The Cursed Countess (The Daring Drake Sisters 1)

“Of course, Lady Stanhope.” Lord Blakely turned as the stranger approached. “Lady Stanhope, Miss Drake, may I introduce a friend of mine, Mr. John Raynerson, Viscount Bideford’s brother.”

“A pleasure, Mr. Raynerson,” Louisa replied with a quick curtsy.

Tessa said nothing. Her voice and very breath stolen from her.

When she’d seen him across the room staring at her, she had noticed his height, which had to be almost half a head taller than Blakely who was far from short. With a chiseled jaw and wide shoulders, he emanated strength and masculinity. He had a small scar on his jawline that intrigued her.

Virility.

Why couldn’t she get that word out of her head? Mr. Raynerson had a slight smirk on his molded lips as if he knew she was sizing him up.

“It would be my pleasure if you grant me a dance,” Mr. Raynerson said to her with a bow.

“She would love to dance with you,” Louisa said with a tilt of her head and a smug smile at her sister.

She narrowed her eyes at Louisa and replied, “Of course I would.”

The man held out his arm for her. She linked arms with him as he led her to the dance floor. There was something about this man. A dangerous air about him, and he was far too handsome for her comfort. He wore his dark brown hair short in the current style but still there were waves and curls that probably became unruly if his hair grew longer. His eyes were a warm brown and yet, she could not help but feel a sense of suspicion in his gaze.

Or maybe she was just so used to seeing mistrust in everyone’s eyes that she assumed him to be no better than the rest. Tessa glanced around to see the gossipy women whispering to each other and wondered if it was about her or the idea that Mr. Raynerson might be tempting fate.

As he took her in his arms, she realized they were going to waltz. It had been almost a year since she’d last danced but as the music started, they moved together as if they had danced a hundred times.

“You are a wonderful dancer, Mr. Raynerson.”

“Thank you, Lady Stanhope.”

A long silence enveloped them. She had no idea what to say. She had won three men by learning the fine art of small talk, but all conversation now deserted her. With him so near, all she could hear was the constant hum of her nerves.

“I believe this is where you ask me if I am enjoying the cool April weather,” he said with a slight laugh.

“Are you?”

“Very much so,” he replied with a smile.

She struggled again to make conversation as they danced across the floor. Seeing Winnie Frampton look over at her and smirk, the excitement of the dance, and the man, was quickly replaced with suspicion. There was no reason this man should want to dance with her...unless it was a dare. She blinked back the pain of that thought. She wouldn’t have figured Lord Blakely could be so cruel as to wager callously. But now she had to know.

“Did Lord Blakely put you up to this?” she whispered.

He looked down at her with a slight scowl. “What are you asking?”

“Was dancing with me a wager or a dare?”

His dark brow rose while his molded lips turned downward ever so slightly. “Do you honestly believe the only way a man would dance with you was due to a bet?”

“No one dares dance with the Cursed Countess.”

His smile broadened deepening his dimples, increasing her heartbeat. “I have no need of a wager to dance with a beautiful woman, curse or not.”

Something still didn’t seem right. She narrowed her eyes on him. “What exactly are you about, Mr. Raynerson?”

“I am about nothing, save a dance with you. And now it appears the music is about to end.”

It was as if he timed his words perfectly to match the tempo of the music so as he ended his sentence, the violinist ended too. He held out his arm to escort her back to her sister. Once they had reached their destination, he bowed over her and kissed her gloved hand softly. “Until our next dance, my lady.”

As he walked away, Louisa asked, “Who exactly is he?”

“Other than Lord Bideford’s brother, I have no idea.” But she was determined to discover more about the intriguing man. He admitted to having no fear of her curse, which only increased