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She laughed “You make me sound like a cow about to be put out to pasture”

“I would never be so rude” He glowered for a fierce rin “At least, I haven’t been that rude to you in years”

Daphne tried her best to ignore the giddiness fluttering in her chest but couldn’t The more she considered it, thea rown-up affair, she decided Not the usual boring, endless balls filled orried entlemen who needed to find a wife, and quickly

This would be a languid, decadent affair Filled with secrets and ue and scandalous dances where partners held each other close—it would be a night London society would not soon forget

“Your roather”

Her cheeks heated, her brother’s state up, she’d been described as dreamy more than once Her husband had accused her of the trait as well, as if it was a terribly bad habit she needed to be rid of After he died, she’d lost herself in her thoughts endlessly Spentabout in bed, her thoughts drifting, full of wishes and dreams

But wishes and drea to achieve the she’d never done before She was going to experience life to the fullest

Not to please anyone but herself

Chapter Two

He never came to balls Avoided them as much as possible, really

But this particular ball, held at Viscount Huxley’s lovely new home in Mayfair, he couldn’t resist Thethe simple black mask allowed the Marquess of Hartwell the opportunity to fade into the crowd A feat he usually wasn’t able to accomplish, ith all the rumors that swirled around him every time he made a public appearance

The whispers, the snide remarks, how they cut him with a not-so-subtle turn of their heads and tilt of their noses He’d stopped attending after tolerating it all for far too long

Tonight, dressed as every otherhis features, he wasn’t Black Hart, the cold, calculating marquess He was simply a man

A ued with the lovely lady as the absolute belle of the ball

He’d heard of the ed Lady Pomeroy, knew she’dof the Season on her brother’s aruely ree and he’d been in attendance at s as she He’d been even quieter then, and not nearly as important as a mere heir No one had paid him any mind

He’d thought her lovely before but she utterly captivated him now The delicate mask constructed of lace and silk tri beauty Her sle tioas a deep lavender, e the creaminess of her skin and her dark, lustrous curls She was a vision

A lady he wouldn’t attempt to approach, let alone speak with The moment his lips would part he’d make an utter ass of himself

So he was content atching her She danced with a h she could’ve danced withher brother, ept her about the dance floor with a flourish that h The sound of it warmed his skin, settled low in his belly, and he iain

He wanted to be the one who h like that

Considering he rarely spoke out ast society, that would be a most impossible task

Clutching his hands into fists, he stood on the sidelines of the ballroo to one another, eazes strayed toward their beautiful hostess As if they couldn’t help themselves

It was a ball unlike any Hartwell had ever witnessed Not a blushing debutante in sight Nor any overbearing ly adult in nature, ith the fewof , if a bit scandalous, and a handful of lovely young s much like their hostess

He had the distinct feeling the ball had been set up specifically in search of a new husband for the ed countess The gentlemen outnumbered the ladies three to one She had her absolute pick and so far, she hadn’t even flicked her gaze in his direction