All Through the Night by Connie Brockway Page A

released itself in a soundless rush.
    Take the handkerchief, Sophia! she implored silently, and slowly, as if in a dream, Sophia secured the snowy linen and brushed a gentle kiss on its length. Smiling, Jack retrieved the scrap from Sophia’s limp hand.
    “I will treasure this, Miss Sophia. Lord Strand, too, I believe, has one of these sweet mementos from another lady.”
    “Aye,” Strand drawled. “A lady of incredible refinement and impeccable taste.”
    “Seems a bold gesture,” one of the youngsters remarked.
    “Don’t let anyone hear you say that, m’lad,” Strand said with a laugh. “Should my lady ever hear her gesture had been misconstrued, I’ve no doubt she’d react very poorly. As would her husband. A fine duelist.”
    “I would not like to think anyone would misconstrue a lady’s whim,” Seward said. The gaze he turned on the lads was as harmless yet potentially dangerous as an unsheathed blade.
    “Of course not!” one avowed quickly.
    “Only the veriest blackguard would misread a lady’s intent,” the other added sententiously.
    With a sigh, Strand hefted himself to his feet. “I believe the entertainment for the evening is at an end, sirs. Shall we find ourselves some nourishment?”
    The two younger men agreed immediately, exiting the room hard on Lord Strand’s heels. Vedder followed them out, inclining his head only as he passed Anne. “Your servant.”
    Sophia, color returning to her face, bit hard upon her lip and rose from the table. “Thank you, Colonel. I am in your debt.”
    “Miss Sophia, you owe me no more than your good opinion,” he said, looking past her to where Anne stood motionless, her eyes brilliant and burning, like stars in a midnight sky.
    Chapter Nine

It took most of the rest of the night, but Sophia finally managed to lose Anne and go in search of her erstwhile savior, “Devil Jack” Seward. He was in definite need of reward.
    It didn’t take long to find him. He was alone, standing beside the door leading to the dining room. Several popularly acclaimed beauties paraded slowly by him, but they did not draw his interest.
    Sophia had no intention of being subtle; she would— as she’d told Anne—take what she wanted. And she wanted Jack Seward. She walked up to him, opening her fan and brushing the soft plumes across her décolletage.
    “Ah, Colonel Seward!” she said.
    His glance was speculative but his manner faultless. He bowed his head in recognition. “Miss Sophia.”
    “You aren’t enjoying any of the entertainments our host has so kindly provided.”
    “It is kind of you to concern yourself.”
    “How could I not?” she declared, folding her fan and sweeping it down his broad chest. “La!” she said, “ ‘tis too hot in here. I fear I shall be overcome if I don’t get some air.”
    The corner of his long mouth quirked with amusement. His hooded gaze grew lazy. “By no means can we allow that,” he said. “May I escort you to Mrs. Wilder?”
    “Oh, no!” Sophia declared with a laugh. “I wouldn’t want to alarm Anne. I fear I’ve done enough of that for one evening. If I could just find some fresh air . . .”
    “Allow me to accompany you,” he said suavely. Silently he drew her out into the deserted corridor and down to its end. The window there had been cracked and the cold air stirred the drapes.
    She glanced at Jack. He smiled politely and cocked his scar-traversed brow. “Are you feeling more revived?” he asked sardonically.
    “Oh, yes. Thank you,” she said, stepping closer to him. She bit her lower lip, knowing it to be provocative. “I must thank you properly for coming to my aid earlier this evening. I see now that my actions were impulsive, certainly ill-considered. Some might think hoydenish.”
    He did not deny it.
    “But then, I fear I am hoydenish.” She inched closer to him and placed her fan back on his chest. The feather tips touched his strong, dark throat. “You saved me from the effects of my