Kiss me, if you Dare (Wagers and Wallflowers Book 5) by Alyssa Clarke

Author:Alyssa Clarke [Clarke, Alyssa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Darkan Press Inc.
Published: 2021-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Lady Frescot’s ball was in full swing at almost two in the morning when Percy arrived. He scanned the gathering from the upper bowers, raising an eyebrow at the small crowd of people surrounding his ward, mostly young bucks. How fickle they were, though he could full well understand what had drawn them to her inner flame. Tonight, she was dressed in a lower-waisted rosebud silk gown with a daringly low neckline. It bared her shoulders and had three rows of lace alternating with gauze ribbon edging the hem.

She wore tiny pearl earrings that matched the three strings of pearls around her neck. Her short hair had been curled and framed her face most enchantingly. Percy had always known Freddie to be pretty, but she robbed him of breath. Her dark blue eyes shone with intelligence and laughter. Her mouth held that half curved smile which hinted that she was secretly amused with the world. With her flushed cheeks and bright eyes, Freddie appeared remarkably pretty. She was also so sensually formed his teeth ached. Several young bucks took second and third looks, and even Viscount Crawford stared at her with slackened jaw from his corner of the room.

“Earlier when she stepped into the ballroom, several young bucks did second and even triple takes,” the Duke of Hartford said as he came up to stand beside Percy.

“I supposed she has danced all the dances?”

“She has refused everyone,” Sebastian said with a rueful laugh.

Percy snapped his gaze to the duke. “Is she not disappointing my efforts? Are you certain she was asked?”

The duchess came up to her husband and caught that question.

“Lord Wolverton,” she greeted, inclining her head.

He bowed. “Your Grace.”

She gave him a brilliant, smug smile when he straightened. “I daresay Frederica has refused no less than six dances. Those young bucks do not quite know what to do with themselves and perhaps cannot accept that she should not be grateful for their attention.”

He should have known Freddie would not have let them forget their earlier slight. Unless she was waiting to dance with the buffoon who had yet to notice her. She hoped when he did, his Freddie made him suffer. That thought filled Percy with too much satisfaction.

The Duchess continued, “Whether to be this elusive was a part of her plan or not, it has increased Frederica’s allure, and I believe after tonight, no one would dare refer to your ward as a wallflower.”

The duke and the duchess went below stairs and took to the dancefloor themselves. They made a beautiful couple, and the love they stared at each other with filled him with an unexpected surge of longing. That longing had him searching for Frederica once more, only to find her looking at him.

A tender smile curved her mouth, and she glanced away to look at the young man approaching her. It was the young Viscount Thurgood, whom she had once dropped her handkerchief before. The man bowed over her hand before attempting to kiss it. Percy almost choked when she ungraciously withdrew her hand before his kiss could reach her gloves.

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