choose as your second?”
Lily laughed. “I suppose it would have to be Lady Tavistock. Despite her age, I imagine she is game for most anything.”
Sheridan chuckled and Lily glanced back at Jo. “She may be a bit of a handful, but even so, I should think the advantages would out-weigh the drawbacks.”
One of the viscount’s eyebrows went up as he correctly assumed she was referring to the pleasure a man would derive from bedding such a woman. Lily blushed.
Sheridan noticed and smiled and she realized he had several crooked bottom teeth. “You are quite sweet, aren’t you? As I said, it would be my pleasure to introduce you to some of the guests.” He extended his arm and Lily took it. “Shall we?”
For an instant, her glance strayed across the room to Royal and she was surprised to see him gazing back at her. A little tremor went through her that Lily entirely ignored.
Turning, she let Sheridan lead her round the drawing room, careful to keep her attention on the tall man at her side instead of the even taller man across the room.
Jocelyn was surprised to discover the evening was turning out to be far more pleasant than she had imagined. Her future bridegroom had been extremely attentive, introducing her to the guests and rarely leaving her side. Jocelyn had flirted madly as the duke had waltzed with her and escorted her round the room, makingcertain she gave him even more attention when she spotted tall, statuesque, red-haired Serafina Maitlin.
Jocelyn particularly enjoyed the bone-in-her-throat look that came over Lady Serafina’s face when she realized the duke’s attention was fixed firmly on Jocelyn and he was not going to stray.
As Royal went to fetch her a cup of punch, there was a momentary encounter.
“So you are setting your cap for the duke, are you?”
Jocelyn shrugged her shoulders. “I suppose I could hold out for a prince, but I am willing to make the sacrifice for a man as handsome and charming as Royal.”
“You think to buy him. He needs your money.”
Jocelyn just smiled. “Can you think of a better use for it?” Spotting Royal striding toward her, she moved in that direction, accepting the punch and casting her enemy a final triumphant glance.
All in all, so far it had been a pleasant, satisfying evening, and yet something seemed to be missing. Never once had her heart skipped when the duke touched her. Never once had a glance from his golden-brown eyes made her feel light-headed.
A year ago, she wouldn’t have noticed. But that was before she had danced with Christopher Barclay. Before he had led her into the garden and kissed her. Silently she cursed herself. Now she knew what a man could make her feel. She had tasted the wild exhilaration.
It really didn’t matter. Royal was a duke. With his golden good looks and impressive title, he was the most sought-after bachelor in England. Royal could give her everything she had ever wanted. And she meant to have him.
She looked up at the sound of his deep, masculinevoice, coming softly from beside her. “The hour grows late, Jocelyn. I should like a moment with you, if I may, out on the terrace.”
She smiled and nodded, hoping he would speak the words she wished to hear and her future would be secured.
He took her gloved hand and settled it on the sleeve of his black dinner jacket and they walked out the French doors into the cool night air, careful to stay well in sight of the guests in the drawing room. Royal removed his coat and draped it round her shoulders.
“It’s colder out here than I thought.”
“It’s all right. Your coat has absorbed the heat of your body and it is keeping me snuggly warm.”
Something flickered in his eyes at the mention of his body and she thought that perhaps he was imagining their wedding night. Royal was a virile, masculine man and Jocelyn had always found the notion of bedsport intriguing. She was looking forward to it herself.
Royal took her hand and turned her to face him.
Lily laughed. “I suppose it would have to be Lady Tavistock. Despite her age, I imagine she is game for most anything.”
Sheridan chuckled and Lily glanced back at Jo. “She may be a bit of a handful, but even so, I should think the advantages would out-weigh the drawbacks.”
One of the viscount’s eyebrows went up as he correctly assumed she was referring to the pleasure a man would derive from bedding such a woman. Lily blushed.
Sheridan noticed and smiled and she realized he had several crooked bottom teeth. “You are quite sweet, aren’t you? As I said, it would be my pleasure to introduce you to some of the guests.” He extended his arm and Lily took it. “Shall we?”
For an instant, her glance strayed across the room to Royal and she was surprised to see him gazing back at her. A little tremor went through her that Lily entirely ignored.
Turning, she let Sheridan lead her round the drawing room, careful to keep her attention on the tall man at her side instead of the even taller man across the room.
Jocelyn was surprised to discover the evening was turning out to be far more pleasant than she had imagined. Her future bridegroom had been extremely attentive, introducing her to the guests and rarely leaving her side. Jocelyn had flirted madly as the duke had waltzed with her and escorted her round the room, makingcertain she gave him even more attention when she spotted tall, statuesque, red-haired Serafina Maitlin.
Jocelyn particularly enjoyed the bone-in-her-throat look that came over Lady Serafina’s face when she realized the duke’s attention was fixed firmly on Jocelyn and he was not going to stray.
As Royal went to fetch her a cup of punch, there was a momentary encounter.
“So you are setting your cap for the duke, are you?”
Jocelyn shrugged her shoulders. “I suppose I could hold out for a prince, but I am willing to make the sacrifice for a man as handsome and charming as Royal.”
“You think to buy him. He needs your money.”
Jocelyn just smiled. “Can you think of a better use for it?” Spotting Royal striding toward her, she moved in that direction, accepting the punch and casting her enemy a final triumphant glance.
All in all, so far it had been a pleasant, satisfying evening, and yet something seemed to be missing. Never once had her heart skipped when the duke touched her. Never once had a glance from his golden-brown eyes made her feel light-headed.
A year ago, she wouldn’t have noticed. But that was before she had danced with Christopher Barclay. Before he had led her into the garden and kissed her. Silently she cursed herself. Now she knew what a man could make her feel. She had tasted the wild exhilaration.
It really didn’t matter. Royal was a duke. With his golden good looks and impressive title, he was the most sought-after bachelor in England. Royal could give her everything she had ever wanted. And she meant to have him.
She looked up at the sound of his deep, masculinevoice, coming softly from beside her. “The hour grows late, Jocelyn. I should like a moment with you, if I may, out on the terrace.”
She smiled and nodded, hoping he would speak the words she wished to hear and her future would be secured.
He took her gloved hand and settled it on the sleeve of his black dinner jacket and they walked out the French doors into the cool night air, careful to stay well in sight of the guests in the drawing room. Royal removed his coat and draped it round her shoulders.
“It’s colder out here than I thought.”
“It’s all right. Your coat has absorbed the heat of your body and it is keeping me snuggly warm.”
Something flickered in his eyes at the mention of his body and she thought that perhaps he was imagining their wedding night. Royal was a virile, masculine man and Jocelyn had always found the notion of bedsport intriguing. She was looking forward to it herself.
Royal took her hand and turned her to face him.
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