Page 50 of A Virgin for the Rakish Marquess

Oh, a little chase.

“I am afraid my dance card is full, My Lord.” Diana blinked slowly.

“And I am afraid I must insist.”

“You are terribly demanding this evening, Lord Crawford,” she murmured.

“You are terribly defiant this evening, Lady Diana,” he countered.

He caught it, that little smirk on her lips, the one that told him she was intrigued. Truly alive.

“I suppose one dance wouldn’t hurt,” Diana relented and accepted his hand.

He pulled her a little bit closer and whispered, “I beg to differ, My Lady.”

He led her to the dance floor, and he pressed her to him. Diana inhaled sharply but schooled her expression as she placed her hand on his shoulder. She was mad at him, but this wasdelicious.

“I am pleased that you managed to make time for me on such a busy evening, My Lady.”

“I simply made do, My Lord.”

“And you did so wonderfully.” James grinned. “Tell me, how did it feel to have half the men in here at your feet?”

“As usual, you are exaggerating.”

“I am sure I am not, though I admit I haven’t counted all the men here.”

“But you did count the men I danced with?”

James chuckled. “I did not. It’s not that they actually counted.”

“Yet, here you are, bringing them up.”

“I was merely noting how you seemed to enjoy yourself, My Lady.”

“And I gather it is now a crime for a lady to enjoy herself?” Diana gritted her teeth.

“Not at all.” James raised an eyebrow as his palm slid across her back. “But tell me, My Lady, was it the dancing or the attention that thrilled you most?”

Diana looked up with a frown that she managed to turn into a mock thoughtful expression.

“Hmm, difficult to say. Perhaps I should indulge myself more to reach a verdict.”

James’s eyes narrowed at the open challenge. All the tension and bitterness he felt all day faded away. He feltalive.

“No need, My Lady.” His voice was velvet and steel, all dark promises. “I’ll settle the matter for you.”

His fingers flexed just slightly on the small of her back—a movement no one would see, but one she felteverywhere.

“You look most beautiful in my arms.”

Diana’s eyes flicked up to his, wide and shocked. She couldn’t believe that he said something so scandalous in the middle of the whole ton.

It was delightful to see her so flustered. Still, his eyes sought out his father. Just for a moment, just to make sure everything was going smoothly.

“You can’t just saythatand then look away,” Diana hissed.

James shifted his gaze back to her, his soul torn between his worry for his father and her. Looking into her green eyes, he struggled to make her his sole focus.

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