A Ballroom Temptation by Kimberly Bell

Author:Kimberly Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2017-03-13T16:39:08+00:00

Chapter 12

The weather had turned nice for a stretch, so Lady Lyndon had planned a picnic during the day, followed by a musicale in the early evening. By some bizarre misunderstanding, Jane had been invited. So had Adam.

She hadn’t seen him in three days. He’d sent notes, and he’d said he was going to think of something, but what if he couldn’t? What if she was irreparably damaged and there was no solution? Would he still want to be her friend? Maybe he’d already decided she was a lost cause and that’s why she hadn’t heard from him. If he avoided her at the Lyndons, or skipped it altogether, she would have her answer.

Jane scanned the crowd on the lawn for a familiar set of overly wide shoulders.

Next to her, Matty did the same. “Do you see him?”

“Why are you in such a rush for me to find Adam?”

“As soon as you have someone else to talk to, I’m going to join that decrepit widower in the shade and make inappropriate jests until it’s acceptable to start drinking.” Matty eyed her target. “He might even have a flask.”

“Your behavior is supremely unladylike.”

“Ladies are boring. I’m deeply pleased you’re considering leaving their ranks.”

“I’m not leaving their ranks!”

“Ladies don’t kiss handsome rogues.”

“Adam is not a rogue.”

“Time will tell.” Mathilda lifted her arm to point. “There he is.”

It was true. Adam was coming down the slope from the house, headed straight for them. Jane couldn’t stop the smile from practically splitting her face in two.

“Mhmmm,” Mathilda said, watching her. “Only rogues make a girl smile like that.”

“Stop it, he’s coming over.”

“With a decidedly roguish walk.”

“Matty,” Jane warned. There was nothing roguish about his walk. He had a long, purposeful stride that made it very easy to picture him strolling through rows of tobacco plants on his farm.

“Good day, ladies.” Adam was in bright spirits. “Do you mind if I share your blanket?”

“You didn’t bring your own?” Mathilda asked.

“I’m afraid not.”

“How roguish.” She leered at Jane.

“Please ignore her,” Jane told Adam. “She’s just irritated because Lady Lyndon is only serving lemonade to the ladies.”

Matty scowled. “What is this, church?”

“Have you seen Brandon?” Adam asked.

“Only in my dreams.”

Jane covered her eyes with her hand. “In a strange twist, my aunt becomes less appropriate the less intoxicated she is.”

Adam laughed. He found Lord Brandon in the crowd and caught his attention.

“Lady Hawthorne. Miss Bailey.” Lord Brandon bowed low when he made his way over.

Adam nodded to him. “Lady Hawthorne has need of your flask, Brandon.”

“Are you sure about that? It’s strong stuff.” He handed it over anyway.

“You’re both wonderful young men,” Mathilda told them. “And I hope you get everything you desire in life.”

“My aunt doesn’t enjoy—”

“Bright sunlight, sitting on the ground, or any of these people.” Matty handed Brandon back his flask.

“Here, here.” Brandon toasted it, putting it to his lips. “May I join you?”

“Please do.”

It was Jane’s turn to tease her aunt. “What about your decrepit widower in the shade?”

“This one’s company is worth a little sun.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.