulled her even closer. A man could get lost in those eyes. “I would be happy to escort you to the garden for some fresh air if you would prefer that to a dance.” Perhaps he could use some air himself, since at the moment he felt as though his lungs were having some difficulty accessing any.

“Yes. Please.”

With several well-executed dance steps, he turned, then maneuvered them near the French doors, where he led her into the garden.

“Oh, this feels wonderful.” Taking a deep breath, Eugenia expanded her lungs and left Devon licking his dry lips as he watched her delectable breasts rise and fall. His hand itched to cover the tempting mounds, to tease her dark brown nipple with his thumb until it stood erect, ready for his mouth.

What the devil was he doing?

It would never do to consider ravishing his wife in a garden a few steps from a crowded ballroom. He backed up. “I am afraid I must leave you soon.”

Her eyebrows rose. “To the card room?”

“Yes.” They wandered the patio for several minutes discussing the ball, until he could reasonably return her.

Devon left her with the ladies, then continued on, weaving his way through the crowd, heading toward the card room. He glanced back to see Eugenia busy conversing with Lady Dumont. Making a sharp left, he wended his way to the other side of the ballroom, where from behind a potted plant he had a perfect view of his wife.

Providing, of course, she never left that spot all evening. Nevertheless, it was time to see if he could rout out the libertine dallying with his Eugenia.

…

Disappointed that Devon had taken such a quick leave of her once they’d walked the garden, Eugenia listened to Lady Dumont carp on the lack of decent help. Of course, the woman was noted for her ill-use of servants, along with low wages. Eugenia nodded in sympathy as her eyes skirted the room.

Her head jerked when she saw Devon as he made his way toward the card room, then turn abruptly, going in the opposite direction. She frowned, trying to keep him in her vision, but he walked behind two large men obviously involved in a heated debate, and then disappeared.

Strange, that.

She nodded automatically in Lady Dumont’s direction as her mind whirled with what she’d just seen. Devon had lied to her. She’d not seen another person wave at him to garner his attention, so that could not be the reason he headed in the opposite direction. In fact, there was nothing in that direction except the stairs to the front door.

Oh! She gasped, causing Lady Dumont to pause for air and regard her with furrowed brows. “Is something amiss, Eugenia?”

Gathering her wits, she offered a wan smile. “No. Nothing. I apologize. Do go on.”

“Well, as I said, that driver…”

Driver. Devon must be headed to their carriage. The only reason he would leave in the middle of the ball and not tell her—in fact lie to her—was to meet up with a woman. Perhaps one of the vulgar ladies who’d been casting their eyes in his direction since their arrival. Then she took herself to task. He’d never hidden the fact that he was visiting his mistress before. Although, since that unmentionable subject would never have arisen between them, anyway, how was she to know if he’d hidden that fact. Had he?

Oh, goodness. She was tying herself into knots. Most likely the man she’d seen wasn’t even Devon to begin with. There were a hundred men here dressed in evening clothes, many of them with Devon’s height and hair color. She was again making a mountain out of a molehill.

And would this woman ever stop talking?