Read Online Never Trust a Rogue by Olivia Drake - Free Book Online Page A

people shifting this way and that, she couldn’t be certain. But the mere thought of running into him made her feel flushed and agitated.
    At least it had had one good effect: she was now wide awake.
    The dance steps were drawing to a close. Lord Wrayford bowed deeply from the waist, revealing that he had carefully combed his hair to hide the bald patch at the back of his head.
    Preoccupied, Lindsey curtsied by rote and spoke without thinking: “Do you know if Lord Mansfield is present tonight?”
    “Mansfield? Why do you ask?”
    “I—I had a question to ask of him. In regard to his ward.”
    Wrayford cocked a sandy eyebrow in a calculating stare. “Now that you mention it, I did catch a glimpse of him a few moments ago while we were dancing. If you’ll take a turn around the room with me, I’ll show you precisely where he is.”
    Grasping her elbow, he led her off the dance floor in the direction where she’d seen Mansfield. Lindsey tried to lag back, but Wrayford had a firm hold and she had to match his pace or risk creating a scene. The last thing she wanted was a face-to-face encounter with Mansfield.
    Why, oh why, had she been so foolish as to bring up his name?
    “This is hardly a convenient time to seek him out,” she said. “My mother will be looking for me.”
    “Never mind that; we’re almost there.” Wrayfordbrought her to a halt by the massive arch of the doorway. He nodded toward one of the marble pillars set at intervals around the ballroom. “Look, there’s our quarry now.”
    His back to her, Mansfield stood half-concealed by a screen of ferns. There was no mistaking his lofty dark-haired form. A chocolate brown coat emphasized the breadth of his shoulders as he bent down to speak to a lovely brunette in a turquoise gown cut scandalously low at the bosom. They seemed to be having an excellent time laughing together, the lady casting coquettish smiles from beneath her lashes. She boldly walked her fingertips up the lapel of his coat, and Mansfield caught her gloved hand, turning it over to kiss her palm.
    The sight caused an unsettling twist inside Lindsey. It was disgust, of course, for who else but the earl would dare to flirt so outrageously out in public?
    “Do you recognize his companion?” Wrayford murmured.
    The tickle of his breath on her ear startled her into taking a backward step. Wrayford stood mere inches from her, so close she could see a few pockmarks on his skin. “No,” she said. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
    “That doesn’t surprise me. Her name is Lady Entwhistle, and she’s hardly the sort that innocent young ladies should know.”
    Entwhistle.
The name rang a faint bell, although Lindsey couldn’t recall where she’d heard it. “What do you mean?”
    “She’s a widow who . . . how shall I say it? Who counts an inordinate number of gentlemen among her closest acquaintances.”
    His implication shocked Lindsey. She couldn’t resist taking another peek at the couple. Still clasping Lady Entwhistle’s hand, Mansfield kept his full attention trainedon his companion. Their aura of intimacy filled Lindsey with an instinctive dislike of the woman.
    And even more so of Mansfield.
    “If her reputation has suffered,” she asked Wrayford, “why has society not shunned her?”
    “Her father was a marquess, and pedigree does allow for a certain leeway in conduct. Besides, she’s well versed in pressing the boundaries of discretion. Come along now; I believe you’ve seen quite enough.” Wrayford guided Lindsey back through the throng of people in the ballroom. “We are friends, are we not?” he asked, taking her hand and patting the back of it.
    Still trying to recall where she’d heard of the woman, Lindsey had to cudgel her thoughts back to him. “Mmm.”
    Her lackluster response failed to deter Wrayford. “As such,” he continued, “I feel compelled to warn you to keep your distance from the rogue. You can see the caliber of female that Mansfield