Read Online Living London by Kristin Vayden - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kristin Vayden
Ads: Link
I say? I couldn't talk about the weather again, could I? All I really wanted to do was dance with him again, but I knew the chances of that were slim to none. Even my limited knowledge told me he couldn't ask for another dance without causing talk, and I was already in the spotlight from my fiasco in Hyde Park. Lost in my thoughts, I slipped up and blew out an exasperated breath.
"Is something amiss, Miss Westin?" Lord Ashby had been watching me. My face heated at the realization.
"Yes, but unfortunately there's nothing I can do to remedy it, so let us talk of something else. Tell me about yourself."
The crisp British tones he spoke with were somehow subtler. He carried himself with a confidence he didn't seem aware he even possessed. The eyes of the many young debutantes followed his every move as we spoke about family, siblings, and books. We had a surprising amount in common despite the fact that I was an only child and he was one of eight. His eyes would take on a teasing glint just before he'd make an offhanded remark, and he smiled often, in sharp contrast to the pinched expressions on the faces of those around us.
At last, Lord Ashby excused himself and bowed graciously toward an approaching Amelia. She accepted his invitation to dance, and I was left alone with my thoughts. Amelia had excused herself shortly after her dance with Lord Rake, but I knew she'd be back soon. and when she returned, I had a few questions for her.
"May I have this dance as well?" came a caramelized voice from behind me. Either Lord Rake wanted me to turn him down and sit out the rest of the dances of the evening, or he wanted to cause a stir.
"Why would you ask that?" I whispered, upset at his attempt to bring more attention to me.
"Ask you to dance? Why, because I enjoy it. Everyone enjoys… dancing." His eyes left my face and appraised my body in a heated way. When his gaze met mine again, I was scowling. He was handsome and charming, but that wouldn't cover his many sins.
"You! No wonder she won't give you the time of day! You have no shame! What is wrong with you?" I spoke heatedly, drawing attention from the nearby gentry. He had the good sense to look unsure of himself. My face heated as I realized I was scolding an Earl, and I was ashamed of my outburst. With a quieter tone, I continued the conversation in whisper.
"Forgive me, my lord. Why would you ask me to dance again? Already I'm on display here. Please…" The emotional stress of keeping up appearances was too heavy for even my broad shoulders to bear. "Please," I whispered. "I just want to go home." In so many ways .
Realizing my turmoil was authentic and not some simpering feminine ploy, his expression changed from Lord Rake to protective older brother. "I apologize for my behavior, Miss Westin. You're clearly upset, and I've only made it worse. It was never my intention. Please forgive me. I'll return shortly to escort you to your carriage once it's ready." With a very proper bow, he was gone.
"Are you well?" Amelia asked, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"No, I just…" I paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready to go home and Lord Rake — er, Lord Heath offered to get my carriage ready."
"You looked upset." Her brown eyes searched mine, her gloved hand still on my arm giving me comfort.
"I was. I scolded him for asking for another dance when I knew it would cause even more talk and attention."
Lord Ashby, who had escorted Amelia to my side, excused himself abruptly. Amelia and I watched him stride off purposefully. And once again I found myself admiring his shoulders. "What was that about?" I asked Amelia, but she was already looking at me with a small smile on her face.
"Jealousy." Her smirk widened. "You've always had a tendre for him, you know. It's good that even though you don't remember your best friends' names, you still have great taste in men," she joked.
"I've always had a thing for him, huh?" I asked, killing the English language with my
"Is something amiss, Miss Westin?" Lord Ashby had been watching me. My face heated at the realization.
"Yes, but unfortunately there's nothing I can do to remedy it, so let us talk of something else. Tell me about yourself."
The crisp British tones he spoke with were somehow subtler. He carried himself with a confidence he didn't seem aware he even possessed. The eyes of the many young debutantes followed his every move as we spoke about family, siblings, and books. We had a surprising amount in common despite the fact that I was an only child and he was one of eight. His eyes would take on a teasing glint just before he'd make an offhanded remark, and he smiled often, in sharp contrast to the pinched expressions on the faces of those around us.
At last, Lord Ashby excused himself and bowed graciously toward an approaching Amelia. She accepted his invitation to dance, and I was left alone with my thoughts. Amelia had excused herself shortly after her dance with Lord Rake, but I knew she'd be back soon. and when she returned, I had a few questions for her.
"May I have this dance as well?" came a caramelized voice from behind me. Either Lord Rake wanted me to turn him down and sit out the rest of the dances of the evening, or he wanted to cause a stir.
"Why would you ask that?" I whispered, upset at his attempt to bring more attention to me.
"Ask you to dance? Why, because I enjoy it. Everyone enjoys… dancing." His eyes left my face and appraised my body in a heated way. When his gaze met mine again, I was scowling. He was handsome and charming, but that wouldn't cover his many sins.
"You! No wonder she won't give you the time of day! You have no shame! What is wrong with you?" I spoke heatedly, drawing attention from the nearby gentry. He had the good sense to look unsure of himself. My face heated as I realized I was scolding an Earl, and I was ashamed of my outburst. With a quieter tone, I continued the conversation in whisper.
"Forgive me, my lord. Why would you ask me to dance again? Already I'm on display here. Please…" The emotional stress of keeping up appearances was too heavy for even my broad shoulders to bear. "Please," I whispered. "I just want to go home." In so many ways .
Realizing my turmoil was authentic and not some simpering feminine ploy, his expression changed from Lord Rake to protective older brother. "I apologize for my behavior, Miss Westin. You're clearly upset, and I've only made it worse. It was never my intention. Please forgive me. I'll return shortly to escort you to your carriage once it's ready." With a very proper bow, he was gone.
"Are you well?" Amelia asked, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"No, I just…" I paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready to go home and Lord Rake — er, Lord Heath offered to get my carriage ready."
"You looked upset." Her brown eyes searched mine, her gloved hand still on my arm giving me comfort.
"I was. I scolded him for asking for another dance when I knew it would cause even more talk and attention."
Lord Ashby, who had escorted Amelia to my side, excused himself abruptly. Amelia and I watched him stride off purposefully. And once again I found myself admiring his shoulders. "What was that about?" I asked Amelia, but she was already looking at me with a small smile on her face.
"Jealousy." Her smirk widened. "You've always had a tendre for him, you know. It's good that even though you don't remember your best friends' names, you still have great taste in men," she joked.
"I've always had a thing for him, huh?" I asked, killing the English language with my
Similar Books
