Playing the Scoundrel: A Regency Romance (Reluctantly in Love Book 2) by Courtney Willis

Author:Courtney Willis [Willis, Courtney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The assembly room was filled to the brim and loud with lively dancing and conversation. The card room and the supper room were likely just as busy, but Henry hadn’t been able to make his way over just yet. He had been too occupied in dancing and conversations. Unfortunately, his lingering with James and Thomas found him trapped dancing with the widow, Mrs. Palmer. She had cornered him and accepted nothing less than a dance, though he was certain she would press him for more. Throughout the entire set, Mrs. Palmer gave him a knowing smile and a seductive gaze. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so much anymore, it had little impact on him. Not like it used to.

The music came to a close, and the dancers turned to applaud the musicians at the head of the room. Mrs. Palmer took the opportunity as the floor cleared to stand closer to Henry.

“That was a lovely time, wasn’t it?” she asked, her alluring voice already an invitation.

“Indeed, it was.” Henry offered her his arm and escorted her back to her seat. “May your next dance partner be equally invigorating.”

“Must you leave so soon?” she asked, pulling his arm to still him. “I’m quite certain this old building must have a dark library or some such thing that will provide us with plenty of seclusion.”

She trailed her gloved finger along his jaw, and instead of feeling the pull of desire, Henry felt the need to pull away from her touch. He smiled. “You know I would normally leap at the opportunity to explore the library with you, but I’m afraid I must decline. There’s a young miss I’m eager to greet who has promised me a dance.”

“Oh, indeed? A young miss?” Mrs. Palmer pressed a hand to her décolletage in surprise. “Well, well. What a lucky young miss she is to have won your affections.”

Henry smirked. “She’s won mine, that much is clear. I’m still working on winning hers.”

“Then she must be a fool to keep a man like you waiting.” Henry gave her a playful glare, but she patted his cheek before turning away. “Come find me when she’s done with you.”

He tried to give her a smile for her teasing, but her words stirred more fear and discontent than anything else. He tried to shake his thoughts away, and convinced himself to find a drink in the supper room, but the moment he turned toward the corridor, a sight in the entryway caught his breath. Mrs. Dunn led the way through the crowd, only to be followed by Miss Follett… on the arm of Mr. Bernard. Henry’s stomach turned, making Mrs. Palmer’s words even more clear now.

Miss Follett wasn’t the fool; that would be Henry himself. Because no matter how he wished differently, someday she would be done with him. She had won the attention of a proper gentleman like Bernard, and she would be a fool to give that up for a scoundrel like Henry.

Turning away from the sight, Henry hurried to find a drink and downed the first glass of champagne he could find.

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