Read Online The Promise in a Kiss by Stephanie Laurens - Free Book Online

distraction—a distraction so complete she lost touch with the world and there existed only the two of them, circling, bowing, gliding through the figures, hands linked, gazes locked. At the end of the dance when he raised her, her heart was beating just a little faster, her breathing just a little shallower.
    Her awareness as she met his gaze was more acute.
    Acute enough to sense the thoughts behind the innocent blue of his eyes, behind the heavy-lidded gaze that dropped from her eyes to her lips.
    Her lips throbbed; she looked at his, long, lean . . . and remembered, too clearly, what they’d felt like against hers.
    The tension between them drew tight, quivered, then his lips curved. He turned her from the floor, glancing about them once more.
    Helena barely had time to draw breath before another lady—this one black-haired and black-eyed—swept up.
    â€œGood evening, St. Ives.”
    Sebastian nodded. “Therese.”
    The lady was in her early thirties, striking rather than beautiful, and dressed to take advantage of her unusual looks. As Augusta had, she stretched up and kissed Sebastian’s cheek. “Do introduce me.”
    Helena sensed rather than heard Sebastian’s sigh.
    â€œMademoiselle la comtesse d’Lisle—Lady Osbaldestone.”
    Her ladyship curtsied prettily; Helena curtsied back, conscious of her ladyship’s sharp black gaze.
    â€œTherese is a cousin of sorts,” Sebastian added.
    â€œA distant connection I take shameless advantage of,” Lady Osbaldestone corrected, speaking directly to Helena. “Which is why, having heard that St. Ives’s latest start was to introduce a comtesse into society, I had, of course, to meet you.” She slanted a glance at Sebastian; Helena couldn’t interpret the look in her black eyes. “So interesting.”
    Looking back at Helena, Lady Osbaldestone smiled. “One never knows what Sebastian will be at next, but—”
    â€œTherese.”
    The softly spoken word held enough menace to halt the flow of Lady Osbaldestone’s not-quite-artless discourse. She grimaced and turned to him. “Spoilsport. But you can hardly expect me to be blind.”
    â€œMore’s the pity.”
    â€œAnyway”—much of her ladyship’s sharpness evaporated—“I wanted to thank you for your help in that small matter of mine.”
    â€œIt’s been settled satisfactorily, I take it?”
    â€œEminently satisfactorily, thank you.”
    â€œAnd would I be correct in assuming Osbaldestone remains in blissful ignorance?”
    â€œDon’t be daft, of course he doesn’t know. He’s a man. He’d never understand.”
    Sebastian’s brows rose. “Indeed? And I am . . . ?”
    â€œSt. Ives,” her ladyship promptly retorted. “You’re unshockable.”
    A faint smile curled Sebastian’s lips. Lady Osbaldestone turned to Helena. “The mind boggles at the number of ladies’ secrets he keeps.”
    Helena’s mind boggled at the fact they trusted him with such secrets at all. The notion of any lady willingly trusting Fabien was beyond ludicrous.
    She chatted with Lady Osbaldestone, who had recently visited Paris. It transpired they had acquaintances in common; despite her sharp tongue, her ladyship was both interesting and entertaining. Helena enjoyed the short interlude but was conscious that Sebastian was alert, his blue eyes beneath their heavy lids fixed on her ladyship.
    Lady Osbaldestone proved equally aware; she eventually turned to him. “All right, all right, I’m going. But I take leave to tell you you’re becoming transparent.”
    She bobbed a curtsy to him, bowed to Helena, then swept away.
    Helena glanced at Sebastian as he retook her hand. Did she dare ask what about him was becoming transparent? “She seems very well informed.”
    â€œUnfortunately. I don’t know why I bear