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She was nothing short of a revelation, chatting and s conversation fro skill It was impossible that she could be as relaxed as she seean reflected with private irony, this hat she had been trained for her entire life: to act as an accomplished society hostess Granted, her fahter to marry a man like him—but Madeline see the wife of an actor
Logan felt a flicker of pride in her perforled with the bitter awareness that he should have been able to offer her better than this No matter how competent a hostess Madeline was, she would never ascend the social heights that she would have as Lord Clifton's bride Logan didn't blae for her In fact, he felt a strange empathy with the Matthewses, especially as he watched theht
Madeline's parents had come to the ball with pleasant, polite facades, but underneath they led pride and bitterness It was obvious that Madeline was far too refined to be the wife of a reed, and she was married to a cohbred
It caan offered his ar her toward the center of the room She was littering with excitean realized with a touch of surprise Madeline had never been taken on the rounds of social events at which she would be introduced to eligible men
“I've never really danced with aher head to look up at hiers with the other “I had lessons at school An instructor cairl as a partner, and we took turns leading”
Logan sested dryly and nodded to thethe Logan danced as superbly as he did everything else, knowing how to display his partner to her best advantage, expertly guiding her so there was no opportunity for her to hesitate or stumble
Madeline knew that she danced stiffly at first She concentrated intently on following hihed at her absorbed expression
“Relax,” he murmured
“I can't—I'”
“Look up at me”
Obeying, Madeline discovered that everything becaer knew or cared where he was leading her, only that his blue eyes arhs brushing hers, the ers The roohtened convulsively on his She knew awas consuht would last forever
Other couples joined in the waltz, eager to display their own facility, until the floor becaan took Madeline aside and regarded her with a faint smile “My compliments to your instructor, madam”
“That onderful,” she exclaimed, reluctant to release his hand “Please couldn't we—”
“Would you like to—” Logan said at the saer ed Madeline for dances Madeline threw Logan a glance of consternation
“It would be selfish ofback with a forced smile as his as led to the floor and drawn into the quadrille pattern It was unfashionable for a man to pay too much attention to his wife Furthermore, it was his duty as host to dance with some of the other women present
Logan had always enjoyed the co variety of shapes, scents,now All he wanted was Madeline His wife's sensuous appeal in that da him to unravel He had never before experienced the taste of jealousy, and suddenly he ing in it If one ratulations, he would commit murder Everyat her, at her face and figure, and most of all her half-covered breasts
Grian recalled why he had never entertained at his houests leave when he wished, and nothe, he would have left by now He wanted to be alone somewhere, anywhere, with Madeline Torrid fantasies seethed in hisher on one of the long tables, of undressing her in thetheir reflection in the massive column-framed mirrors
His lurid thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of his co briefly separated herself froan and tapped him on the shoulder She looked as pleased as a ratulations,” she said brightly “You were fortunate to acquire a wife like Madeline”
“So I've been told,” he growled “A hundred times, at least”
Julia saze to Madeline, who stood several yards away in a circle of adan She likes people She takes a genuine interest in the to her”
“I like people,” Logan h
“Only if you think they can be of some use to you”
A reluctant smile twitched at the corner of his mouth “Why is it that you've always been able to see me exactly for what I am, Julia?”
“I would neverwith ae to surprise me Your behavior where Madeline is concerned, for example It betrays a deeply buried romantic streak I hadn't suspected”
“Ro a cynic
“Deny it all you like,” Julia said “It's only a matter of time until you ader”
“Only a hundred years or so” He scowled as she walked away His attention returned to his distant wife, as still surrounded by a group of adan to stride in her direction when he was beset by a few of the partners in his invest inwardly, he smiled at their effusive compliments and traded a few opinions on subjects of masculine interest
To Logan's relief, rescue arrived in the foran's tense shoulders, Andrew greeted hiroup on the pretext of asking advice on an art acquisition
“Good God, how do you stand those dullards?” Andrew asked sotto voce “All that talk about interest rates and dividends is as exciting as a visit to the ue”
“Those ‘dullards,’ as you call theland,” Logan said dryly “You'd do well to spend tilance returned to Madeline She stood in the light cast by a chandelier, her pale shoulders like velvet, her piled-up hair containing every shade froold to maple brown
Following his gaze, Andrew grinned “For shaeois behavior as lusting after your oife…but as they say, blood will tell”
Logan looked at hi to the couile “I've never claian replied “And one look at h”
“I won't dispute that After tonight, every a on an ode to her The face of an angel, the hint of scandal about your hasty nuptials…she has everything necessary to drive the public ith curiosity”