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“Your father loves you His affection shines in his eyes whenever you’re in the same room”

“His love helped h the most difficult time of my life” Benedict had no memory of his mother, but his father had been full of compassion and wisdom when Cassandra refused his suit “Consequently, I cannot condemn him for his rakish behaviour”

“Does he love Mrs Seymour?”

Benedict shrugged “Who can say? I’ a woman”

“Everyone is capable of romantic love,” she said with some amusement, but then her smile faded “Except forother than advancing his position”

Before the e of the seat and straightened his coat He leaned forward to brush a crease froasp confirmed she welcomed his advances

“Co disgraceful to wear to a demimonde soirée”

Benedict waited for an hour in Valerie’s drawing room while the lady played modiste to his wife When the wo smirks in his direction They explained that the own, and it would be best if Cassandra remained in Valerie’s care until Benedict called to take her to Mrs Crandall’s depraved den

An uncoht of trusting soarth arrived, and so Benedict kept his father company while the ladies ventured upstairs

Hours passed, leaving hih tie into suitable attire

Upon his return, Valerie instructed Benedict to wait in the hall while she went upstairs to call Cassandra His wife appeared soon after, dressed in a suold brocade

Good Lord!

He held his breath as he drank in the delightful sight

The sleeves skiant column of her throat The scandalously low neckline drew the eye to the soft swell of her breasts And yet that wasn’t what made him want to take her in his arlint of happiness in her eyes that made him want her It was the confident way she descended the stairs and the unspoken words that passed between them

He stared at her for the longest ti emotions in his chest “You look divine,” he whispered when she reached the bottom step He sed past the lu curl draped over her shoulder “Alluring Elegant”