Tempting the Marquess by Sara Lindsey

Author:Sara Lindsey
Language: pt
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-04-22T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“He does it with a better grace, but I do it more natural.”

Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene 3

”That is quite all right, Sir George. It didn’t hurt a bit,” Olivia reassured her partner as he trod on her toes for the eleventh time. It wasn’t a lie, either, she thought. Her poor feet had ceased to register pain after their seventh squashing or so.

Sir George was a man who evidently liked his food. He also evidently liked her chest, since his eyes never strayed up to her face, even when he was apologizing for trampling her. She was most relieved when the dance ended and she could excuse herself to the retiring room.

As she had no desire to dance again until her feet were recovered, she made her way to the refreshment table, which had been set up at the far end of the Great Hall, off to one side of the enormous fireplace. She selected some sweets for the children as she had promised, though Edward would be lucky to receive so much as a bite with Charlotte around.

Charles came up beside her. “You look ravishing, my dear. It’s a pity you’re so stuck on my brother- in-law.”

She batted him with the fan in her free hand. “Keep your voice down. Someone will hear you.”

He laughed. “With the way you’ve been watching him I doubt there’s a person in this room in question of your feelings, except perhaps Jason.”

“Have I truly been that obvious?”

He regarded her a moment. “No. I suspect I am overly sensitive since I wish those languishing looks were directed at me.”

“You’re only saying that to make me feel better.”

“Is it working?”

She shook her head. “I’m making a fool of myself, aren’t I?”

“It’s not too late to convince everyone that you’re madly in love with me instead,” he joked.

Olivia eyed him speculatively.

Charles took a step backward, his palms raised as if to fend off an attack. “I wasn’t serious.”

“Then you shouldn’t have suggested it.” She smiled sweetly and placed her hand on his shoulder, gazing up at him with what she hoped was as languishing a look as those she had apparently been bestowing on Jason.

Who was he dancing with now? She glanced around the room in search of him.

“Livvy, my love, your admiration for me becomes less believable when you turn to look at him.”

“I can’t help doing so. He hasn’t asked me to dance. Wouldn’t you want to dance with a woman you found desirable?”

“Maybe he wants to avoid singling you out,” Charles suggested.

“Then he’s going about it the wrong way,” she growled. “I am practically the only female here he hasn’t danced with, and I’m meant to be the guest of honor. More of a statement is made by his avoidance than there would be if he danced with me.”

“Perhaps he wants to give you the chance to dance with other men. You certainly haven’t been lacking in partners. This is the first dance you’ve sat out.”

“But it isn’t as if most of these men are prospective suitors.

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