Page 5 of A Lady's Dangerous Secret
Helooked down expectantly at her, and a smirk broke through his surly countenance. “You seem to enjoy perusing my body yet again, Lady Charlotte.” Charlotte stared at him trying to keep a neutral expression on her face. She had trailed behind her brothers long enough to not be discomfited by bawdy jests.
“Lord Silverstone,” Charlotte said, before realizing herfaux pas. Her hand flew to her mouth.
His brow furrowed. “Silverstone?”
Charlotte stilled for a moment, then squared her shoulders and slowly lowered her hand from her mouth. “I missed your introduction, sir, and I had to hold a place on my dance card,” she said without a hint of remorse.
He let out a hearty, baritone laugh, and suddenly, his stormy eyes cleared into a winter sky. Stark yet beautiful.
Charlotte’s insides tingled as his laugh reverberated through her body, but she did not have time to analyze this surprising feeling. The musicians started the introductory notes of the waltz, and in the blink of an eye, Lord Silverstone’s stern façade returned. He promptly bowed to her, while she prayed he was the titled aristocrat who could save her.
Did I just laugh?
James could not remember the last time he had felt even an ounce of mirth. Now, after only spending minutes in the company of a female member of theton, he had laughed. He assessed his well-being. He must have developed some sort of malady to act with such levity. He performed a cursory evaluation. He did not feel feverish or lightheaded, his stomach was in working order, and he had no new aches or pains. He could not identify a medical reason to cause him to act unlike himself.
Luckily, his self-assessment did not take long, because the next thing he knew, Lady Charlotte was in his arms. Novel sensations overwhelmed him. He almost dropped his hands from her body due to the burning in his fingertips, which was similar to grabbing the pot off the fire before it cooled. He inhaled, trying to calm himself, but a new scent emanated from his dance partner and assaulted his senses.
Honeysuckle and jasmine.
Innocent but spicy.
Who is Lady Charlotte?
“I didn’t think I was that boring,” a feminine voice challenged. James looked down and fully appreciated the visage of Lady Charlotte for the first time.
Her cornflower-blue eyes danced with mischief. James tried to divert his gaze elsewhere, but it was of no use. Lady Charlotte mesmerized him. She was not the traditional beauty, but her attractiveness could not be denied. Below her striking eyes, dainty freckles smattered her nose. Even he knew they were not fashionable, but on Lady Charlotte, they were perfect. Just another reason she did not fit the mold of a typical debutante. But that was not a bad thing.
She had high cheekbones, and her rosy lips looked like they were just waiting to be kissed. The faintest collection of frecklesdanced along the Cupid’s bow of her upper lip. James wanted to taste each one personally.
He had to stop.
He had never waxed poetic about a woman’s appearance in his life.
“I was just observing the scene,” he said.
“We’re dance partners, so it’s only proper you tell me your name,” she said.
“I’m not just going to hand it over,” he said.
“Fine, we’ll have a wager,” she countered.
“I thought ladies didn’t gamble.”
“Lord Silverstone, I am not your typical lady.”
James could see her mind working.
“You don’t seem like a man who would give up so easily.”
How did she do that? She doesn’t even know me.
His eyes narrowed. “What is your wager?”
She grinned. “I will ask up to ten questions to determine your identity.”
“Five,” he said.
Her freckled nose crinkled in a delightful manner. “Seven and that’s my final offer.”
