Belle of the Ball: Hot Historical Romance (Desperate and Daring Book 2) by Dayna Quince

Author:Dayna Quince [Quince, Dayna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Rose Press
Published: 2014-11-24T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Anabelle didn’t see Draven when they left, but she swore she could feel him watching. The next evening, at the Smithdale ball, she experienced the same sensation, and she wondered how often he observed her. Had he not been doing so last night, what would have become of Hazel? She was not alarmed by his protectiveness; instead, she felt captivated by it.

Anabelle was anxiously aware of herself now, knowing he was watching. What did he see? She had dressed with care tonight, wearing a daringly low dress of cream silk with a blush-pink lace overlay.

She wanted to draw him out. She wanted to dare him to dance attendance on her tonight so she could ask him how he had been there exactly when Hazel had needed him. She also wanted to tempt him. The irony was not lost on her. Not long ago, he had tried to tempt her. Anabelle didn’t feel like his angel tonight. She still had the hum of her desire for him from the night before in her veins, making her feel wicked.

How long would she have to wait?

Hazel was at home with an imaginary cold tonight, a precaution in case any word of the incident with Mr. Von Drake had been witnessed and set about. So far, there wasn’t even a whisper of her name mentioned. Anabelle had waited with Lucy in the line to the ladies’ retiring room before the dancing began. Truthfully, she didn’t want to be tied to the dance floor all night, not when she had business with Draven. Due to her surge in popularity after the masquerade, her dance card was always full, so she avoided the ballroom altogether until the last possible moment.

“I’ve asked Thea to spend the summer with me,” Lucy mentioned. “Her family has been positively dreadful to her this season. I think I should kidnap her altogether.”

Anabelle huffed in laughter. “Have you told Thea about this plan?”

“Yes, she is in accord. Perhaps I can get her married off, so she won’t even have to go back.”

“Where is she tonight?”

“The Opera. It’s her great aunt’s birthday. They do it every year.”

“Poor girl.”

They finally made it into the cramped retiring room, and Lucy had a maid fix the loose strap on her slipper. Exiting, they slowly made progress toward the ballroom, where they were beset upon by eager dance partners.

Anabelle wanted to groan but refrained. Names quickly filled every line but the last. In a swell of panic, she tucked it away in her reticule and smiled regretfully at Sir Stanley. “My card is full, I’m afraid.”

He bowed away gracefully, and she felt guilty. What if Draven didn’t even ask her to dance? She contemplated taking it out again, but when she checked her reticule, she saw a folded piece of paper. Her list!

She had completely forgotten about her list of potential husbands.

She made an excuse to urgently speak with her mother and slipped away from the crowd of admirers. Finding a little curtained alcove shared with a bust of some Greek deity she couldn’t recall, she opened her list and reviewed the names.

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