Earl of Baxter (Lords of Scandal 8)

She shook her head. That was impossible.

She likely just imagined the resemblance. She’d only seen her captain’s eyes open the one time, a lifetime ago. How could she even remember them? Would he remember her if he were the man she’s nursed. Surely not. A man like him probably had a busy life, filled with obligations. He’d never waste his time musing about a child from the past.

She forced herself to turn back again and pay attention to the wedding.

“Clarissa?” Natty plucked at her sleeve. “Who’s that man?”

“What man?” she asked, pulling the child a bit closer.

“The one who won’t stop looking at you. Who is he?” Natty’s little face was now trained over her shoulder. “I don’t like him.”

Clarissa smiled. “A woman of strong conviction.” She brushed back Natty’s hair. “He is Logan’s friend. So that makes him our friend.”

Natty drew her brow together. “He doesn’t look friendly to me.”

Clarissa pressed her lips together as she held back a chuckle to keep from encouraging the child. It was just that Natty had a way of saying the absolute truth in the most honest way possible. “You should not judge people on looks.”

“Really? I saw a bunch of dirty men by our old house and they turned out to be mean.”

Clarissa shook her head. The child had a point. “All right, fine. Then Lord Baxter might not look friendly, but he doesn’t look mean either.” He looked…intense. Unsettling. Powerful. Handsome. Interesting.

Natty turned back over Clarissa’s shoulder and stuck out her tongue.

“Natty,” Clarissa bit out. “That is enough.”

“He looks like a wolf who wants to eat you. Like in that story.”

At that moment, the priest loudly announced. “May I present Lord and Lady Goldthwaite.”

The small gathering broke out in applause and Natty forgot all about the wolf, as she’d called Baxter, but Clarissa was still aware of his eyes on her back. She made herself continue to sit straight ahead but it was only by sheer force of will.

Why was Baxter looking at her with such intensity? Was he a predator as Natty had suggested?

Finally, she stole a single glance back again, her eyes clashing with the dark pools of his. “I’m not a wolf,” he murmured.

“What?” she said as she stood from her seat and then began to exit the pew to follow the bride and groom outside.

“I’m not the wolf.” He stepped out next to her, his body even larger than she’d imagined as he kept pace with her. “I’m the huntsman.”

Her breath caught. Not only did he know the story of which Natty spoke, but he was sure he was the hero and not the villain. “You’ve read Children’s and Household Tales?”

A smile pulled at the corners of his lips. He was a handsome man, his jaw strong, his nose straight, and his lips full. But that smile turned him from handsome to devastating. “Of all the questions you might have asked, that’s the one you chose?”

Chapter Two

Clarissa started down the aisle and the earl stepped next to her, his hand coming under her elbow. Mason didn’t need to touch her. She required no aid, but he couldn’t help himself.

It was her.

Same name, same hair, same large blue eyes.

She was even more beautiful than he remembered. In fact, in her dark red dress, she was breathtaking. She actually physically stole the air from his lungs with her beauty. Which caught him completely off guard. He meant to be her protector, her benefactor. But then again, he’d expected to find a girl.

Which was foolish. Six years had passed, of course she’d grown into a woman. He’d just always pictured her as an innocent child.

Which made his gaze drop to the ground. Was that attraction he felt tingling in the tips of his fingers? Bloody hell. This wasn’t about his own wants and needs. Finding Clarissa was about helping her. Always had been.

Bash stepped behind them both. He ignored his brother as he focused on the woman next to him.