of his Adam’s apple.
She flushed, feeling foolish.
Ninny
. One couldn’t expect men to battle one another frilled up in cravats, now, could one?
The bright of day did little to diminish Stratford’s darkly sensuous appeal. Why should
he
, of all men, draw her so? Whatever the reason, she couldn’t deny that Stratford affected her as no other had. Although she longed to scorn him after last night’s humiliation, a part of her yearned to explore this appalling attraction, and that was as impossible as it was shameful.
Aunt Eliza stopped as she, Liliana and Penelope neared the marked field—directly in Stratford’s line of sight. Very craftily done, indeed. Aunt was rewardedwhen Stratford pulled away from his companions and started toward them.
Liliana tamped down her anxiety. He hadn’t informed Aunt Eliza that he’d caught Liliana out of her room last night, but would he now? Was he only waiting to dress her down in public to complete her lesson? Her gaze latched onto his face, searching for any indication of his thoughts, but his chiseled features revealed nothing.
“Good afternoon, Lady Belsham, Miss Belsham,” Stratford greeted as he joined them. He insinuated himself right next to Liliana.
She shifted uncomfortably, his presence overwhelming and subtly charged. Liliana caught a hint of mint—wintergreen, and stronger than it had been last night.
“Miss Claremont,” he said, turning his vivid blue eyes to her. “I am relieved to see you looking so well.” He gave her a practiced smile. “My compliments on your fetching ensemble.” He lowered his head, his voice rumbling against her ear. “Much better suited for catching a husband than your dress of last night,” he murmured.
His warm breath brushed against Liliana’s neck. Her ears turned hot with a mixture of confusion and rising ire. Did he mean he
knew
she wasn’t hunting a husband last night in her drab, dark attire? Or did he mean he still thought her a husband hunter, only much improved by a wardrobe change? Either way, she should be offended. She opened her mouth to set him down, but Aunt Eliza’s encouraging smile stopped her. “Why, thank you, my lord,” Liliana said sweetly, loud enough for Aunt to hear. “It’s so kind of you to notice.” She turned to Stratford and muttered low, “Too bad your manners don’t extend to private company.”
His facile smile slipped. “We need to talk,” he whispered. He turned back to Aunt Eliza. “Lady Belsham, might I steal your niece away for a stroll?”
Aunt beamed. “Of course.” She nodded at Liliana. “If you feel up to it, my dear?” All three pairs of eyes turned to look at her expectantly.
Liliana dearly wished to say she most certainly did
not
feel up to it—that she’d rather walk with the devil. As he stood there with his dark good looks, she decided he might very well
be
Lucifer. Was that jab about catching a husband designed to put her at ease, lull her into thinking he didn’t know why she was here? Why did he
really
wish to talk with her?
He raised an impatient black brow in challenge, and Liliana narrowed her eyes. He
knew
she didn’t want to go anywhere near him, blast him. He also knew she couldn’t risk him opening his mouth about last night.
He offered his arm.
Aunt Eliza discreetly cleared her throat.
Liliana cursed under her breath. “A stroll would be lovely.”
Chapter Five
G
eoffrey clasped Miss Claremont’s slender hand and tucked it securely in the crook of his arm. For a moment, it seemed she might snatch it back, but after a brief hesitation she settled her gloved fingers on his forearm. Yet her annoyance broke over him in waves.
He swam in dangerous waters. He’d behaved despicably last night, and she had every right to be angry with him. Geoffrey glanced over at Miss Claremont—Liliana. He’d kissed the woman. He might as well make free with her name. She looked
She flushed, feeling foolish.
Ninny
. One couldn’t expect men to battle one another frilled up in cravats, now, could one?
The bright of day did little to diminish Stratford’s darkly sensuous appeal. Why should
he
, of all men, draw her so? Whatever the reason, she couldn’t deny that Stratford affected her as no other had. Although she longed to scorn him after last night’s humiliation, a part of her yearned to explore this appalling attraction, and that was as impossible as it was shameful.
Aunt Eliza stopped as she, Liliana and Penelope neared the marked field—directly in Stratford’s line of sight. Very craftily done, indeed. Aunt was rewardedwhen Stratford pulled away from his companions and started toward them.
Liliana tamped down her anxiety. He hadn’t informed Aunt Eliza that he’d caught Liliana out of her room last night, but would he now? Was he only waiting to dress her down in public to complete her lesson? Her gaze latched onto his face, searching for any indication of his thoughts, but his chiseled features revealed nothing.
“Good afternoon, Lady Belsham, Miss Belsham,” Stratford greeted as he joined them. He insinuated himself right next to Liliana.
She shifted uncomfortably, his presence overwhelming and subtly charged. Liliana caught a hint of mint—wintergreen, and stronger than it had been last night.
“Miss Claremont,” he said, turning his vivid blue eyes to her. “I am relieved to see you looking so well.” He gave her a practiced smile. “My compliments on your fetching ensemble.” He lowered his head, his voice rumbling against her ear. “Much better suited for catching a husband than your dress of last night,” he murmured.
His warm breath brushed against Liliana’s neck. Her ears turned hot with a mixture of confusion and rising ire. Did he mean he
knew
she wasn’t hunting a husband last night in her drab, dark attire? Or did he mean he still thought her a husband hunter, only much improved by a wardrobe change? Either way, she should be offended. She opened her mouth to set him down, but Aunt Eliza’s encouraging smile stopped her. “Why, thank you, my lord,” Liliana said sweetly, loud enough for Aunt to hear. “It’s so kind of you to notice.” She turned to Stratford and muttered low, “Too bad your manners don’t extend to private company.”
His facile smile slipped. “We need to talk,” he whispered. He turned back to Aunt Eliza. “Lady Belsham, might I steal your niece away for a stroll?”
Aunt beamed. “Of course.” She nodded at Liliana. “If you feel up to it, my dear?” All three pairs of eyes turned to look at her expectantly.
Liliana dearly wished to say she most certainly did
not
feel up to it—that she’d rather walk with the devil. As he stood there with his dark good looks, she decided he might very well
be
Lucifer. Was that jab about catching a husband designed to put her at ease, lull her into thinking he didn’t know why she was here? Why did he
really
wish to talk with her?
He raised an impatient black brow in challenge, and Liliana narrowed her eyes. He
knew
she didn’t want to go anywhere near him, blast him. He also knew she couldn’t risk him opening his mouth about last night.
He offered his arm.
Aunt Eliza discreetly cleared her throat.
Liliana cursed under her breath. “A stroll would be lovely.”
Chapter Five
G
eoffrey clasped Miss Claremont’s slender hand and tucked it securely in the crook of his arm. For a moment, it seemed she might snatch it back, but after a brief hesitation she settled her gloved fingers on his forearm. Yet her annoyance broke over him in waves.
He swam in dangerous waters. He’d behaved despicably last night, and she had every right to be angry with him. Geoffrey glanced over at Miss Claremont—Liliana. He’d kissed the woman. He might as well make free with her name. She looked
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