Page 10 of The Marquess and the Maiden

Chapter Three

It had been only two days since he’d seen her last, but Oliver spotted Harriet immediately upon entering the ballroom. Though she was much tinier than her friends, standing nearly a head below each of them, she was hard to miss.

The lavender gown she wore hung off her shoulders, exposing the delicate pale skin. The bodice then dipped into a plunging V that left little to his imagination or any other man’s in the room. Her cinched waist served only to draw attention to the swell of her hips and abundant cleavage.

Desire pummeled through him. He’d never been much of a dancer even before his accident, but looking at her and remembering how she’d looked dancing with that Ashby fellow, Oliver wished he could whisk her into a waltz.

She was exposed, looking very much like a meticulously decorated cake that every man would want to devour. Without another thought he ambled his way to her.

He inclined his head when he reached her. “Lady Harriet,” he said.

“Lord Davenport.” She dipped into a curtsy which gave him an even better view of her magnificent breasts.

He hissed out a breath and clenched down on his teeth. He could scarcely think when face to…ahem…face, with her breasts. Oh, to rip that bodice off her and delve into the creamy mounds. He shifted his stance in hopes of alleviating the uncomfortable swelling in his trousers.

“You need to cover yourself,” he said through gritted teeth.

She frowned as she looked up at him, all wide blue eyes and innocence. It should have reminded him that she was a sweet virgin and not someone he should be fantasizing about bending over the billiards table he knew waited a few rooms away.

“Beg your pardon, my lord?”

He intentionally glanced down at her cleavage, then back up at her face. “You have left little to my imagination. And every other rogue in the room.”

Her cheeks pinkened. “You shouldn’t say such things. It isn’t proper.”

He scanned the ballroom. The crush of people was suffocating. Damnation, but he hated these things. Perhaps he should allow his mother to select a bride for him, then he could retire from social engagements altogether.

Yet even with just a cursory glance around the room, no other woman grabbed his attention the way she did. And the few introductions he’d garnered the last couple of weeks had ultimately resulted in awkward conversations with girls who appeared so frightened of his mere presence he was nearly ready to give up this entire quest. But his mother deserved happiness and a life of her own. She would not accept one, though, if she thought he still needed her.

“It also isn’t remotely true,” she continued. “My gown isn’t any more revealing than any of the others here tonight. And I certainly don’t see a line of rogues trying to take liberties with me.” She seemed to be surprised by her own words, because she clapped a hand over her mouth.

“It’s your curves,” he said.

“My lord, that is most inappropriate to say. You should not discuss such matters with me,” she said. “Not to mention, it is quite rude of you to point out my flaws as if I weren’t aware of them.”

What the devil is she talking about?“Flaws?”

“My ample curves,” she gritted out.

“You see them as flaws?”

“Of course I do. Everyone does. It is not fashionable to look this way.”

“I care not a whit about what is or isn’t fashionable. You”—he gave himself permission to look his fill of her—“look good enough to eat.”

“You must be starving.”

He laughed, a genuine and hearty laugh that seemed to surprise both of them.

“Is that what you came over to tell me?” she asked.

“No. Actually, I had something I wanted to discuss with you, but you distracted me.” He shifted again, noting that his semi-hardness hadn’t dissipated in the least. “I’ve thought much about the advice you gave me the other evening.”

Her light brows arched. “Indeed?” Then a frown. “Which advice?”

Three young ladies walked past them, whispering. When he glanced up at them, they all looked down at the floor and scurried away. “About my bride hunting.”

“Ah yes.” She nodded knowingly.

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