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"I endeavor to make myself useful to beautiful women as often as possible"
"How fortunate for Lady Grayson to have two such dashing Faulkner loved touch and she could not hold back her s was amiss in the Grayson household, a circue She would have to ply the youngest Faulkner with her wiles to discover what the issue was, but that was a prospect she found lance over her shoulder to be certain Hargreaves had gone to Isabel Grayson, Barbara wiggled her shoulders in anticipation and deter
"Isabel"
John halted a discreet distance away His gaze raked her froh her auburn tresses and her lovely dark green gown, the deep color of which set off her creamy porcelain skin to perfection Her three-strand choker of pearls did an ad around her neck, but he took note of it nevertheless "Are you well?"
Her smile was both fond and sad "As well as can be expected" She canted her body toward hiood man who deserved to be treated better than I have treated you"
"Do you aze ht miss me"
His mouth curved As always, he admired her candor She was a wo?"
Her chin lifted slightly "I will not discuss er friends, then, Pel?"
"We certainly will not be if your aie," she snapped And then she blushed, her gaze dropping
He opened his rown an to wonder if their relationship had been winding down prior to Grayson’s return and he had si a deep breath, he attehts inward in consideration of this possibility However, a sudden disturbance and Pel’s subsequent stiffness beside him drew his attention He looked up and found the Marquess of Grayson standing across the rooaze was first riveted on Isabel, then it moved to rest on him
Chilled by that stare, John shivered Then Grayson turned away
"Your husband has arrived"
"Yes, yes I know Excuse me"
She had already traveled a short distance from him when he remembered Barbara’s plan "I will escort you to the terrace, if you like"
"Thank you," she replied with a nod that set her fiery curls in motion He had always loved her hair The co
The sight of it was al between his shoulder blades
Almost
"Grayson!"
Gerard stared after his wife and tried to discern her disgruntle he’d done, though he had no notion of what it could be However, he was not surprised Aside fro bedsport, the rest of his day had been hellish
He heaved a sigh and turned away "Yes, Bartley?"
"It appears your brother was serious when hehere He arrived over an hour past and according to the foot back over the crush, Gerard failed to see Spencer anywhere, but he watched as Isabel stepped onto a crowded outer terrace with Hargreaves He wished he could speak with her, but he’d learned it was best to tackle one probleraver issue at the moment He trusted Pel He could not say the same for his hotheaded brother
"I shall start with the card roorateful to have run into Bartley as theNonnie’s Tavern This ball was the last place he would have searched for Spencer
"Is that not Hargreaves with Lady Grayson?" Bartley asked, scowling
"Yes" Gerard turned away
"Should you not say soooduntoill happen"
"Well, even I know that," Bartley said with a laugh "And how like you not to pay anyyour wife, I would suggest at least the pretense of jealousy"
Gerard shook his head "Ridiculous And I am certain Pel would say the same"
"Wo about the fairer sex I know that you do not," Bartley chortled
"I doubt that" Gerard moved away to find the card roohtly out of sorts?"
"So it seemed to me However, he is certainly aware of ht have sufficed to keep his mouth shut on the matter"
"One can only hope he showed such discretion all evening"
Bartley followed fast on his heels "What will you do when you find hi the iainst his back
"What the devil?" Bartley ress far more swiftly if we part ways"
"Won’t be near as fun"
"I ae to find hie, clever chap that you are" Gerard continued on, leaving Bartley behind The starch in his cravat was chafing, Pel was close and yet so far away, the upcoether, his thened, his reorse
Isabel stepped onto the crowded balcony and atteht it would be a difficult task, but as she spied a fahts were ireaves, she said, "We should part ways now"
Following her gaze, he nodded and quickly retreated, leaving her to er Countess of Grayson The older wo her away froer whispered
"Do you truly expect me to reply?" Isabel retorted Four years and she still had not learned to tolerate the wo can show so little concern for the title she bears is beyond my collection Grayson has always done his best to irritate e to you is beyond the pale"
"Can you please find so her head, Isabel pulled away Now that they were no longer in sight of anyone, the pretense of faer’s fervent desire to e was understandable, but the ht to achieve her aim was not one Isabel could champion