Page 50 of Tempting the Earl

But she couldn’t deny her disappointment when she noticed how quickly his smile slipped away again as he turned to escort her from the entry hall.

Was it possible there was actually something between Wright and Miss Chadwick?

She glanced back over her shoulder to the engaged couple as they waited to greet the next pair of guests. Though they didn’t even touch hands, Lord Harte and Miss Chadwick were angled intimately toward each other. Lily’s head was tipped back and the lord’s tilted down as she murmured privately to him. In a sudden, almost imperceptible flash, his manner changed from one of cold indifference to pure heat. He gave a quick word in response and the girl’s cheeks warmed as a rather naughty smile curved her mouth.

The moment was swift and intense and undeniably, deeply sensual without being even a little overt. She doubted anyone else had even noticed the interaction.

Ainsworth quickly corrected her earlier assessment of the couple. They were perfectly matched. And obviously passionately in love with each other.

The thought gave her a smile as she and the earl stepped into a grand drawing room. The momentary congestion from the hall now spread out to a more comfortable array as guests gathered in small groups to chat with familiar acquaintances and introduce each other to new ones.

The earl seemed to hesitate just inside the door, as though he wasn’t quite sure where to lead them. It was starting to feel a bit awkward when he finally spoke. “Would you like a glass of champagne, Miss Morgan?” He tipped his head toward a footman standing near the open windows at the far end of the room, holding a tray of glasses.

“All right,” she agreed.

As they made their way across the room, she felt a few interesting stares, but whenever she turned to see who was noticing their progression, the observer would shift their gaze.

How curious.

Once they had glasses of champagne in hand, they made no move to leave the corner of the room near the windows, even as the room slowly filled with more guests. And she continued to catch those quick, sly glances being cast their way. A part of her wanted to make an announcement to let them all know they weren’t being nearly as covert as they thought they were.

Finally, after several minutes in which her escort made no move to walk her about the room, she turned to face him a bit more squarely. “Do you plan to introduce me to any of your friends, my lord, or are we to cower in this corner all evening?”

The frown was brief. “We’re not cowering.”

She arched her brows. “Then what would you call it?”

“We’re observing,” he replied as he lifted his glass.

“Nay, we’re being observed.”

His frown flashed again. “You truly have to argue with me on every point, don’t you?”

“When you’re wrong, absolutely.” She added a bright and false smile after her confession.

His focus dropped to her lips for just a moment before he shifted his attention back toward the rest of the room. The heat flowing through her after the surreptitious glance managed to soften her next words.

“Are you ashamed of me? Is that why you dinnae want to introduce me about?”

His striking gaze shot back to meet hers in an instant. Bright and intense. “I’m not ashamed of you,” he answered in a heavy tone. “Not in the slightest.”

She wanted to believe him. “Then explain why we’re standing here like wallflowers while people stare at us and whisper behind their hands.”

He slowly looked out over the room in a steady, intentional perusal. Then he lifted his glass for another sip. Ainsworth did the same, acknowledging she needed to feel how that shared action connected them in that moment.

“They’re all probably wondering why the hell I’m here,” he finally said in a low murmur.

Confused, Ainsworth narrowed her gaze at the growing crowd. “You’re Mr. Bentley’s brother,” she noted firmly. “Of course you’d be here.”

“The fact that we share a sire might be known well enough, but no one has ever actually witnessed the two of us socializing together. We’ve always strictly avoided each other until only recently.”

She couldn’t resist taking advantage of his comment to acknowledge something else. “Is that what you do, then? Avoid people when things get...difficult?”

He stiffened beside her and a spark lit deep in his eyes. His voice was low and weighted as he replied. “You think I’ve been avoiding you?”

She arched a brow. “Most definitely.”

His tone turned hesitant. “I didn’t wish to make you uncomfortable.”

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