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Williaan”

“Can’t you? Speaking of earls…here is soentleentleman who looked very familiar “It is the Earl of Worthorne My lord, I believe you have met Miss Francesca Greentree?”

The roo

She heard a gasp from Amy and a er important All she could see and hear was Sebastian, Mr Thorne, in the guise of an aristocratic gentle wear, a crisply starched white shirt and necktie, his dark, wind-blown hair tamed and brushed, and his handsome villain’s face closely shaved His wicked black eyes fixed on hers with an apologetic sht spark of desire as they slid slowly over her new ball gown and the creamy skin it exposed

Carnal thoughts filled her head She struggled to lock the her attention back to the conversation But he knew She saw it in his smile

“The Earl of Worthorne has been away,” Lady Annear was proceeding smoothly, as if completely unaware of the ripples of shock her words had caused

“Away?” Amy said faintly

“I have odmother, you see, and I take an interest in him When he lets me”

Was that true? Or was Her Ladyship in on whatever clever gaht with despair; her evening had just been completely ruined

She wasn’t looking at hilance, she’d turned her eyes away and pretended he wasn’t there He could see the flush on her cheek, the rise and fall of her boso lashes

He needed to speak to her alone He had to explain And the only way he was going to achieve that was to ree of her mother and uncle

“Do you dance, Miss Greentree?”

“No”

He laughed at her impolite answer Mrs Jardine was scandalized “Francesca!” she hissed

“Then, please, allow me to teach you? You will have to learn, eventually” He tucked her hand into his arenteel manner, she had no choice but to allow him to lead her away