Read Online Dancing With A Devil by Julie Johnstone - Free Book Online Page B

She gave a decisive nod. “Yes. That would most definitely work for me.”
    Lord Thortonberry leaned back in his chair. “All right. Then I will help you, but only if you help me.”
    Audrey blinked. “With what?”
    “ I wish to make a lady jealous.”
    “ You do?”
    He smiled slowly. “Yes. I do.”
    “ Well, that is grand,” she exclaimed. It was much better if she could repay his help by helping him in kind. “Who do you wish to make envious? Is she here?”
    Lord Thortonberry’s gaze darted across the way to the boxes facing them. Audrey glanced in the same direction and tried to decide which lady he might be looking at.
    “ She is here,” he said abruptly, his gaze still trained in the same area. “Do you know Lady Caroline Rosewood?”
    Audrey found the petite blonde in the sixth box to the left of them. Lady Caroline was considered an incomparable this Season, but Audrey did not really know her. “Only by name and face. We have not been formally introduced. I’m sorry.” She assumed he had hoped she might be one of Lady Caroline’s confidants.
    A thoughtful smiled curved his lips. “That is probably better. I would not want to ruin a friendship between the two of you.”
    Audrey nodded. “What of you and Lord Davenport? Are you concerned helping me will cause a strain between the two of you?” Further strain would be more apt, but she could not say that.
    “ We are not friends, so there is no concern there.”
    His cold tone bothered her. She wanted to ask more, but the curtains parted and Whitney and Mr. Sutherland strolled in. As they took their seats, the lights dimmed to signal the beginning of the play. Below them, in the pit, the noise quieted to a dull roar. She raised the quizzing glasses and sought out the Duke of Primwitty’s box. It was still empty. Blast Trent! Where were they? Had they stopped for him to speak to some other ladies? She dug her nails into her palms.
    The lights on the stage illuminated and the actors and actresses strolled out to begin the play. Audrey’s heart pounded in her chest. Maybe Trent would not take his seat at all. Then what? Suddenly the curtains to the duke’s box parted and Lord Primwitty strolled into his box followed by Trent. Both men sat down. Lord Primwitty looked immediately toward the stage, but Trent appeared to be looking their way.
    Trembling, she lowered the glasses and turned to Lord Thortonberry. “He is looking at us. What of Lady Caroline?”
    “ I believe she is watching as well. Shall we give them a show to rival the play?”
    She giggled. “Yes. What should we do?”
    Lord Thortonberry ran his fingers down the side of her hair and tucked a strand behind her ear before leaning over and pressing his mouth near her ear. “We are already doing it.”
    She cut her gaze to Trent. Was he sitting forward in his seat? “It’s rather hard to tell how Lord Davenport’s face appears from this distance.”
    “ I’m sure he is livid,” Lord Thortonberry replied, sounding rather pleased. “Do you have a fan with you?”
    “ Yes.” Her fingers went automatically to the strings of her reticule. Behind her, Whitney whispered fiercely to Mr. Sutherland. She prayed he was watching the play and not taking notice of her and Lord Thortonberry.
    “ Get it out, open it and raise it above your face, as if you are telling me a secret,” he instructed in low tones.
    She quickly obeyed and raised her fan. When Lord Thortonberry reached up and moved it over his face for a moment, she gasped and tried to pull it away, but he held firm. She dropped her tone low. “What are you doing? Someone may think we are kissing behind the fan.”
    “ Davenport will likely think it, and that is what you want, is it not?”
    Angry, she yanked the fan away. “I do not wish to ruin my reputation in the process of making him jealous,” she hissed.
    Lord Thortonberry spread his hands apologetically. “I’m sorry. But it is dark in here, and no one else is