One Wanton Wager by Amanda Mariel

Author:Amanda Mariel [Mariel, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Medieval
Publisher: Wolfebane Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2019-04-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Daphne spent the next two days avoiding Babylon Castle and Alex as though they were riddled with plague. She’d come far too close to complete surrender on their previous meeting and could no longer trust herself alone with him.

Not now that she craved his touch. Not when he fired her blood as he did.

Worse than plain desire, or wanton cravings, she found herself growing more attached to him as a man. She scarcely saw the rogue when she gazed at him.

Instead, that distasteful part of him had been overshadowed by the man who played with her son. The man who listened when she spoke and laughed with them. The one who worked with his hands and cared for his family.

Heaven’s, she’d grown to see him as an honorable, kindhearted man. The sort she could easily give her heart to. She could not allow for that. Would not. And therefore, she avoided him.

Daphne glanced around the ballroom, finding him staring at her from his position by the balcony doors. He’d been watching her ever since he arrived.

She’d known he’d be present for the Chesterfield ball. In preparation, she’d ensured her dance card was full. Tonight, she determined to dance with as many gentlemen as possible—especially the unwed ones. Her circumstances demanded she find a husband and that is exactly what she meant to do.

Lord Farwell bowed over her hand when their dance ended then led her from the polished dance floor back to Phoebe’s side. “I do hope you enjoyed our dance,” he said.

“Very much, thank you, my lord.” Daphne dipped a curtsey, wishing the gentleman were a few years younger. If he were, he’d make a wonderful potential husband.

He grinned, his grey eyes bright, then strode away.

Phoebe nudged Daphne with her elbow and nodded toward the balcony. “He’s been watching you all night.”

Daphne did not have to look to know who Phoebe referenced for she already knew. Still, her heart sank a little at the mention. Then like a moth to a torch, she turned her head toward Alex. Her pulse quickened as she watched him strolling toward her. Like a cornered fox, all she could do was stare as he drew closer.

She wanted to move, to disappear, but her feet remained solidly in place refusing to do as she bid.

Alex stepped up to them, took Phoebe’s hand and dropped a kiss on her knuckles, then turned to Daphne. “Have you a dance for me?”

She swallowed past the tightness in her throat. “My card is full.”

“Is it truly?” Phoebe asked, her golden brows arched. She reached for Daphne’s wrist then peered down at the names scrolled across her dance card. “How wonderful.”

Daphne glanced from Phoebe to Alex. She forced a smile she scarcely felt. “Perhaps you can dance with Lady Phoebe?”

Phoebe dropped Daphne’s wrist then grinned at Alex. “I’d be honored. And as it happens I have the next dance free.”

Daphne should have reprimanded her sister-in-law for being so brazen but, at the moment, she would overlook anything so long as it got Alex out of her proximity.

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