and plans to neglect his responsibility as an earl to beget an heir. He’s a friend of yours?” She raised her head and rolled her eyes skyward in distaste as if to say Cole’s choice in friends lacked proper thought.
Cole couldn’t help himself. She was so serious in her mien that he burst into laughter, which in turn drew more curious stares in their direction. “Yes. He is the one to whom I refer.”
***
Upon seeing Cole and Eve laughing and dancing in each other’s arms, Paxton felt a muscle jump in his cheek from grinding his teeth. He had warned her away from Cole. It seems she didn’t wish to take my advice. Excusing himself from the men he was conversing with, he elegantly made his way across the ballroom floor and right up to them. “Cole, I’d like to continue this dance with Lady Evelyn.”
He tensed, sensing Cole was about to argue for he had clearly been enjoying himself. He assumed Cole was also most likely curious what else Lady Evelyn had to say for she did not seem to have a Londoner’s ability to hide her thoughts and feelings. Paxton found that trait delightful, and he knew his friend undoubtedly concurred. Obviously sensing Paxton’s irritation, Cole wisely decided not to cause a scene. He shrugged and kissed the top of Evelyn’s hand. “It has been a pleasure, my lady.”
Eve curtsied a farewell to Cole, and Paxton quickly pulled her into his arms.
“You are bound to break my back if you don’t loosen your hold,” she said. “It was rude of you not to wait for the next dance. The crowd looks completely scandalized by the scene you caused. I do hope you’re happy.” Paxton noticed her smile was one of triumph, and he had indeed caused gossip to ripple across the room. Now they all would think he was laying claim to her. She seemed quite proud of herself.
“I’m not the type to care what the society matrons think of my actions. I thought it best to interrupt and inform you that Cole is not one of your suitors.”
“You interrupted our dance to warn me away from your friend? That is the second time, I might add,” she said airily, and she laughed. “I think Lord Geary is a fine candidate for marriage. I hear he is as rich as Crocus and heir to a dukedom. I think I’d make a wonderful duchess, don’t you? Oh, and did you know his father and mine happen to be friends. I’m sure my mother would find him a more than suitable for me.”
Paxton was having a hard time staying calm. He wanted to throttle the woman. Instead, after making sure no one was observing them, he escorted her off the dance floor and down the long carpeted hall.
Eve tried to pull her arm out of his grasp in protest, but he wasn’t relinquishing his grip. “Where are you taking me?” she asked. “You have no right to manhandle me. I demand you release me.”
Her effort to pull away was fruitless and he pushed her into a dimly lit room and shut the door firmly behind them. She could likely sense his anger, but she refused to cower, and actually lifted her chin defiantly and stared into his furious gaze as he glared at her.
“I wish for you to explain yourself,” she said as she wrenched her arm away from him and groped around in the semi-dark for a place to sit.
Paxton still didn’t speak. He was trying to compose himself as he lit a few scattered candles around the room. He noticed they had entered a small feminine sitting room. He looked at Eve seated on the pink velvet settee, her back ramrod straight, her hands folded tightly together in her lap, and her blue eyes sparkling defiantly. He turned away, fighting the never-ending urge to take her into his arms. He then turned back and starred at her.
“Well?” Eve looked at him questioningly. “I can’t stay here long and you should hope no one saw us leaving together, or rather, that they did not see you dragging me away.”
Paxton was at a loss. What could he say? How could he explain that, for a moment, he became insanely jealous and had
Cole couldn’t help himself. She was so serious in her mien that he burst into laughter, which in turn drew more curious stares in their direction. “Yes. He is the one to whom I refer.”
***
Upon seeing Cole and Eve laughing and dancing in each other’s arms, Paxton felt a muscle jump in his cheek from grinding his teeth. He had warned her away from Cole. It seems she didn’t wish to take my advice. Excusing himself from the men he was conversing with, he elegantly made his way across the ballroom floor and right up to them. “Cole, I’d like to continue this dance with Lady Evelyn.”
He tensed, sensing Cole was about to argue for he had clearly been enjoying himself. He assumed Cole was also most likely curious what else Lady Evelyn had to say for she did not seem to have a Londoner’s ability to hide her thoughts and feelings. Paxton found that trait delightful, and he knew his friend undoubtedly concurred. Obviously sensing Paxton’s irritation, Cole wisely decided not to cause a scene. He shrugged and kissed the top of Evelyn’s hand. “It has been a pleasure, my lady.”
Eve curtsied a farewell to Cole, and Paxton quickly pulled her into his arms.
“You are bound to break my back if you don’t loosen your hold,” she said. “It was rude of you not to wait for the next dance. The crowd looks completely scandalized by the scene you caused. I do hope you’re happy.” Paxton noticed her smile was one of triumph, and he had indeed caused gossip to ripple across the room. Now they all would think he was laying claim to her. She seemed quite proud of herself.
“I’m not the type to care what the society matrons think of my actions. I thought it best to interrupt and inform you that Cole is not one of your suitors.”
“You interrupted our dance to warn me away from your friend? That is the second time, I might add,” she said airily, and she laughed. “I think Lord Geary is a fine candidate for marriage. I hear he is as rich as Crocus and heir to a dukedom. I think I’d make a wonderful duchess, don’t you? Oh, and did you know his father and mine happen to be friends. I’m sure my mother would find him a more than suitable for me.”
Paxton was having a hard time staying calm. He wanted to throttle the woman. Instead, after making sure no one was observing them, he escorted her off the dance floor and down the long carpeted hall.
Eve tried to pull her arm out of his grasp in protest, but he wasn’t relinquishing his grip. “Where are you taking me?” she asked. “You have no right to manhandle me. I demand you release me.”
Her effort to pull away was fruitless and he pushed her into a dimly lit room and shut the door firmly behind them. She could likely sense his anger, but she refused to cower, and actually lifted her chin defiantly and stared into his furious gaze as he glared at her.
“I wish for you to explain yourself,” she said as she wrenched her arm away from him and groped around in the semi-dark for a place to sit.
Paxton still didn’t speak. He was trying to compose himself as he lit a few scattered candles around the room. He noticed they had entered a small feminine sitting room. He looked at Eve seated on the pink velvet settee, her back ramrod straight, her hands folded tightly together in her lap, and her blue eyes sparkling defiantly. He turned away, fighting the never-ending urge to take her into his arms. He then turned back and starred at her.
“Well?” Eve looked at him questioningly. “I can’t stay here long and you should hope no one saw us leaving together, or rather, that they did not see you dragging me away.”
Paxton was at a loss. What could he say? How could he explain that, for a moment, he became insanely jealous and had
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