smile. “Thank you for your generous offer of allowing me to make myself feel at home in your house.”
Justice allowed his grip to tighten once more upon her. “I would really like it if you could think of it as our home, together.”
* * *
E lizabeth felt another one of those delicious chills shiver up and down her back. She wished she were not so very aware of him and his low, deep voice. She found his presence so confusing. The way he spoke, she got the impression he really was planning to keep her around for a shared future. Perhaps he had what he would consider a good reason for killing his first wife, she thought a little hysterically. Not that she could ever condone it, but perhaps it didn’t necessarily mean he had any intention of killing her.
Just because she was about to be the next Countess of Heath did not necessarily have to mean she was on her way to an early grave. All she had to do was find out why he killed the countess and then avoid causing him any reason to want to be rid of her, Lady Elizabeth. Perhaps she could talk to Lady Meriwether. She had sounded so convinced of his guilt, she must know something , Elizabeth thought for a moment before shuddering at the thought of how quickly it would be bandied about amongst the ton if she were to do so.
She took herself to task. How could she possibly be rationalizing the prospect of living with a murderer? I must have truly lost my mind the night I met him , she thought rather crossly as she tore her eyes away from his deep gaze, refusing to allow him to see into her soul. She concentrated on the steps of the dance and tried to still her racing heart. How can I be so attracted to the man, while at the same time be wondering if he intends to kill me? she wondered.
“I never did tell you anything about our neighbours,” the earl reminded her quietly in her ear as the melody wound to a conclusion and he escorted her from the dance floor.
Elizabeth was quite certain he knew exactly what he was doing to her whenever he whispered in her ear like that. It was enough to drive her mad. She wanted to stamp her foot like a child and throw herself into his arms simultaneously. Neither option bore consideration. She kept her smile bland as she looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes.
She shrugged. “At least it leaves us something to talk about when next you call.”
His rich, low laughter above her ear rewarded her quick wit. She was glad he found her amusing. Perhaps he would keep her around just for entertainment. Elizabeth shook her head at her musings. She was becoming rather ghoulish.
The Viscount of Bracondale stood on the side of the dance floor, his relaxed demeanour belying the eagerness in his eyes as he waited to claim her hand for the next dance. Elizabeth was inordinately pleased to see him. “My lord! What a relief to see you! Please, you must tell me everything you know about Rosamund.”
* * *
W ith those words Elizabeth was whisked from his side and Justice was left staring after her, surprised to be swept by a wave of jealousy as he wondered how much of a scandal it would cause if he cut in while his fiancé was dancing with another man.
“Do try not to make a cake of yourself, my dear.”
Justice turned to find the Countess of Yorkleigh at his side laughing up at him.
“I beg your pardon, my lady.” He made an effort to feign ignorance.
“Feeling jealous is perfectly normal and even acceptable. Embarrassing the poor young woman, even more than you already have, would not be. You have nothing to fear in that quarter, I am quite sure. It is merely a dance after all.”
Justice felt like growling at the woman at his side but managed to remain civilized. “That is not how it looks from this angle.”
“Then change your perspective, my lord,” her reply was beginning to sound caustic. “Go get yourself a glass of the tepid punch. Or go to the card room and see if any of your old cronies are present. I care not what you
Justice allowed his grip to tighten once more upon her. “I would really like it if you could think of it as our home, together.”
* * *
E lizabeth felt another one of those delicious chills shiver up and down her back. She wished she were not so very aware of him and his low, deep voice. She found his presence so confusing. The way he spoke, she got the impression he really was planning to keep her around for a shared future. Perhaps he had what he would consider a good reason for killing his first wife, she thought a little hysterically. Not that she could ever condone it, but perhaps it didn’t necessarily mean he had any intention of killing her.
Just because she was about to be the next Countess of Heath did not necessarily have to mean she was on her way to an early grave. All she had to do was find out why he killed the countess and then avoid causing him any reason to want to be rid of her, Lady Elizabeth. Perhaps she could talk to Lady Meriwether. She had sounded so convinced of his guilt, she must know something , Elizabeth thought for a moment before shuddering at the thought of how quickly it would be bandied about amongst the ton if she were to do so.
She took herself to task. How could she possibly be rationalizing the prospect of living with a murderer? I must have truly lost my mind the night I met him , she thought rather crossly as she tore her eyes away from his deep gaze, refusing to allow him to see into her soul. She concentrated on the steps of the dance and tried to still her racing heart. How can I be so attracted to the man, while at the same time be wondering if he intends to kill me? she wondered.
“I never did tell you anything about our neighbours,” the earl reminded her quietly in her ear as the melody wound to a conclusion and he escorted her from the dance floor.
Elizabeth was quite certain he knew exactly what he was doing to her whenever he whispered in her ear like that. It was enough to drive her mad. She wanted to stamp her foot like a child and throw herself into his arms simultaneously. Neither option bore consideration. She kept her smile bland as she looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes.
She shrugged. “At least it leaves us something to talk about when next you call.”
His rich, low laughter above her ear rewarded her quick wit. She was glad he found her amusing. Perhaps he would keep her around just for entertainment. Elizabeth shook her head at her musings. She was becoming rather ghoulish.
The Viscount of Bracondale stood on the side of the dance floor, his relaxed demeanour belying the eagerness in his eyes as he waited to claim her hand for the next dance. Elizabeth was inordinately pleased to see him. “My lord! What a relief to see you! Please, you must tell me everything you know about Rosamund.”
* * *
W ith those words Elizabeth was whisked from his side and Justice was left staring after her, surprised to be swept by a wave of jealousy as he wondered how much of a scandal it would cause if he cut in while his fiancé was dancing with another man.
“Do try not to make a cake of yourself, my dear.”
Justice turned to find the Countess of Yorkleigh at his side laughing up at him.
“I beg your pardon, my lady.” He made an effort to feign ignorance.
“Feeling jealous is perfectly normal and even acceptable. Embarrassing the poor young woman, even more than you already have, would not be. You have nothing to fear in that quarter, I am quite sure. It is merely a dance after all.”
Justice felt like growling at the woman at his side but managed to remain civilized. “That is not how it looks from this angle.”
“Then change your perspective, my lord,” her reply was beginning to sound caustic. “Go get yourself a glass of the tepid punch. Or go to the card room and see if any of your old cronies are present. I care not what you
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