To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars 2)

A number of people nodded and spoke politely to Roslyn as she advanced through the crowd, and Roslyn responded with similar politeness. She didn’t dislike balls as Lily did-or deliberately flout conventions as Lily relished doing-but she cared little for the shallow trappings of the ton, and the rampant hypocrisy galled her. These very people had gleefully shunned the Loring girls until a few months ago, when their step-uncle died and Marcus had assumed their guardianship along with the title.

The scandals had hurt her sisters even more than herself, Roslyn reflected as she stood drinking punch on the sidelines. Arabella had suffered not only a broken betrothal but a broken heart. And Lily had encased her heart in a wall of ice, determined never to let anyone close enough to wound her. Lily’s reckless, devil-may-care manner, however, hid a sensitive, vulnerable nature, Roslyn knew. So if she could protect her younger sister from Winifred’s amorous schemes, she would do so. Just as she would protect herself from the Duke of Arden-

Speak of the devil.

Her heart fluttered alarmingly when she spied him across the ballroom. He cut a commanding figure, dressed in formal finery-black coat and gold brocade waistcoat, pristine white cravat and white satin breeches-that accentuated his fair good looks.

Determinedly Roslyn ignored the pleasure rising inside her at the mere sight of him. But when he locked gazes with her, capturing and holding her with no more than a look, she couldn’t help remembering the last time they were together. The feel of him lying hard and aroused beneath her. His warm lips that had plied hers to such devastating effect. His skillful hands that had played over her bare skin, searching out her feminine secrets.

A flush heated her cheeks as they stared at each other. He didn’t need to touch her now to make her spellbound, Roslyn thought with a sudden breathlessness. The flicker of awareness in his green eyes set her pulse racing deplorably.

It was with supreme effort that Roslyn tore her gaze away now. She felt a wave of gratitude when she saw Lord Haviland approaching her, and thus was unusually effusive when she apologized for her tardiness.

“Think nothing of it, Miss Loring,” the earl said with a smile. “But I was hoping you would come so I could thank you. Your advice regarding my ball was invaluable.”

“I was glad to help.”

“My grandmother claims to be impressed with my efforts, and she is remarkably difficult to please. I should like to introduce you to her, if you would allow me.”

Roslyn glanced back at the elderly lady. “I would enjoy meeting her,” she said, feeling a warm little glow at the honor.

When Lord Haviland asked her to dance the next set, she accepted readily and let him lead her onto the floor for a quadrille. She knew she should begin a flirtation with him, yet she was too aware that the duke was watching her on the sidelines. No doubt that was why being this near Haviland didn’t affect her pulse rate as she expected, and why she felt no lightning-spark of pleasure at touching him when their hands came together.

Fortunately, Haviland was less tongue-tied than she. When the movements of the dance allowed, he carried on a conversation.

“I must think of some suitable reward for your help, Miss Loring. Will you accompany me on a drive tomorrow morning?”

Roslyn was delighted by the invitation but knew of his plans for a weeklong houseparty. “Are you certain you wish to leave your houseguests? I thought your grandmother and other relatives were staying with you for the week.”

“They are, but I will be glad to escape them for a time. My grandmother is one of my few relations whose good opinion I care about, and she will likely remain abed until noon after the exertions of the evening. Her health is not what it was.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” Roslyn replied politely.

Haviland’s mouth curved wryly. “She is not at death’s door yet, as she wants me to believe. I think she exaggerates the severity of her spells just so she can make me dance to her tune. She claims she is waiting for me to choose a bride and settle down before she goes to meet her Maker.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Did his telling her about his grandmother’s desires have any implication for her? “Oh? And do you mean to comply with her wishes?”

The smile he flashed her was very appealing. “It is an ongoing battle, but I expect she will win in the end.”

Lord Haviland spoke fondly about his grandmother then, and afterward, Roslyn found it far easier to enter into a lighthearted banter with him, just as she had practiced. And soon she discovered that Haviland was rather skilled at the art of flirtation himself.

When she asked teasingly if his grandmother must approve his choice of brides, he replied with an emphatic no. “Even though I would like to please her, that is one decision I intend to make for myself. But she will be impressed that I am dancing with the most beautiful lady in the room.”

Roslyn laughed up at him with pleasure-until she once again saw Arden watching her, his green eyes heavy-lidded and intent. He was leaning one shoulder against a column in a relaxed pose, yet she had the impression he wasn’t relaxed in the least. Instead, he looked almost…disapproving.

With a slight toss of her head, Roslyn ordered herself to stop dwelling on the vexing duke and returned to her flirtation with Lord Haviland.

His eyes narrowing, Drew watched as Roslyn gracefully moved through the steps of the dance. He felt a lurch in the vicinity of his chest when she laughed up at Haviland.

The two of them made a stunningly attractive couple-the earl’s rugged dark looks contrasting starkly with Roslyn’s elegant fairness.

She looked regal and enchanting tonight, her pale gold hair coiffed to allow curling tendrils to frame her face. The simple elegance of her gown added to her appeal also, the indigo blue lustring setting off her eyes to perfection and complementing her radiant, glowing skin.

That heated glow made Drew recall the last time he’d been with her…her face gently flushed, swollen lips slightly parted, blue eyes dazed as her supple figure sprawled over him. Her loins pressing against his swollen cock had made him ache with desire.

He was hot and hard now, just remembering.

He’d wanted to take her right there in the library. His forbearance had resulted in even greater sexual frustration this past interminable week.