Read Online A Little Bit Sinful by Adrienne Basso - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Adrienne Basso
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a topic many country girls longed to extol upon.
“I do.” She looked at him inquiringly. “And you, my lord? Are you a keen rider?”
Finally.
Sebastian launched into a story about learning to ride when he was a youngster, embellishing parts with a self-deprecating humor that women always found irresistible. In no time at all Lady Bianca was clutching his arm reflexively as she giggled.
The viscount was very pleased.
“Your dress is lovely,” he purred in a velvety soft tone. “That particular shade of pink adds a rosy hue to your complexion.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
He turned his head to look fully at her and discovered she was already gazing at him. She bit her bottom lip nervously as their eyes met and he could not miss the genuine admiration that washed over her face. A thrilling sense of victory shot through him.
This was almost too easy. A few honeyed words of flattery, a sultry glance, a seductive kiss and the girl would follow him anywhere. She would easily be leddown the path to ruin, assuring Sebastian of his duel. And his revenge.
The conversation continued and before long Sebastian came to a realization that Lady Bianca was precisely as she appeared—a young woman barely past girlhood. At first impression one might think she was a tad frivolous and empty-headed, but he decided she was not a simpleton. She was a simple girl, unspoiled, sweet, and innocent to a fault. After their dance last night he had assumed she was a country lass merely in the need of some Town bronze, but he could now see that she was completely guileless.
A small breeze swirled through the air and he watched the way an amber-hued strand of hair teased her cheek. Yet instead of the familiar male stirring, Sebastian felt an odd sort of pang. She was so young. It somehow seemed wrong, almost depraved, to have any physical desire for her.
They stopped to greet an acquaintance of his. The rest of the women used the opportunity to join them and Sebastian made the introductions. Walter Brommer was a pleasant enough fellow, an urbane, witty sort that females took to immediately. He was also an outrageous flirt and soon had all the women smiling at his over-the-top compliments.
Sebastian glanced at the circle of females. Lady Bianca stood beside Emma and he could not help but compare the two. Lady Bianca was a year older than Emma, yet so much more unworldly.
He reasoned the difference might be attributed to the fact that Emma had older sisters. But Lady Bianca had an older sister. Or perhaps being raised in the country was the cause, yet Emma had alsogrown up in a rural village, raised with her sisters by an aunt and uncle after her parents had died.
It must be Emma’s artist’s eye that gave her a maturity beyond her years. That and her wicked sense of humor. Her clever tongue could keep any situation from becoming too dull.
Sebastian continued to study Lady Bianca. Her beauty was without question, but her overt innocence was a distraction. He had never understood the appeal of an untutored, inexperienced female. The idea of trying to coax a kiss from her rosy, plump lips made him feel like a lecher of the worst kind. Yet he would have to at least kiss her in order to create the scandal.
“Might I beg a moment of your time, my lord?”
Sebastian glanced down at the gloved hand resting on his forearm, then up into the face of Lady Eleanor. Her features were void of any specific emotion, yet Sebastian sensed an undercurrent of anxiety. It made him wary, yet it would have been impossibly rude to refuse. They set themselves off to the side, away from the boisterous group.
“Are you enjoying the afternoon, Lady Eleanor? Walking in the park, breathing in the fresh, crisp air? Or is it the society that interests you more than the grass and the trees?”
Her expression grew wooden. Lady Eleanor, it appeared, was not a woman who appreciated small talk.
“I am interested in you, my lord,” she said. “Or more specifically I
“I do.” She looked at him inquiringly. “And you, my lord? Are you a keen rider?”
Finally.
Sebastian launched into a story about learning to ride when he was a youngster, embellishing parts with a self-deprecating humor that women always found irresistible. In no time at all Lady Bianca was clutching his arm reflexively as she giggled.
The viscount was very pleased.
“Your dress is lovely,” he purred in a velvety soft tone. “That particular shade of pink adds a rosy hue to your complexion.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
He turned his head to look fully at her and discovered she was already gazing at him. She bit her bottom lip nervously as their eyes met and he could not miss the genuine admiration that washed over her face. A thrilling sense of victory shot through him.
This was almost too easy. A few honeyed words of flattery, a sultry glance, a seductive kiss and the girl would follow him anywhere. She would easily be leddown the path to ruin, assuring Sebastian of his duel. And his revenge.
The conversation continued and before long Sebastian came to a realization that Lady Bianca was precisely as she appeared—a young woman barely past girlhood. At first impression one might think she was a tad frivolous and empty-headed, but he decided she was not a simpleton. She was a simple girl, unspoiled, sweet, and innocent to a fault. After their dance last night he had assumed she was a country lass merely in the need of some Town bronze, but he could now see that she was completely guileless.
A small breeze swirled through the air and he watched the way an amber-hued strand of hair teased her cheek. Yet instead of the familiar male stirring, Sebastian felt an odd sort of pang. She was so young. It somehow seemed wrong, almost depraved, to have any physical desire for her.
They stopped to greet an acquaintance of his. The rest of the women used the opportunity to join them and Sebastian made the introductions. Walter Brommer was a pleasant enough fellow, an urbane, witty sort that females took to immediately. He was also an outrageous flirt and soon had all the women smiling at his over-the-top compliments.
Sebastian glanced at the circle of females. Lady Bianca stood beside Emma and he could not help but compare the two. Lady Bianca was a year older than Emma, yet so much more unworldly.
He reasoned the difference might be attributed to the fact that Emma had older sisters. But Lady Bianca had an older sister. Or perhaps being raised in the country was the cause, yet Emma had alsogrown up in a rural village, raised with her sisters by an aunt and uncle after her parents had died.
It must be Emma’s artist’s eye that gave her a maturity beyond her years. That and her wicked sense of humor. Her clever tongue could keep any situation from becoming too dull.
Sebastian continued to study Lady Bianca. Her beauty was without question, but her overt innocence was a distraction. He had never understood the appeal of an untutored, inexperienced female. The idea of trying to coax a kiss from her rosy, plump lips made him feel like a lecher of the worst kind. Yet he would have to at least kiss her in order to create the scandal.
“Might I beg a moment of your time, my lord?”
Sebastian glanced down at the gloved hand resting on his forearm, then up into the face of Lady Eleanor. Her features were void of any specific emotion, yet Sebastian sensed an undercurrent of anxiety. It made him wary, yet it would have been impossibly rude to refuse. They set themselves off to the side, away from the boisterous group.
“Are you enjoying the afternoon, Lady Eleanor? Walking in the park, breathing in the fresh, crisp air? Or is it the society that interests you more than the grass and the trees?”
Her expression grew wooden. Lady Eleanor, it appeared, was not a woman who appreciated small talk.
“I am interested in you, my lord,” she said. “Or more specifically I
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