The Earl in My Bed: A Forgotten Princesses Valentine Novella by Sophie Jordan

Author:Sophie Jordan [Sophie Jordan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Amazon: B0089LOIGO
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Published: 2013-02-05T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

* * *

Several guests milled along the stretch of balcony, reassuring Paget that a stroll with her dancing partner was not unseemly. Flushed from dancing, Paget didn’t even mind the chill.

“You dance like an angel, Miss Ellsworth.”

Paget stifled a snort at the compliment. An exaggeration to say the least, but she was flattered nonetheless. Jamie would never bother to praise her with such a falsehood. He wasn’t the sort to issue empty praise. At least he wouldn’t waste his breath doing so to her. On the other hand, perhaps a lady he was courting . . .

Blast! Must he her thoughts turn to him at every turn?

She slid her companion a glance beneath her lashes as he led her down the steps toward the burbling fountain. A self-proclaimed outdoorsman, Bromley was handsome and ruddy-faced from long hours outside. Only a few inches taller than herself, he was stocky and solid enough to make her feel feminine beside him despite his lack of height.

They circled the fountain, her hand snug in the crook of his arm. “You’re not cold?” he inquired. “I could fetch your cloak for you.”

She shook her head. “Thank you, no. The dancing left me quite warm.”

He nodded agreeably. “Dancing can be exerting, as well as diverting. An excellent recreation.”

She nodded, too, wondering if they should move on to the topic of weather next. She bit the inside of her cheek and reprimanded herself to give him a chance. He could simply be nervous and not merely boring. She needed to be more amenable. Every other male in the vicinity considered her unavailable. He was the first gentleman whom she had not known all her life who actually appeared interested in her.

Fewer people mingled around the fountain, so close to the spray of the water. Paget and Bromley rounded the backside of it, well out of sight of any guests.

“I confess to apprehension when the baroness insisted that we meet.”

Paget laughed lightly. “She is not known for her subtly.”

“In this case, I am only glad at her enthusiasm.”

Her gaze flicked to his lips. Nice enough, she supposed. She wondered if they possessed the power to reduce her to a quivering state of desire as Jamie’s mouth had done.

Devil it! There she went again, consumed with thoughts of him, comparing the first gentleman she met to him.

He turned and caught her staring so intently at him. She knew modesty should dictate that she look away . . . for her to behave as a demure vicar’s daughter ought to in the company of a gentleman she only just met. And yet she couldn’t do that. She was too curious. Too determined to see if what had transpired with her and Jamie had truly been a singular event.

His look turned speculative as he held her gaze.

Clearing his throat, he turned away for a moment, scanning the area around them, confirming that they were in fact alone.

Satisfied, he inched ever closer. “Miss Ellsworth,” he murmured. “Is it rash of me

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