Irresistible by Mary Balogh

Author:Mary Balogh
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.

Nathaniel kept talking. Lady Gullis, with charming condescension, complimented Lavinia on her appearance and asked her if she had yet received vouchers for Almack’s.

Nathaniel hoped Sophie would not realize they were deliberately protecting her. Rex and Ken were showing every sign of joining their group. But that would look just too obvious. It should be unnecessary anyway. Pinter would surely take the hint and refrain from upsetting her as he had two evenings before.

But Pinter did not take the hint. And when all was said and done, there was very little Sophie’s friends could do about it short of drawing unwelcome attention her way by creating a scene.

“Sophie.” Pinter bowed to her, favoring her with his very white smile. “I am hurt that you have sought out your other friends before me.” He reached out and took her left hand in his. He glanced down at her ring finger and then placed his lips to the very spot where her wedding ring usually rested.

Yes, Nathaniel saw, the finger was definitely bare.

“Mr. Pinter,” she said—in her usual steady, cheerful voice.

“Pinter.” Eden was using his most haughty, languid voice. His quizzing glass was in his hand and halfway to his eye. “Just the chap who will know where I might find the card room. Do come and show me.”

But Boris Pinter was not to be distracted. “Sophie,” he said, lowering her hand but not releasing it, “you are with some of your dearest friends. Some of them are our mutual acquaintances. But there is one young lady I do not know. Will you present me?” He turned his head and smiled at Lavinia.

For one moment Nathaniel’s eyes met Sophie’s. She was—smiling. Her usual placid, comfortable smile. She was surrounded by friends, any one of whom would be willing to shed blood in her defense. She must realize at this moment that they had all stayed deliberately close to her to protect her from just such unwelcome attentions. She might quite easily have snubbed Pinter without in any way drawing general attention her way. Instead she was smiling and beginning to extend a hand in Lavinia’s direction. In another moment—less—she would be making the requested introductions and that bounder would be able to claim an acquaintance with Lavinia.

Not if he could help it!

“Excuse us,” he said abruptly, grasping Lavinia’s arm. “Lady Gullis? Sophie?” His half bow took in both ladies. “We must be joining my sister and brother-in-law.” He whisked Lavinia past Rex and Kenneth, who must surely have heard what had passed.

What he had done, Nathaniel thought, was humiliate Sophie. And he was not sure his snub had gone unnoticed. All the members of Rex and Ken’s group seemed to have turned to watch him go. But he was still too furious to care greatly.

Lavinia hauled back on his arm as they approached the doorway. “Nat?” she said angrily. “Unhand me this instant. What was that all about? Who is he that you must be so abominably rude? And do not tell me as you did yesterday that I would not wish to know.

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