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Authors: Elizabeth Essex
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It was remarkable how little of her true self her appearance revealed, how effectively her intensity was cloaked in politeness. She had another young lady, a petite, vivacious blonde, at her elbow and seemed to be taking her around for introductions. But once she had made the introductions, she invariably stepped away quietly, hanging back from the group, not putting herself forward into the conversation. Yet, on closer observation, he could see she was not aloof exactly. She was engaged in what the others were saying, her eyes quick and wide, but solemn in her face. She simply kept her own counsel.
She was not the ice princess he had imagined, but now that he knew something of her, he was armed. He would be wise to her tricks. He would not be charmed by her aura of innocence, nor drawn in by her intoxicating scent.
He was the one seducing her .
Miss Burke reappeared at the head of the ballroom and he knew the time had come. He rose and went towards her. When the blond young lady took note of him, her blue eyes widening in surprise, and spoke into Miss Burke’s ear, he stepped forward to intercept her.
He had prepared himself for all possibilities—for her to cut him, or attempt to avoid him, or give him some warning he was not to approach her in public. He had been prepared to pursue her to gain that moment of public acknowledgment.
He was astonished to find her immediately coming towards him.
She turned as if seeking him out, as if she had been looking for him . Despite the horrified gasp from her companion, Miss Burke let the other girl’s restraining hand drop away and stepped towards him, directly into his path.
As if she wanted to meet. As if she wanted it to be unavoidable.
“Viscount Darling.” She did not curtsy. Perhaps he had earned the insult.
He bowed deeply, his manners as fine as champagne. “Might I have a word, Miss Burke?”
“That depends, I suppose,” she replied carefully. She did not smile, but spoke with the same quiet gravity as in their last encounter.
He hoped it wouldn’t prove to be characteristic, this thoughtful, luminous presence she had. He wanted— needed —her to be the careless, heedless vixen of his mania. He could not like her, for God’s sake.
She looked at him with steady seriousness for a moment. “It depends on what you plan to do with it once it’s in your possession.”
He searched her solemn, freckle-dusted face, looking for signs of flirting, the simpering knowledge of the coquette. With any other woman such an exchange of words would have been a declaration of, and an invitation to, flirtation. But her dark eyes held the same quiet gravity as her voice. He could not quite take her measure.
“What would you like me to do with it?”
She offered him a quick, humorless smile. “I should like you to be very careful with it.”
And to be very careful with her. That was what she meant. She understood exactly how rough he had been at their first meeting and she was acknowledging the power he had over her. How foolish to show him just how easily she could be wounded. The first had been but an opening salvo to test her range. She was making herself a very easy target.
“I give you my word, Miss Burke. I will be very, very careful with you indeed. In fact, I intend to give you an apology.”
“Do you?” Her dark brows arched higher in surprise.
“Yes. I apologize for my less than polite behavior last evening. I can only say in my defense, you took me off guard.” It was a dangerous thing to say to an enemy. It gave her information and power to use against him. But it was also useful as a test. Would she take advantage of it?
She did not. A momentary flicker of her eyebrow told him she was far too intelligent to buy his charm wholesale. “I must apologize as well. I should have sought out an introduction rather than take you unaware. I am not usually so dreadfully impulsive.”
“No?”
“No.” She made a firm little sideways shake of the head,
She was not the ice princess he had imagined, but now that he knew something of her, he was armed. He would be wise to her tricks. He would not be charmed by her aura of innocence, nor drawn in by her intoxicating scent.
He was the one seducing her .
Miss Burke reappeared at the head of the ballroom and he knew the time had come. He rose and went towards her. When the blond young lady took note of him, her blue eyes widening in surprise, and spoke into Miss Burke’s ear, he stepped forward to intercept her.
He had prepared himself for all possibilities—for her to cut him, or attempt to avoid him, or give him some warning he was not to approach her in public. He had been prepared to pursue her to gain that moment of public acknowledgment.
He was astonished to find her immediately coming towards him.
She turned as if seeking him out, as if she had been looking for him . Despite the horrified gasp from her companion, Miss Burke let the other girl’s restraining hand drop away and stepped towards him, directly into his path.
As if she wanted to meet. As if she wanted it to be unavoidable.
“Viscount Darling.” She did not curtsy. Perhaps he had earned the insult.
He bowed deeply, his manners as fine as champagne. “Might I have a word, Miss Burke?”
“That depends, I suppose,” she replied carefully. She did not smile, but spoke with the same quiet gravity as in their last encounter.
He hoped it wouldn’t prove to be characteristic, this thoughtful, luminous presence she had. He wanted— needed —her to be the careless, heedless vixen of his mania. He could not like her, for God’s sake.
She looked at him with steady seriousness for a moment. “It depends on what you plan to do with it once it’s in your possession.”
He searched her solemn, freckle-dusted face, looking for signs of flirting, the simpering knowledge of the coquette. With any other woman such an exchange of words would have been a declaration of, and an invitation to, flirtation. But her dark eyes held the same quiet gravity as her voice. He could not quite take her measure.
“What would you like me to do with it?”
She offered him a quick, humorless smile. “I should like you to be very careful with it.”
And to be very careful with her. That was what she meant. She understood exactly how rough he had been at their first meeting and she was acknowledging the power he had over her. How foolish to show him just how easily she could be wounded. The first had been but an opening salvo to test her range. She was making herself a very easy target.
“I give you my word, Miss Burke. I will be very, very careful with you indeed. In fact, I intend to give you an apology.”
“Do you?” Her dark brows arched higher in surprise.
“Yes. I apologize for my less than polite behavior last evening. I can only say in my defense, you took me off guard.” It was a dangerous thing to say to an enemy. It gave her information and power to use against him. But it was also useful as a test. Would she take advantage of it?
She did not. A momentary flicker of her eyebrow told him she was far too intelligent to buy his charm wholesale. “I must apologize as well. I should have sought out an introduction rather than take you unaware. I am not usually so dreadfully impulsive.”
“No?”
“No.” She made a firm little sideways shake of the head,
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