His Dark Enchantress (Books We Love Regency Romance) by Victoria Chatham Page A

when he realized the party was clattering along the road towards Knightsbridge. He kept well back to avoid detection. When the party turned off the main road he rode on,. but quickly turned back and watched from the corner of the street to see at which house they stopped.
    “Got you, Miss Devereux,” he said quietly as he watched Emmaline walk up a set of steps to one of the houses. She quickly disappeared inside the house and, satisfied, Peregrine rode away.
     
    ***
     
    “You are late.” Rosemary’s voice was flat and accusing.
    “With good reason, Aunt,” Peregrine replied, flopping down on a pink and white upholstered sofa. “Although, I am sure you will find my misdemeanor forgivable when I tell you the reason for it.”
    Rosemary, her lips pressed tightly together with displeasure, regarded him with loathing.
    “You wanted information,” Peregrine said airily. “I was gathering it. I now know where Miss Devereux lives, and a lot more about her famil y, where she has been and why she is in London.”
    “So?” Rosemary quirked an eyebrow at her nephew.
    Peregrine lifted his hand and rubbed his fingers together in a gesture of avarice. Rosemary glared at him. He simply grinned at her until she went to her escritoire and took from it a purse.
    “One hundred guineas, as agreed. ”
    “Much obliged, Aunt.” Peregrine took the purse and pocketed it. “Please sit down while I tell you what I know, for I shall get a cr amp in my neck if I have to continue looking up at you.”
    Rosemary gave an unladylike snort of disgust as she sat herself in a chair. Before Peregrine could tell her anything, Olivia joined them but was quickly admonished for interrupting and sent away, complaining, by her mother.
    “Now, Peregrine. I am seated, your neck is safe, so please tell me what you have discovered.”
    “You will be amazed and delighted, Aunt,” Peregrine said with a grin, and proceeded to enlighten her with his discoveries.
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 9
     
    Lucius situated himself at the back of the entrance hall in Countess Esterhazy’s house. Light glittered from hundreds of candles set in wall sconces, candelabras and chandeliers. Footmen stood guard on both sides of the front door. Servants took cloaks, shawls, hats and canes from the early arrivals.
    Waiting impatiently, he wanted to see and talk to only one person. He avoided several acquaintances, all of whom would be thoroughly shocked had they known of his infatuation.
    Yes, infatuation, he told himself. It could surely not be anything else. She was pretty; no, he corrected himself, make that beautiful. Witty; no, a sharp tongued shrew who would probably never give a husband a moment’s pe ace. But, he told himself, this woman would never be a bore, could also be his friend as well as his lover if he chose to indulge that fantasy.
    His atte ntion focused on the front door. What would she be wearing? Would she see him? Could he stop himself from stepping out and sweeping her into his arms? The thought stunned him. That was a road he did not want to travel.
    He fought to keep his warring emotions firmly under control but, when Emmaline at last made her entrance he joined in the collective gasp of admiration from those standing around the foyer.
    Sheathed in a simple white satin gown that showed her figure to it s fullest advantage, she walked with a grace that quite simply enchanted him. He stepped back behind a colonnade, not wanting his pleasure in seeing her to be seen.
    He watched heads turn as gentlemen frankly admired her slim figure. Lucius fumed inwardly at their impertinence, amazing himself with the strength of his reaction. Why should the way other men look at her matter to him? Her exotic good looks could not but delight any eye.
    The ladies cast envious glances her way, whispering about the design of the seed pearls stitched to her low cut neckline and the quality of the silver lace stole draped over her arms. Dowagers gasped as her satin skirts