something evasive about him at Lady Standwich’s dinner party.”
“His wife is extravagant. Few men could afford to keep her. Could be a motive, I suppose, although most gentlemen just build up a mountain of debt and make token payments. He’s in the riding party today.” Greymore opened the door.
“Excellent.”
Voices and laughter spilled from the front parlor. Following Greymore, Jared automatically scanned the faces of those in attendance, and out of habit, noted the location of every door and window. Someone stepped aside and Jared’s gaze fell on Elise Berkley. Wearing a dark green riding habit, she sat on the far side of the room, talking with Greymore’s wife. His heartbeat quickened, and he found himself standing in front of her.
He greeted the hostess first. “You’re looking lovely as usual, Mrs. Greymore.”
“How kind of you to say. And thank you for joining us today.” Mrs. Greymore greeted him politely, but her eyes were only for her husband.
Greymore and his wife gazed at each other with such affection that an uncharacteristic sense of emptiness surfaced in Jared.
Greymore’s young wife returned her attention to Jared and she smiled graciously. “Mr. Amesbury, I believe you’re acquainted with my friend, Mrs. Berkley?”
Elise Berkley regarded him with heightened curiosity and deep speculation, as if she’d recently learned something new about him and couldn’t quite decide if it were true.
“I have had the distinct pleasure.” Careful to keep his expression and tone benign, Jared inclined his head.
Mrs. Berkley maintained her assessing perusal. Jared raised a brow. Few English ladies would look so boldly upon a gentleman. He returned the stare. The creamy radiance of her skin seemed to create a light of its own, beckoning him, guiding him to her like a lighthouse guides lost sailors. Her lips parted, and the image turned more sensual. Her tongue slid out to moisten her lips, but she seemed to realize her action would draw attention to her mouth, and pulled her tongue back inside. She lowered her eyes, not in a false attempt to appear demure, but out of discomfort, if her slow blush were any indication. Though her beauty rivaled that of any temptress, her sweetness dashed any hope of proving himself worthy of her attention. No scoundrel such as he had a prayer of winning the favor of an angel.
Not that it mattered; he had no intention of developing an attachment which risked distracting him from his assignment. Or leaving him vulnerable to his enemies.
Mrs. Greymore turned to two other ladies seated nearby. “And of course you remember Mrs. Hogan and her daughter , Libby?”
Jared affected a slight bow to the lady and her very young daughter. “Delighted to see you again. It was a pleasure hunting with your husband last week.”
Mrs. Hogan smiled. “He spoke well of you, Mr. Amesbury.”
Recognizing the matchmaking glint in her eye and the way she purposefully glanced at her daughter, Jared bowed again, excused himself and made a strategic retreat, annoyed that it took him away from the lovely Mrs. Berkley.
As the party headed outside to their waiting horses, Jared watched Lord Druesdale work his way through the crowd to Mrs. Berkley’s side.
“Mrs. Berkley, if I may have the honor?” Lord Druesdale offered his arm.
Mrs. Berkley took it without a second look at Jared and allowed him to help her mount her horse.
Jared gritted his teeth and squelched his sudden irritation. It mattered not whom Mrs. Berkley favored. And he would work better without pleasant distractions.
As Jared mounted Aries, he noted with satisfaction that Von Barondy had indeed joined the riding party. While the group headed out across the fields, Jared maneuvered Aries away from the Hogan family and edged near Von Barondy. He listened to idle conversation around him, paying special attention to anything involving Viscount Von Barondy.
Lord Druesdale’s attention remained fixed upon Mrs. Berkley.
“His wife is extravagant. Few men could afford to keep her. Could be a motive, I suppose, although most gentlemen just build up a mountain of debt and make token payments. He’s in the riding party today.” Greymore opened the door.
“Excellent.”
Voices and laughter spilled from the front parlor. Following Greymore, Jared automatically scanned the faces of those in attendance, and out of habit, noted the location of every door and window. Someone stepped aside and Jared’s gaze fell on Elise Berkley. Wearing a dark green riding habit, she sat on the far side of the room, talking with Greymore’s wife. His heartbeat quickened, and he found himself standing in front of her.
He greeted the hostess first. “You’re looking lovely as usual, Mrs. Greymore.”
“How kind of you to say. And thank you for joining us today.” Mrs. Greymore greeted him politely, but her eyes were only for her husband.
Greymore and his wife gazed at each other with such affection that an uncharacteristic sense of emptiness surfaced in Jared.
Greymore’s young wife returned her attention to Jared and she smiled graciously. “Mr. Amesbury, I believe you’re acquainted with my friend, Mrs. Berkley?”
Elise Berkley regarded him with heightened curiosity and deep speculation, as if she’d recently learned something new about him and couldn’t quite decide if it were true.
“I have had the distinct pleasure.” Careful to keep his expression and tone benign, Jared inclined his head.
Mrs. Berkley maintained her assessing perusal. Jared raised a brow. Few English ladies would look so boldly upon a gentleman. He returned the stare. The creamy radiance of her skin seemed to create a light of its own, beckoning him, guiding him to her like a lighthouse guides lost sailors. Her lips parted, and the image turned more sensual. Her tongue slid out to moisten her lips, but she seemed to realize her action would draw attention to her mouth, and pulled her tongue back inside. She lowered her eyes, not in a false attempt to appear demure, but out of discomfort, if her slow blush were any indication. Though her beauty rivaled that of any temptress, her sweetness dashed any hope of proving himself worthy of her attention. No scoundrel such as he had a prayer of winning the favor of an angel.
Not that it mattered; he had no intention of developing an attachment which risked distracting him from his assignment. Or leaving him vulnerable to his enemies.
Mrs. Greymore turned to two other ladies seated nearby. “And of course you remember Mrs. Hogan and her daughter , Libby?”
Jared affected a slight bow to the lady and her very young daughter. “Delighted to see you again. It was a pleasure hunting with your husband last week.”
Mrs. Hogan smiled. “He spoke well of you, Mr. Amesbury.”
Recognizing the matchmaking glint in her eye and the way she purposefully glanced at her daughter, Jared bowed again, excused himself and made a strategic retreat, annoyed that it took him away from the lovely Mrs. Berkley.
As the party headed outside to their waiting horses, Jared watched Lord Druesdale work his way through the crowd to Mrs. Berkley’s side.
“Mrs. Berkley, if I may have the honor?” Lord Druesdale offered his arm.
Mrs. Berkley took it without a second look at Jared and allowed him to help her mount her horse.
Jared gritted his teeth and squelched his sudden irritation. It mattered not whom Mrs. Berkley favored. And he would work better without pleasant distractions.
As Jared mounted Aries, he noted with satisfaction that Von Barondy had indeed joined the riding party. While the group headed out across the fields, Jared maneuvered Aries away from the Hogan family and edged near Von Barondy. He listened to idle conversation around him, paying special attention to anything involving Viscount Von Barondy.
Lord Druesdale’s attention remained fixed upon Mrs. Berkley.
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