toward Simon. The moment she reached him, she hesitated briefly, a wary expression in her eyes, before she offered him her hand.
“Good evening, Lord Wycombe.” He didn’t hesitate to accept her hand and bow in her direction as he kissed her fingertips. When she tried to pull free, he kept her hand firmly in his grasp.
“My name is Simon.”
“And what am I to take away from this revelation.” She arched an eyebrow at him in an expression of disinterest, but he could feel the tension flowing through her body and into her hand. With a smile, he squeezed her fingers slightly.
“Say my name, Ivy.”
“I hardly think—”
“If you don’t, I promise to do something that will leave your guests scandalized.” He smiled as she glared at him before nodding sharply.
“As you wish—Simon.”
Not yet ready to release her, Simon straightened upright and carried her hand to his mouth once more. A slight shudder trembled through her down to her fingertips. He smiled.
“You look enchanting.”
“If you seek to flatter me, my lord, I should warn you that I’m immune to such platitudes.”
“Would you have me lie to you?” He released her hand as her lovely mouth tightened into a firm line.
“I prefer blunt honesty to flattery.” The tartness of her tone made him laugh.
“Since you prefer honest observations, I can assume you demand nothing less of yourself.”
“Of course.” She sniffed with indignation.
“Then convince me you weren’t thinking about me when you selected your dress for this evening.” He grinned as her eyes widened with surprise. An instant later, her surprise turned into glare.
“That doesn’t even deserve an answer.”
“Evading the issue is far from being honest. Admit it, Ivy, you thought about me when you picked out this dress.”
The expression on her face made him smile as he watched consternation, frustration, and irritation slide across her lovely face in quick succession. She was like a cornered cat, ready to hiss and scratch at the first sign of trouble.
“Just because you happened to be on my mind when I pulled this dress out of my wardrobe doesn’t mean I chose it as a means of pleasing or enticing you.” A serene smile curved her lips as she set her chin at a stubborn angle. The remark was worthy even of Disraeli and he smiled.
“Come, my beautiful liar, I think it’s time you introduced me to some of your guests.” Cupping her elbow, he guided her forward. “It would seem we’re causing quite a stir.”
Dismay darkened her eyes as she allowed him to lead her deeper into the room. They stopped at the closest group of guests, where Ivy introduced him to the Countess of Effington. A tall, dour woman, the Countess peered at him through a monocle that hung on a long pearl chain around her neck.
“Lord Wycombe. I knew your father. A devilishly attractive man and a bit of a reprobate. I hope you don’t take after him.” The woman’s deep voice echoed with self-importance as she eyed him with disapproval. Simon bit back a scathing retort and smiled instead.
“I’m worse, Lady Effington. Far worse.” He watched as the Countess registered his words and a glint of amusement sparked in her eyes.
“Well done, my boy. I deserved a far harsher reply and you chose not to eviscerate an old woman.” Lady Effington smiled at him and tapped his arm with her fan. “I understand from Miss Beecham here that you’re to be my escort into dinner. I trust you’ll have something interesting to say over our meal.”
With a sharp glance at Ivy, he saw mischief flash across her face before her smile steadied into polite serenity. The little minx. She knew full well their agreement meant he was to spend the entire evening at her side. Turning his full attention on the older woman, he directed his most charming smile at her.
“It will be my pleasure to try and entertain you during dinner, my lady.” With a quick glance at Ivy, he grinned. “A
“Good evening, Lord Wycombe.” He didn’t hesitate to accept her hand and bow in her direction as he kissed her fingertips. When she tried to pull free, he kept her hand firmly in his grasp.
“My name is Simon.”
“And what am I to take away from this revelation.” She arched an eyebrow at him in an expression of disinterest, but he could feel the tension flowing through her body and into her hand. With a smile, he squeezed her fingers slightly.
“Say my name, Ivy.”
“I hardly think—”
“If you don’t, I promise to do something that will leave your guests scandalized.” He smiled as she glared at him before nodding sharply.
“As you wish—Simon.”
Not yet ready to release her, Simon straightened upright and carried her hand to his mouth once more. A slight shudder trembled through her down to her fingertips. He smiled.
“You look enchanting.”
“If you seek to flatter me, my lord, I should warn you that I’m immune to such platitudes.”
“Would you have me lie to you?” He released her hand as her lovely mouth tightened into a firm line.
“I prefer blunt honesty to flattery.” The tartness of her tone made him laugh.
“Since you prefer honest observations, I can assume you demand nothing less of yourself.”
“Of course.” She sniffed with indignation.
“Then convince me you weren’t thinking about me when you selected your dress for this evening.” He grinned as her eyes widened with surprise. An instant later, her surprise turned into glare.
“That doesn’t even deserve an answer.”
“Evading the issue is far from being honest. Admit it, Ivy, you thought about me when you picked out this dress.”
The expression on her face made him smile as he watched consternation, frustration, and irritation slide across her lovely face in quick succession. She was like a cornered cat, ready to hiss and scratch at the first sign of trouble.
“Just because you happened to be on my mind when I pulled this dress out of my wardrobe doesn’t mean I chose it as a means of pleasing or enticing you.” A serene smile curved her lips as she set her chin at a stubborn angle. The remark was worthy even of Disraeli and he smiled.
“Come, my beautiful liar, I think it’s time you introduced me to some of your guests.” Cupping her elbow, he guided her forward. “It would seem we’re causing quite a stir.”
Dismay darkened her eyes as she allowed him to lead her deeper into the room. They stopped at the closest group of guests, where Ivy introduced him to the Countess of Effington. A tall, dour woman, the Countess peered at him through a monocle that hung on a long pearl chain around her neck.
“Lord Wycombe. I knew your father. A devilishly attractive man and a bit of a reprobate. I hope you don’t take after him.” The woman’s deep voice echoed with self-importance as she eyed him with disapproval. Simon bit back a scathing retort and smiled instead.
“I’m worse, Lady Effington. Far worse.” He watched as the Countess registered his words and a glint of amusement sparked in her eyes.
“Well done, my boy. I deserved a far harsher reply and you chose not to eviscerate an old woman.” Lady Effington smiled at him and tapped his arm with her fan. “I understand from Miss Beecham here that you’re to be my escort into dinner. I trust you’ll have something interesting to say over our meal.”
With a sharp glance at Ivy, he saw mischief flash across her face before her smile steadied into polite serenity. The little minx. She knew full well their agreement meant he was to spend the entire evening at her side. Turning his full attention on the older woman, he directed his most charming smile at her.
“It will be my pleasure to try and entertain you during dinner, my lady.” With a quick glance at Ivy, he grinned. “A
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