Page 4 of His Scandal
Then she saw her sister in the midst of the dancers. Who was she with? Every time Emmeline almost caught a glimpse of the tall, dark-haired man, someone stepped between them. She skirted the edges of the hall, keeping out of the way, until she could finally see the couple.
Her sister’s partner bowed as the dance ended. When he straightened, Emmeline felt a jolt of awareness. She had seen him from a distance at court. He was broad-shouldered, with a litheness that made him an excellent dancer. Short black hair framed a face distinguished by olive skin and the only clean-shaven chin in the hall. When he smiled at Blythe, his white teeth were blinding. A pearl earbob dangled from one ear, above a brocade doublet well tailored to his impressive chest and a short cape that hung back from his shoulders. Oh, he was too handsome a man, perhaps even of foreign birth.
Suddenly he looked directly at Emmeline, and she managed to meet his unsettling gaze with a cool nod. He laughed and swept Blythe into the next dance, leaving her to feel strangely thwarted. Which was absurd.
It was easy to discover his identity among her acquaintances. Sir Alexander Thornton, the younger son of Viscount Thornton. She was quickly informed of his half-Spanish heritage and his dubious reputation. Her acquaintances madeclear that he was not interested in marriage, that he was a favorite of the queen and actually kept mistresses.
Mistresses!
Sir Alexander wasnota man Blythe should be trifling with.
Her sister usually reserved her flirting for young men close to her own age, and Emmeline knew a stern warning would only make Blythe do the opposite. Surely there had to be another way to keep Sir Alexander away from her sister.
Just then the man had the gall to meet her gaze over her sister’s shoulder and grin at her, leaving her flustered and all the more determined.
