A Matter of Sin by Jess Michaels Page A

change, so off you go.”
    Seth clenched his fists, but had no choice but to start across the room toward Isabel. One dance couldn’t hurt. It didn’t even violate their agreement to be friends. And if he could subtly discourage her from choosing some old decrepit fool as her lover, then wouldn’t he be doing her a service?
    As a friend?
    Having convinced himself, at least on some level, that he was doing the right thing, Seth stepped up to the refreshment table with a broad smile that was entirely forced. He subtly wedged himself between Isabel and Lord Monthaven. He could have sworn the older man glowered at him briefly, which Seth ignored as he gave a smile to the group.
    “Good evening to you all,” he said with false brightness. “Is everyone having a good time?”
    To his surprise, instead of smiling, Isabel looked at him with annoyance in her stare before she wiped the expression away.
    “Good evening, my lord,” she said, her tone chilly.
    “A very entertaining party,” Sir Gregory said with a boisterous laugh that grated along Seth’s spine. “You have a lovely array of ladies here, my lord.”
    Seth kept his stare on Isabel, and he could have sworn her jaw tightened.
    “Indeed,” he said. “In fact, I was just coming over to ask Lady Avenbury if she would dance with me.”
    Isabel’s gaze jerked to his face. “I-I should probably check on my sister. I’m here as a chaperone , you know.”
    It was Lord Monthaven who responded before Seth could. “A fact that staggers me, my lady. You are as fresh as any Diamond of the First Water.”
    To Seth’s never-ending annoyance, Isabel blushed and smiled at the other gentleman. “You are too kind, sir.”
    “He only speaks the truth,” Foxfire inserted swiftly. “Any man would be lucky to take the dance floor with you. Perhaps I could add my own name to your dance card.”
    Seth moved forward and took Isabel’s arm. “Very good, but I believe the lady owes me the next. Good evening, gentlemen.”
    He moved off, guiding Isabel with him, but to his surprise, the moment they were out of earshot, she extracted herself from his grip with another dark glare.
    “My lord, you must be mistaken. I never agreed to dance with you,” she hissed beneath her breath so that no one else would hear the exchange.
    He blinked. “What?”
    “You asked me to dance, but I never said yes. In fact, I said I needed to check on my sister. Now if you will excuse me, Lord Lyndham.”
    With that, she turned her back on him and walked away. Seth watched her go in stunned silence. He didn’t think a woman had ever refused him before. Certainly not one whom he had kissed not even twenty-four hours before.
    Isabel made her way through the crowd, but to Seth’s surprise she did not make a turn toward her sister. Instead, she left the room and headed down the hallway and out of sight.
    Jason’s voice rang in his head as Seth stood there. Get her out of your mind . Well, there was only one way to do that.
    Follow her.

Chapter Eight
    “A man’s hands are telling instruments.”— The Ladies Book of Pleasures
    Isabel stumbled into the first parlor she came to and finally allowed herself to stop moving. Her heart raced and she clutched her hands over it, ringing them together as she struggled to calm down. Her emotions were out of control and she had behaved quite foolishly because of that. She blushed when she thought of what she had said and done and worse… felt .
    Even after their frank discussion earlier that day, she had been unable to control her jealousy as she observed Seth at the ball. Watching him chat with other women, dance with them, smile at them, court them… It brought out a strange possessiveness in her.
    Strange and foolish, since he in no way was bound to her. In fact, they had agreed that any attraction they felt for each other was one they had to ignore. He could do that. Quite easily.
    But it turned out she couldn’t . That desire taunted her and followed