Desires of Lady Elise by Rachel Ann Smith

Author:Rachel Ann Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

ELISE CAUGHT BENEDICT’S GAZE; actual concern shone in her brother’s eyes. “Elise, whatever is the matter?”

She squeezed his arm. “It is only correct etiquette I am announced with you and not Thornston.”

Elise quickened her steps tugging Benedict along with her. She needed to put some distance between herself and the man gossips reported as having cavorted with half the married ladies of the ton. She had not believed the rumors that had floated about this past decade. What a fool she had been. The undeniable glimmer in Lady Balenger’s eyes obviously suggested her intimate knowledge of Harold. Had he entertained the woman in his bed, or was the knowing look related to another matter?

And why did Elise continue to give him the benefit of the doubt? The answer remained the same. In her heart, she trusted him. Harold was a man of honor and warmth; he just hadn’t loved her enough a decade ago to stand up to Papa. For years she had agonized over why he had not asked her to run away with him to Gretna Green. She had loved him so deeply that she would have agreed to the scandalous scheme, not caring what shame it would have brought on her family.

No. That was not the truth. She wouldn’t have disobeyed her papa’s orders. She was a dutiful daughter, ever loyal, and would not have done anything to bring about scandal or shame to their family.

Her rioting thoughts caused her breathing to quicken.

Benedict placed his hands on her shoulders. “Are you unwell?”

When she didn’t respond, he gave her a little shake and began to turn her. Emotions crashing like ocean waves, she couldn’t face Thornston. Thankfully, they were announced, and she plastered on a smile for all to see. “Benedict, please help me find Dorinda.”

“Of course. We need to return her fan.”

Was her brother that obtuse, or was he merely covering her peculiar behavior? Leaving Thornston behind would be best. Curse Kilman for not remaining in town.

Benedict murmured, “Not surprising. Surrounded again.”

Elise followed her brother’s gaze across the ballroom to Dorinda, crowded by a bunch of eligible young bachelors. As they made their way through the throng of guests, the muscles in Benedict’s arm repeatedly flexed. Could he be jealous? While her brother may deny an attraction to Dorinda, his body’s reaction told Elise an entirely different story. For when he was near her best friend, Benedict’s irises dilated, the vein in his neck pulsed at a variable rate, and he tended to lean toward her instead of keeping the socially dictated distance between them.

Shoving his fellow peers, Benedict managed to wedge them to the front of the group.

“Elise! When did you arrive?” Dorinda wrapped her hands around Elise’s and pulled her closer to whisper, “I need to escape. Help me.”

Pulling out Dorinda’s fan from her reticule Elise offered it and said, “Perhaps this might help.”

The blush that immediately rose to Dorinda’s cheeks and the sideward glance at Benedict left no question in Elise’s mind that something had occurred between the pair.

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