The Wicked Baron by Sarah Mallory Page B

little barbs cut so deeply? He had loved and lost other women in the past and it had never been difficult to put them behind him, to see them again without a flicker of remorse. He had thought he could do the same with Carlotta, once he realised that she was intent upon finding herself a rich husband. And he had resolved to stay away from her, a resolve that had lasted only until their very next meeting! As he stepped back into the crowded reception room, he swore fluently under his breath. He would never forget the look of haughty disdain on her face the first time they had met in town, her taunts regarding his lack of fortune, but even that had not killed his feeling for her. It was seeing her at Vauxhall, behaving like any wanton in that darkened arbour with Daniel Woollatt that finally convinced him she was not the sweet innocent child he had left at Malberry.
    Her behaviour this evening had been calculated to anger him, like the bitter reaction of a spurned woman, but thatdid not make sense— she had spurned him , telling him he was not remotely rich enough to be a contender for her hand. Yet her jibes were like a gauntlet thrown down between them. He knew he should have ignored her challenge and allowed himself to enjoy the charms of Mrs Daniels, but he could not. He had followed Carlotta through the crowded rooms and out into that bare, moon-soaked room.
    His anger flared again as he remembered her standing before him, haughty and defiant. When he had moved close to her, smelled the familiar, flowery perfume, he had found her hard to resist. He saw again her face turned up to his, the dainty features so perfect, the mouth so kissable. He had been tempted. She was enticing, bewitching, almost irresistible. His muttered ‘excuse me’ as he pushed through the dancers was very nearly a snarl and earned for him several angry looks, but it mattered not as long as they moved out of his way. He had to get out; he needed peace and quiet to regain his self-control and work out just what it was about Carlotta that roused him to such fury.
    And after that, he needed to decide just what he was going to do about it.

Chapter Six

    T he confrontation with Luke unnerved Carlotta and she pleaded a slight chill for the next few days until she could face the world again. Lady Broxted was very understanding.
    ‘Poor lamb, but it is not unexpected,’ she said, visiting Carlotta’s bedchamber. ‘We have been very busy of late, and a number of our friends remarked that you seemed pale and distracted when they were taking their leave of you at Lady Yatebury’s. You shall keep to your bed for a little while.’ She smiled, patting Carlotta’s hand as it lay upon the bedcovers. ‘I shall cancel our engagements for this week; you must be well for our little soirée.’
     

    But as the day drew nearer it became clear to Carlotta that Lady Broxted’s ‘little soirée’ was going to be a major event. On the eve of the party she went to find her aunt, to offer her some assistance. She found her in the morning room, surrounded by papers and making her final arrangements.
    ‘But, Aunt, you cannot possibly wish to invite all these people,’ objected Carlotta, gazing in awe at a list of guests thatran over several sheets of paper. ‘You said we were to have a snug little evening—how will you find room for so many?’
    ‘Dear child, this is only half the guests!’ Lady Broxted twitched the papers from her fingers and looked at them with satisfaction. ‘I think we can be sure that most of them will come; I am renowned for my parties, you know. We shall open up both the saloons and set out supper in the dining room. And if it stays dry, we shall also be able to open up the long doors to the terrace and hang lanterns around the garden. We shall have to bring in extra staff for the kitchens, of course, and we shall need more link boys in the square…’
    Carlotta was not listening. One of the sheets had floated to the floor and she