Read Online On a Wild Night by Stephanie Laurens - Free Book Online Page A

yet to see any sign that she was specifically interested in him. She was used to protective males—like her cousins; the possibility existed—lowering thought—that she would with equal ease accept the protection of some other, similar gentleman. He couldn’t offhand think of any other who might appear to squire her platonically, but the prospect remained. Her transparent liking for and encouragement of his company might simply reflect a natural gravitation toward the sort of male in whose company she felt comfortable.
    She wasn’t stalking him—she was haunting him. An entirely different circumstance, for as of that moment, he had no idea if she intended to or not.
    That, he decided, was the issue he had to deal with—the point he needed to clarify.
    He pushed away from the wall. Leopold had monopolized her for long enough, and the bucks who’d approached earlier hadn’t gone far.
    Her attention on Leopold, she didn’t see him approach. Nor did Leopold, a willing captive, his dark gaze locked on her face. Only when he loomed beside her did she break off and look up—then she smiled gloriously and held out her hand.
    â€œMy lord.”
    He closed his fingers about hers. She curtsied. He raised her and bowed. “Miss Cynster.”
    Her lips remained curved, her eyes alight with a delight that had not been there before. The frown growing in Leopold’s eyes as they flicked from him to her suggested that the last was not a fabrication of his imagination.
    â€œDexter.” Leopold’s nod was curt. “You are acquainted with Miss Cynster.”
    Not a question—at least, not the obvious one; Martin met Leopold’s gaze. “We’re . . . friends.”
    Leopold’s frown grew more definite; “friends” uttered in that way could mean just about anything. Leopold, however, knew Martin quite well.
    If the object of their discussion had any inkling of the communication passing over her head, she gave no sign, but glanced from one to the other, the expectation of entertainment in her eyes. Her gaze came to rest on Martin.
    Looking down, he smiled easily. “Would you care to stroll and see who else is present? You’ve been here for a while—I’m sure Leopold has other claims on his time.”
    He’d meant the last sentence as a warning; a sudden gleam in her eye, the deepening of her smile had him rapidly replaying his words. As she prettily took her leave of Leopold, Martin inwardly kicked himself. He’d just told her he’d been watching her—for a while.
    As host, Leopold couldn’t scowl, but the look he cast Martin as they parted stated he’d be back—back to pry Amanda from Martin’s side. Leopold liked nothing better than to cross swords, metaphorically, with a peer.
    Martin offered his arm; Amanda laid her hand on his sleeve.
    â€œDo you know Mr. Korsinsky well?”
    â€œYes. I have business interests in Corsica.” And Leopold’s family were the biggest bandits on the island.
    â€œIs he . . .”—she gestured—“trustworthy? Or should I view him in the same light as the other two he introduced?”
    Martin went to answer, caught himself, then inwardly shrugged. She knew he’d been watching. “Leopold has his own brand of honor, but it isn’t English. I’m not even sure it falls within the realms of ‘civilized.’ It would be wiser totreat him as you would the other two.” He paused, then added in tones rather less drawled, “In other words, avoid them.”
    Her lips quirked; she glanced up. “I’m more than seven, you know.”
    He caught her gaze. “They, however, are more than eight.”
    â€œAnd you?”
    They’d slowed. Ahead, a lady waved to attract their attention. Martin saw, but didn’t respond, absorbed in studying the face turned up to his—it could be that of an angel except it