The Bookseller and the Earl (The Merry Misfits of Bath 1)

Addie’s new-found confidence slipped a bit when she regarded Lady Diana. She was tall, willowy, and dressed in a gown much too low cut for an unmarried lady. She clung to Grayson’s arm and gazed up at him as if he knew the secrets of the universe and was about to share them with her. She resembled every woman who had disdained and dismissed her over the years.

It looked as though Lady Diana was not going to have Grayson to herself, though. Two other ladies drifted over in their direction. While Addie spoke with Lord Stevenson and two of his cohorts about the price of grain feed, and the problem of losing tenants to the factories, Grayson was soon surrounded by ladies. Not that she noticed, of course.

Some of them were ‘leftovers’ from the other Seasons, a few she remembered from her torturous time in London. Naturally, the ever-present bored matrons and widows looking for a man to warm their bed flocked to his side as well.

Even though she had been escorted to this ball by a very handsome gentleman, she was right where she’d been all the years of her Seasons. Off in a corner. The only difference was she was speaking with gentlemen old enough to be her grandfather, instead of women old enough to be her grandmother.

Hopefully, she could avoid stumbling into something or dropping a drink on herself—with help—which would make this evening a mild success. The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass Grayson.

The orchestra started up a waltz and all the ladies hanging onto Grayson stared up at him with adoring eyes. So many lashes fluttered it was amazing his hair stayed in place.

Addie shook her head at the nonsense, then her eyes grew wide when he murmured something to the ladies surrounding him and broke away from the group. He walked squarely in her direction, causing her to turn to see who he was headed toward. Nothing behind her except the large, very ugly plant she wasn’t hiding behind.

He crossed the room, his demeanor very much like a young, powerful lion stalking its mate. Her heart began to pound and for some peculiar reason, she felt the need to flee. Then she reminded herself this was Grayson. He was harmless.

Wasn’t he?

“I believe this is my dance, Miss Mallory?” He bowed before her and took her hand. She felt the heat from his hand right through his glove and hers. “Close your mouth my dear, or I will be forced to kiss you. ‘Tis very tempting, don’t you know?”

He grinned when she snapped her mouth shut.

“Why . . . why are you dancing with me?” Addie looked around him at the gaggle of women glaring at her. It was hard for her not to smirk. She was with one the handsomest man in the room chose. She was the one who took him away from the beautiful, popular, and much-sought-after women.

“I told you we would waltz.” He took her in his arms and moved her onto the dance floor. “I don’t see why you are surprised.”

He was as graceful and accomplished waltzing as he was in everything else. The women who had been glaring at her were now putting their heads together, glancing in her direction with amazement.

The wallflower had won.

“But there were so many beautiful and graceful women hanging on your arm.”

He raised his brows. “And?”

“Well, I just thought . . . Oops, sorry.” She had stepped on his foot when

she turned the wrong direction.

“Addie. Look me in the eyes. Do not look at your feet.” He pulled her a bit tighter. “Yes. Like that. Don’t worry about what your feet are doing, just relax and let me guide you,”

Amazingly enough, it did make it easier for her to follow while staring at him. But it also made her insides tingle, especially the tips of her breasts and the area between her legs.

He increased the pressure on her back to tell her how to move. She sighed. If only Grayson had been her dance master, she might have been a bit more successful on the dance floor.

However, continuing to look in his eyes was not a good idea. The burning she saw there both frightened and excited her. Her face grew flushed and the heat from his body radiated out to warm her like a raging fireplace.

He pulled her even closer as they turned. She felt graceful, charming, and happy. She was dancing! And not tripping all over her own feet or her partner’s. She laughed with absolute joy.

“I love seeing you laugh. You don’t do it enough, you know.” Grayson’s lips moved in a crooked smile that made him look like a little boy. Except this was no little boy holding her in his arms.

She really needed to get control of herself. She was growing warmer by the minute, and her stays were pinching her something dreadful. If only she could take a deep breath, she might stop the lightheadedness that this dance was bringing on.

Oh, heavens. Supposed she fainted right here in Grayson’s arms, on the dance floor for everyone to witness? She glanced up at him.

“Addie, are you unwell?” He studied her with concern.

“Why do,” she panted,

“you,” she panted again,