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Will recalled a well-curved blond beauty with blue eyes and a coquettish manner ill-suited to her status as a new bride “I believe I have met Lady Lynton”
“As a handsoine you have,” Lucilla retorted with a sniff “Though she , I’ve heard Sapphira Lynton has never gotten over being society’s darling, the only child doted on by her papa The Lyntons are quite wealthy, which I suppose explains why she accepted that offer out of the scores she’s reputed to have received Though I also understand that while her husband lay dying, ’twas Miss Antinori who nursed her relation while Lynton’s ‘distraught’ wife consoled herself with her cicisbos”
Having already for out lures to other er, Will could readily believe it “And the happy faether? Quite an accomplishment”
Lucilla chuckled “It h I’d much rather your interest were piqued by a chit of ”
“Like Miss Benton-Wythe?” he asked dryly Before Lucilla could answer, he grinned and added, “Didn’t you say you’d not hold her ainst Miss Antinori?”
“One always hopes the brave soul risking censure by doing the good deed will not be one’s friend or relation”
“Given ainst her,” Will pointed out
“Which is precisely why you need to approach only girls of unquestioned reputation!” Lucilla retorted “Very well, I’ll present you Although—” she gave him a rueful look “—for the reasons we’ve just ht well prefer that I not present you to his ward”
“So the two black sheep do not further sully each other’s wool,” Will surmised
“It would be reed
His cousin was right For a long moment, Will hesitated, torn between Lucilla’s sensible advice…and the reaze
It was only an introduction, he reasoned The girl et, as feather-brained as Miss Benton-Wythe or as tongue-tied as poor Miss Rysdale Though given the cool confidence hich she had held his gaze, he didn’t think so
Enough pondering He would do it, Will decided Nodding to Lucilla, he offered his arether they set off tohere Miss Antinori and Lord Lynton had disappeared into the crowd
“One final matter,” Lucilla murmured as they approached “If after the introductions, Lynton allows you to converse with the lady, I beg you will not distress her by inquiring about her scandalous father—no ine that’s one topic she wishes to strictly avoid”
In the next instant, they reached their party and Lucilla called Lynton’s name With his ward on his arm, he turned toward them—and Will sucked in a breath
Miss Antinori seen close up was eventhan Miss Antinori viewed frolossy dark hair, piled atop her head in an intricate arrangeold ribbon and pearls, just reached his chin Her perfuazed up, those dark, extravagantly lashed eyes wary His gaze roved across the satin plane of her cheeks down to the lush fullness of her apricot lips
Sweat broke out on his brow and he had to re But then he couldn’t help hilance doard, across the elegant curve of neck and shoulder down to that voluptuous,swell of bosom
Oh, that he ertips, his tongue!
While the rush of sensation in his body threatened to overwhelm him, Will tried to reinal maiden He must not think of her in this way, no htfully passionate and inventive ballerina he’d once had the pleasure of loving, before a peer with a larger purse had stolen her away
As if in a daze, he heard hi to Lynton and the chaperone, who responded in turn Not until Lucilla presented him and he saw Miss Antinori curtsey was he finally able to wrench histhe hand she offered, he bowed and touched his lips to the air above them, rich with her potent scent
“Miss Antinori, it is my profound pleasure”