Utterly Devoted by Regina Scott Page B

in the world, and he had chosen her.
    A man she would not be able to deny.
    The thought shook her, and she stumbled. Jareth caught her smoothly.
    “Easy now,” he murmured. “You have no need to escape, Eloise. Nothing bad can happen in the middle of Almack’s. Even I am not that wicked.”
    She nodded, not sure she believed him about his wickedness but perfectly willing to believe that none of the patronesses would allow him to sweep her away. Besides, somewhere on the dance floor were Cleo and Leslie, and surely she could count on them to assist her should he be so foolish as to break with propriety. Waltzing with him was perfectly safe. She forced herself to relax.
    “Much better,” he murmured as if to encourage her. “You are by far the best dancer here, you know. It is my pleasure to partner you.”
    She did not want his praise to please her, coming as it most likely did with a price, but it pleased her nonetheless. She was sure she should deny it.
    “Nonsense,” she averred. “Any number of young ladies dance better than I do. You should not offer me Spanish coin.”
    His eyes were warm. “Why would I falsely praise you?”
    Why indeed? She shuddered to think of it. “You want my forgiveness. I have no doubt this is all part of your plan to weasel it out of me.”
    He raised a pale gold brow. “My plan? I thought I was the victim of your plan.”
    She snorted. “You have never been anyone’s victim. You, sir, are the predator.”
    “And is it my fault there are so many delightful gazelle about? What is a proper lion to do?”
    “You claim to have reformed.”
    “Ah, but I find that so very difficult when presented with such temptation.” The teasing light faded from his eyes to be replaced by something else, something that warmed far more than her heart.
    “You truly are beautiful, Eloise,” he murmured.
    She shook her head, trying in vain to clear the spell he was weaving around her. “And you are a cozening flirt.”
    “Of course,” he agreed readily. “I reformed from the sin of seduction. I never promised to give up the art of flirtation. Would you ask a master to stop painting?”
    “No,” she acknowledged. “And I will own that you are a master. But be warned, sir. I am on to your tricks.”
    “And I to your secret, madam.”
    She very nearly missed another step. “What are you talking about? Of course you know my secret. You are my secret. That is the entire reason you are forced to seek my forgiveness.”
    He smiled and shook his head. Then he drew her closer to whisper in her ear. “But you have another secret, my dear Eloise. I can feel it in the way you dance with me. I can see it in the way you look at me. At rare moments, I can even hear it in your voice. You don’t hate me after all.”
    She wanted to deny it. She must deny it. She could not stand the gentle smile on his face as he pulled away to a discreet distance. Every time he was sweet, she felt the walls she had erected crumbling. She could not let him back into her heart. Her reputation would never survive a second betrayal. She would never survive such a betrayal.
    Dancing in his arms was a mistake, she realized. Physical closeness had been her undoing once before. She had to get away from him, give herself sufficient distance to think clearly. As he turned them to the music, she brought her heel down hard on his toe.
    Jareth grimaced, hopping back. His hand slipped from her back, and she was able to pull her fingers from his grip, effectively stopping them in the center of the dance floor. She made her face the picture of dismay.
    “Oh, Mr. Darby, I am so sorry. You should sit down.”
    “Another step like that one, madam,” he gritted out, lowering his foot gingerly to the floor, “and I shall have to.”
    The music stopped then, but not before the other couples began casting them curious glances. Eloise smiled sweetly. “Would you like me to escort you to a chair?”
    “That should not be necessary,”