Read Online Once Upon an Accident 02 - Lessons in Seduction by Melissa Schroeder - Free Book Online
Authors: Melissa Schroeder
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welcoming. In fact, there was a bit of a militant glare in her eyes.
“Ladies.” He bowed over Lady Victoria’s then Anna’s hand, waiting to approach Cicely last. Without a thought, he brushed his lips over her glove, his mind spinning from the warmth and scent of lavender. When he rose, he noticed the most delicious blush creeping into her cheeks.
Keeping his gaze on her face, he asked, “Lady Victoria, I wondered if I could request a turn about the room with Lady Cicely.”
When she didn’t respond, he looked at the older woman to find her watching him with a knowing air. “If Cicely is agreeable.”
He turned back to Cicely who nodded although he knew she wasn’t particularly happy with the situation. Offering her an arm, he waited for her to place her hand on his sleeve, his heart doing a little kick when she accepted.
“Lady Cicely, I do believe that you have a bit of explaining to do.”
She smiled at an acquaintance, an older earl Douglas knew was one of the regulars at The Historical Society. He waited, not so patiently, for her to finish her greetings.
“I have no notion what you are talking about,” she said, keeping her voice just loud enough for him to hear.
He gritted his teeth. “I think you do and I wanted to warn you before you ruin your reputation. I have told no one of our conversation, but other men would not be so discreet.”
She glanced around her surreptitiously. “You have fulfilled your duty, Your Grace.” Letting go of his arm, she curtsied. “If you will excuse me, I need to catch up with Lady Middleton about The Historical Society meeting this week.”
He looked over her head toward the corner where many of the dowagers rested. When she rose, he met her gaze. “If you promise me to be careful and make no requests to other gentlemen tonight.”
She smiled. “I assure you that I will not approach anyone this evening. I have since decided against my first plan.” The utter sincerity in her eyes had him nodding.
Turning, she walked to the older women and his gaze drew down her form to her rear end. He was struck again by the ferocity of his need to discover what she hid under those ghastly dresses. He felt another pulse of arousal. He ignored it and thinking he had done his duty, decided to find Lady Catherine. Perhaps her humor could distract him from his current unsettling line of thought.
The heat of the ballroom had Cicely’s head throbbing. Her breath tangled in her throat and a cold chill slithered into her stomach. She hated the occasional fear she experienced in large crowds. Every now and then, the press of people caused the dammed clawing terror to rise. The evening’s party was a huge success, the number of guests overwhelming.
They bumped and touched, not from rudeness, but rather lack of room.
She could not step but a foot ahead without jostling someone. She tried to contain her discomfort, but that compiled with the misery of seeing Douglas pursuing yet another woman was too much. She’d witnessed it for years, but for some reason this time, after his refusal, it was painful to watch.
Needing a respite, she excused herself from Anna’s group of admirers.
As she pretended to drift toward the ladies’ retiring room, she wandered down the hall a bit further. A sigh of relief escaped when she found the library free.
Closing the door behind her, she wandered around the darkened room, careful of the furniture. When she located the Chesterfield, she settled at one end, kicked off her slippers and closed her eyes. The fright that had threatened to embarrass her was fading. She would never understand the nature of it. It didn’t happen in small confined places, or in dark rooms like her present sanctuary.
She took deep breaths, her body slowly relaxing and her fear melting away. Only to have it rush forward again when she heard the door click.
Her eyes flew open and she turned to see who was at the door. She could only see the outline of a man against
“Ladies.” He bowed over Lady Victoria’s then Anna’s hand, waiting to approach Cicely last. Without a thought, he brushed his lips over her glove, his mind spinning from the warmth and scent of lavender. When he rose, he noticed the most delicious blush creeping into her cheeks.
Keeping his gaze on her face, he asked, “Lady Victoria, I wondered if I could request a turn about the room with Lady Cicely.”
When she didn’t respond, he looked at the older woman to find her watching him with a knowing air. “If Cicely is agreeable.”
He turned back to Cicely who nodded although he knew she wasn’t particularly happy with the situation. Offering her an arm, he waited for her to place her hand on his sleeve, his heart doing a little kick when she accepted.
“Lady Cicely, I do believe that you have a bit of explaining to do.”
She smiled at an acquaintance, an older earl Douglas knew was one of the regulars at The Historical Society. He waited, not so patiently, for her to finish her greetings.
“I have no notion what you are talking about,” she said, keeping her voice just loud enough for him to hear.
He gritted his teeth. “I think you do and I wanted to warn you before you ruin your reputation. I have told no one of our conversation, but other men would not be so discreet.”
She glanced around her surreptitiously. “You have fulfilled your duty, Your Grace.” Letting go of his arm, she curtsied. “If you will excuse me, I need to catch up with Lady Middleton about The Historical Society meeting this week.”
He looked over her head toward the corner where many of the dowagers rested. When she rose, he met her gaze. “If you promise me to be careful and make no requests to other gentlemen tonight.”
She smiled. “I assure you that I will not approach anyone this evening. I have since decided against my first plan.” The utter sincerity in her eyes had him nodding.
Turning, she walked to the older women and his gaze drew down her form to her rear end. He was struck again by the ferocity of his need to discover what she hid under those ghastly dresses. He felt another pulse of arousal. He ignored it and thinking he had done his duty, decided to find Lady Catherine. Perhaps her humor could distract him from his current unsettling line of thought.
The heat of the ballroom had Cicely’s head throbbing. Her breath tangled in her throat and a cold chill slithered into her stomach. She hated the occasional fear she experienced in large crowds. Every now and then, the press of people caused the dammed clawing terror to rise. The evening’s party was a huge success, the number of guests overwhelming.
They bumped and touched, not from rudeness, but rather lack of room.
She could not step but a foot ahead without jostling someone. She tried to contain her discomfort, but that compiled with the misery of seeing Douglas pursuing yet another woman was too much. She’d witnessed it for years, but for some reason this time, after his refusal, it was painful to watch.
Needing a respite, she excused herself from Anna’s group of admirers.
As she pretended to drift toward the ladies’ retiring room, she wandered down the hall a bit further. A sigh of relief escaped when she found the library free.
Closing the door behind her, she wandered around the darkened room, careful of the furniture. When she located the Chesterfield, she settled at one end, kicked off her slippers and closed her eyes. The fright that had threatened to embarrass her was fading. She would never understand the nature of it. It didn’t happen in small confined places, or in dark rooms like her present sanctuary.
She took deep breaths, her body slowly relaxing and her fear melting away. Only to have it rush forward again when she heard the door click.
Her eyes flew open and she turned to see who was at the door. She could only see the outline of a man against
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