The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan

Author:Emily Sullivan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2022-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

“Another, Lady Arlington?” Mr. Talbot asked as he handed Georgiana her third glass of champagne. Or was it her fourth? She couldn’t quite remember.

“Thank you,” Georgiana said graciously.

Once the string quartet began to play, the garden became considerably more crowded. The countess and Mahmood had gone off to mingle with more guests, and Mr. Talbot had suggested they move to a more secluded corner, where they could talk.

“As I was saying…” Mr. Talbot launched back into a monologue on shipping lines and raw materials. He was keen on convincing her to expand her business to America, despite Georgiana explicitly voicing her disinterest. Since then her mind had begun to drift. Mr. Talbot talked of business—and little else. But he was good-looking and interested in her. That was enough for her purposes. Better that she find him boring anyway. Anything more could lead to complications. And that was the last thing Georgiana wanted from a meaningless tryst.

“My lady?”

Georgiana turned back to Mr. Talbot. He was smiling at her, having obviously caught her not paying attention.

“Terribly sorry.” Her cheeks heated. “I…I think I may have had too much to drink,” she admitted and set down the glass on a nearby table.

“Please, it is I who should be sorry.” Mr. Talbot moved closer, and Georgiana’s nose wrinkled as she caught the scent of his expensive sandalwood cologne. The viscount had worn something similar. She glanced down just as Mr. Talbot’s hand moved to rest on her waist. “For boring such a lovely creature. How can I make amends?”

Georgiana raised an eyebrow. Well, that was a bit more forward than she had expected, but she couldn’t deny that this was the perfect opportunity to proposition him. She opened her mouth to speak, and Mr. Talbot’s expression filled with anticipation.

Say it. Say it now.

He would not deny her. She was certain. And yet, she couldn’t make her lips move. Couldn’t tell him to take her away from here. Somewhere much more private.

Mr. Talbot continued to watch her with a look that bordered on predatory. Georgiana inhaled, gathering her nerves—and buying herself another minute. Perhaps it would be easier with her eyes shut. But just as she closed them, a familiar deep voice joined them.

“Lady Arlington. Sorry to interrupt, but you are needed.”

Georgiana blinked and turned to find Captain Harris at her side. The sight of his stern expression filled her with relief.

“Oh. Captain, this is Mr. Talbot,” Georgiana explained, proud of how steady she kept her voice. “From America.”

Mr. Talbot had tactfully removed his hand from her waist, but Captain Harris shot him a filthy glare that left no question what he had seen. “A pleasure,” he grumbled, then he turned back to her with an expectant look on his face. “My lady, I’m afraid it is most urgent.”

While Georgiana was grateful for the chance to leave, she would not be ordered about like a child. She held the captain’s gaze until his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as if daring her to deny him, then she let out a little huff and took his arm.

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