Page 7 (1/2)

"A son needn’t follow his father into the same party," Beaumont pointed out

"Ah, but the s at Fletch "May I enquire whether you will take up your seat with us, Your Grace?"

"Naturally," Fletch said He had no real idea what either party stood for, and at the ive a rat’s ass His priorities were rapidly beco to rut his brains out (to use the coarse country phrase) and then he would go to Lords and start being the sort of ure out the actual politics of the thing later "If you’ll forgive entlemen?" He swept a bow and wandered on

Two roo for

Lady Nevill

She was slightly older than he, with precisely the sort of French elegance that he remembered And he’d heard about her Her husband had been incapacitated in a carriage accident; who could deny her the pleasure of an affaire now and then? The ton’s pity was such that she was never denied an invitation to any event, although everyone knew perfectly well that she had throay her reputation long ago

She was luscious, deeper-breasted than Poppy, with long er legs, and a loose-lis around a man’s neck and ride hi to Lord Kendrick, who had to be old enough to be her father He paused to watch and instantly knew that she are of him He could see it in every lineament of her body, all those invisible, says that wo interest in a man He was probably one of the most observant , since he kept looking for signs of desire in Poppy--and not seeing any

It was different with Lady Nevill She turned her head and e, no silliness, no flirtation

He didn’t smile He let his eyes s to Lord Kendrick, moved toward him He walked a step or two, bowed before her

"Do we know each other?" she said, laughing a little

"I think not," he answered

"It is much nicer this way," she said "One can hardly ever endure the conversation of old friends, whereas that of new friends can be irresistible"

Her eyes were a strange dark golden color; she was as sensuous as a purring cat in the dark "I shall do rasping at sophisticated conversation He and Poppy never had conversations laden with double entendres

She tapped hi a woman desires more than…"

He leaned toward her "Yes?"

"To be desired" Her voice was husky and suggestive Maybe Poppy truly was unusual in that respect She didn’t want to be desired He shook the thought off Poppy was his wife Lady Nevill was…

"How does the lady in question choose aion"

"Like the maddened swine in the Bible?" She unfurled her fan; her eyes laughed over the edge They were delicately marked with a sensual line of kohl "The lady si-like, I assure you"

"And if they hide their curly little tails?" He laughed right back at her

"Ladies are never interested in anything little," she said softly Fletch let the corner of his mouth rise in brief appreciation of her jest She was perfect: interested in his body for the pleasure it would bring her

"I outgrew o"

"And yet you are still so young!" Her eyes raked his body fro in places where Poppy never bothered to look The Frenchwomen had exclaimed over his endow," he said, almost sadly

"None of us can claim eternal youth" He could see in her eyes just a shadow of regret that echoed his