Page 2 of The Lady's Forbidden Marquess
“Perhaps.”
“There’s no perhaps.That’s the fact of it.”Pere rolled her eyes and scanned the ballroom.
Lord Ramsford had moved from his earlier position, but she found him soon enough.Hair the color of expensive tea leaves, impossibly broad shoulders, never married—a baron with wealth and title enough to be respectable, though he seemed determined to skirt the line.His reputation clung to him like cigar smoke—pleasant from a distance, choking up close.
As if sensing her gaze, he turned toward her.She held his eyes, smiled, tipped her chin, then glanced down and back up again—shy but interested, she hoped.
Surprise and curiosity flickered across his features.He started toward her, then stopped, his gaze shifting to the left.His smile turned amused, and he changed direction entirely.
“No.”
Pere bristled.“Henley.”
“Out of the question.”
“Hello to you as well.Nice to see you.”
Henley’s dark eyes narrowed.“You’re not starting with him.”
“So, you’ve accepted that this is my plan for the season—”
“That is not—” He broke off, scanning the room as if their conversation were secret.
In a London ballroom, with half of society’s ears listening, secrecy was impossible.
“I’m not accepting anything,” he said, “but he’s not the sort of person—”
“He’s exactly—”
“No.”His tone was clipped.“This is not the time or place.”
“No, it’s not, which is why I told you months ago, before the season began, so you’d be aware.”
“I’m blood—very aware.Painfully so.Not him.You don’t want or need—” He sighed.“What’s wrong with someone respectable?Someone—”
“Boring?Uninterested in me?”
“I’m respectable, and your friend finds me anything but boring.”His cool expression melted into satisfaction.
“Ugh.”Pere wrinkled her nose.“I don’t want to know or think about that.”She shuddered, glancing at Anna, who watched with barely restrained amusement.“I blame you.”
Anna glanced at her husband, eyes shining.“Guilty.”
“Before this turns inappropriate—”
“Too late.”Henley took Anna’s hand and kissed it, their gazes threatening to set the ballroom aflame.
“And this is why people still talk about you.You’re anything but boring, Hen.So—convince me another way, because this one isn’t working.Now, if you’ll stop trying to seduce your wife in public, I’d like you to make some introductions.”
“To?”Henley lowered Anna’s hand slowly, still gazing at her.
“At this point anyone.But I have suggestions.”
Henley opened his mouth, then paused, looking past Pere’s shoulder.Frustration flickered before his expression smoothed.
“Lord Ramsford.”Henley nodded.
“My lord, Lady Allendale,” Ramsford said smoothly, “belated congratulations.”His voice was all honey and velvet.
