Something Scandalous

“At the estate in Kendal.”

“Very good,” he said with a nod. “Care for that dance now?”

“No, thank you.”

“As you wish. When I discover something, I shall let you know.” Somerton walked away and disappeared into the crowd.

What a strange man, she thought. Scanning the room, she found Will striding toward her with a scowl on his face.

“What did Somerton want?” Will asked as he reached her.

“You should know,” Elizabeth replied in a flippant tone. She still wasn’t happy that Will had gone to Somerton without her approval.

“How would I know?”

“You told him what happened. He came to ask me questions in order to help.”

Will blew out a breath and raked his hands through his thick brown hair. “Elizabeth, I did not mention anything to Somerton about us.”

“Then how did he know? I didn’t tell him.”

“But you did tell your friend Sophie.”

Elizabeth looked over at him and shook her head. “They don’t even know each other. Perhaps Lady Cantwell overheard Sophie and I discussing the situation and talked to Somerton.”

“Perhaps,” Will drawled. “What did Somerton say?”

Elizabeth recounted the conversation. “Do you think he will be able to find anything?”

Will shrugged. “I have no idea. I thought you knew the man better than I.”

“I know more of the rumors than anything about the actual man. Jennette swears Somerton helped her and her husband in their courtship but she never explained how.”

“All we can do is wait and hope then.” Will held out his arm. “Shall we?”

“We really should not dance tonight.” Elizabeth wanted to dance but the consequences were far too high.

Will leaned in closer until she could smell the scent of his soap. The redolence seemed even more intoxicating to her this evening. She wanted to drown in it…in him.

“Haven’t you ever wanted to do something you knew was wrong?” he whispered.

Not until she’d met him. “Very well, we shall da

nce before you say something you will regret.”

“I have not regretted a single moment with you,” he said in her ear as she looped her arm around his.

Her heart paused for a brief second. She wanted to stop and question him about his statement, but knew it was wrong. Until they knew for certain they were not related, nothing more could happen between them. And that thought made her heart ache with sadness.

She had never enjoyed being around a man as much as she did Will. As the dance started, her thoughts remained on him. His brown eyes sparkled in the candlelight as they moved across the floor. His lips tilted upward when he smiled down at her. She wanted to move closer to him, closer to his lips. The desire she felt for him seemed overwhelming, and now that she couldn’t act upon those desires, they burned her to the core.

“You really must stop looking at me that way,” he whispered.

Elizabeth blinked and glanced away. “I beg your pardon?”

“You were looking at me as if you wanted to eat me up. While I would not mind that expression at home, here it appears a bit unseemly. Not to mention where it makes my thoughts go.”

“Oh?” She could not believe Will was the one reminding her about her conduct at the ball. Perhaps she had taught him too well.