Some Women Don't Play by the Rules by Alyssa Alexander

Author:Alyssa Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alyssa Alexander

Two

“You are not quite what I expected for my prince this night.” The soldier tossed her head and looked up at Noah, that rich, chocolate hair shifting over her shoulders in a riot of waves. “You did not choose to be Oberon, King of the Fairies? Nor even Theseus, the Duke of Athens? You are not following the theme of Shakespeare’s play, sir.”

“I cannot say you are either.” He raised one brow. “A soldier? Quite a daring costume.”

“We are celebrating the exile of Napoleon, are we not? It seemed appropriate.” Beneath the edge of the white half-mask, her lips curved into a wide smile, revealing an alluring dimple. “Moreover, I suspected there would be dozens of Titanias and Helenas and fairies this evening. I would never wish to be so predictable.”

“Somehow, I doubt you ever could be predictable.” He wanted to see beneath her mask, though now that he was close, he noted her eyes were the same rich shade as her hair. Noah was aware of candles playing over sparkling gowns and what seemed acres of flowers in the ballroom, but he could only focus on her.

“You would be surprised at how predictable—and even tedious—I am. Still, I am not as uninteresting as your costume.” Her gaze flicked over him, head to toe, even as she flicked a finger against the edge of his black cape. “Just this over your evening wear? Could you not find something better?”

“What would you consider interesting?” He pitched his voice low and was rewarded with a knowing smile.

“Well, there appears to be a Bottom over there—you know, the leader of the actors from the play?” She slid her gaze toward Noah, even as she tipped her head toward the other side of the crowded ballroom. “That is a much more interesting costume.”

He followed her gesture, past a Greek goddess, a fairy in sparkling gold, three Titanias, and blinked—then barked out a laugh before he could stop himself. “Is that gentleman wearing a papier-mache donkey head?”

“So it appears. The ears are rather…large, do you not think?” Amusement threaded through her voice, and when Noah turned back to his soldier, he saw her dimple had winked into existence once more. “You know the fairies gave Bottom the head of an ass in the play, do you not?” she said.

“So I recall. ‘O Bottom, thou are changed. What do I see on thee?’” he quoted.

“‘What do you see?’” She laughed softly, a low and husky sound that brought to mind dark corners and tangled limbs rather than the costumed guests around them. “‘You see an ass-head of your own, do you?’”

Noah raised his brows and leaned toward her. “You are familiar with the play, then.”

“I am familiar with a great many things.” The suggestive look she sent him hinted at both mystery and daring, and set his blood pounding. “What I know rarely appeals to anyone, least of all the ton.”

“I find that surprising.” He found her surprising. “You are by far the most fascinating woman here—not least of all because of your costume.

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