The Gilded Web by Mary Balogh

Author:Mary Balogh [Balogh, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780440336440
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2006-11-27T23:00:00+00:00

LORD AMBERLEY WAS RELIEVED TO FIND THAT his betrothed was being so well received in the neighborhood. He had expected as much, of course, but it was gratifying to see it happen, and on this of all days. The ladies had all talked to Alexandra. Most of the gentlemen had danced with her, and those who had not already done so had reserved sets with her later in the evening, or at least made themselves pleasant to her.

He thought she was pleased. At least he thought she had recovered some of her composure. He would not have expected her still to look distraught, of course, but he would have known if she was still upset. Her back would have been very straight, her chin high, her manner quite aloof. As it was, she smiled and talked. She looked rather lovely, dressed in blue.

And the time had come for his waltz. He had hesitated about reserving it with her. She would undoubtedly be happier away from him for the rest of the day at least. But it was their first appearance in public among his neighbors. They must be seen together.

He bowed to Lady Lampman and smiled at Alexandra, with whom she spoke. “This is my waltz, I believe, my dear,” he said. “Are you enjoying the evening, Lady Lampman?”

“Oh, exceedingly,” she replied, her eyes searching the room for her husband, who was talking to a group of men in the doorway. “It is pleasant to have more company once again, my lord, now that you have returned to Amberley.”

He inclined his head in acknowledgment of the compliment and reached out a hand for Alexandra’s. “Miss Stanhope and Colin are about to begin again,” he said. “They are to be greatly commended for providing such spirited music. Shall we give them our compliments at the end of the dance, Alex?”

“Yes,” she said. He noticed that she did not look up into his face.

They danced in silence for a while, the thumping of the pianoforte and the scraping of the violin, the high-spirited voices and giggles of the young, and the rumbling conversations of the not-so-young closing in about them.

Lord Amberley felt the smallness of his partner’s waist beneath his hand and looked down at the shining smoothness of her hair. He watched her dark lashes fan her cheeks. And he marveled anew at the passion he had unleashed in her that afternoon. It had been so totally unexpected.

Had he been better prepared, perhaps he could have guarded against what had happened. As it was, he had kissed her even more tentatively than he had the day before, and noted that she neither flinched nor withdrew. He had wanted more. He had wanted to put his arms around her and kiss her somewhat more lingeringly. He had asked her with his eyes if he might. And she had signaled yes.

And then he had simply lost his head. He was ashamed to remember now how the unexpected touch of her very shapely body

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