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She at first thought his eyes were light brown, but when Mather almost shoved hiolden Not hazel, but ah the sun danced on the "What do you think, eh? I told you she was the best-looking wolance over Beth’s face, then fixed his gaze at a point sorip firers just shy of painful

He didn’t agree or disagree with Mather, a bit rudely, Beth thought Even if Lord Ian didn’t clutch his breast and declare Beth the ht to at least give some polite answer

Instead he sat in stony silence He still held Beth’s hand, and his thulove Over and over the thu heat through her limbs "If he told you I was the most beautiful woman in London, I fear you were ize if he aze flicked over her, a sh he had no idea what she was talking about "Don’t crush the poor woile, like one of your Ming bowls" "Oh, do you have an interest in porcelain,to say "Sir Lyndon has shown me his collection"

"Mackenzie is one of the foremost authorities," Mather said with a trace of envy

"Are you?" Beth asked

Lord Ian flicked another glance over her "Yes" He sat no closer to her than Mather did, but Beth’s awareness of hiainst her skirts, the firht of his Mathers stare

A woht with a shiver There would be drama aplenty She sensed that in the restlessness of his body, the large, warripped her own, the eyes that wouldn’t quite meet hers Should she pity the woue tripped along "Sir Lyndon has lovely things When I touch a piece that an eo, I feel I’ed"

Sparks of gold flashed as Ian looked at her a bare instant "You ht Scots accent, his voice low and gravel-rough

"Love to, old chap," Mather said "I’ll see e are free"

Mather lifted his opera glasses to study the large-bosoust and intense dislike in Lord lan’s unguarded expression startled Beth Before she could speak, Lord Ian leaned to her The heat of his body touched her like a sharp wave, bringing with it the scent of shaving soap and otten how heady was the scent of a ne

"Read it out of his sight"

Lord lan’s breath grazed Beth’s ear, war years His fingers slid beneath the opening of her glove above her elbow, and she felt the folded edge of paper scrape her bare ar his pupils widen before he flicked his gaze away again He sat up, his face smooth and expressionless Mather turned to Ian with a co

Lord Ian abruptly rose The warm pressure left Beth’s hand, and she realized he’d been holding it the entire ti already, old chap?" Mather asked in surprise

"My brother is waiting"

Mather’s eyes gleamed "The duke?"

"My brother Cameron and his son"

"Oh" Mather looked disappointed, but he stood and renewed the proood night, Ian aze wouldn’t leave Lord lan’s back until the blank door closed behind hi the inside of her ar under it Mather sat down next to Beth and blew out his breath

"There, ers in her gray taffeta skirt, her hand cold without Lord Ian’s around it "An eccentric?" "Mad as a hatter Poor chap lived in a private asylum most of his life, and he runs free now only because his brother the duke let hiain But don’t worry" Mather took Beth’s hand "You won’t have to see him without me present The entire family is scandalous Never speak to any of the noncommittal She had at least heard of the Mackenzie faan, because old Mrs Barrington had adored gossip about the aristocracy The Mackenzies had featured in ton on rainy nights

Lord Ian hadn’t seeh he certainly was like no man she’d ever met Mather’s hand in hers felt limp and cool, while the hard pressure of Lord Ian’s had heated her in a way she hadn’t felt in a long ti, warhts in bed with hiht had never stirred her blood She reasoned that what she’d had with Thoical, and she couldn’t expect to feel it with any otherwhisper had touched her ear; why had her heart beat faster when he’d moved his thumb over the back of her hand? No Lord Ian was drama, Mather, safety She would choose safety She had to