Love and Let Spy (Lord and Lady Spy) Read Online Free Page B

surprised when she moved quickly to his side and gestured for him to follow her out of view of the ballroom.
    “I do not know who you are or what sort of hold you have over my aunt and uncle, but I will find out, and I will take you down.”
    She actually looked as though she meant it, and Dominic did not know why that should arouse him. Her face was inches from his, her gaze boring into him, and all he could think was he wanted to kiss those pursed lips. Strange thought. He did not kiss. Ever. “I take it you are not overly fond of dancing,” he drawled.
    “No.”
    “Good. Let’s walk.” He moved in the direction of the doors open to the lawns, but just as they reached the exit, a footman rushed through, almost knocking them down. The glass on his tray wavered and then toppled, the dark red contents aiming for Miss Bonde’s sapphire-blue gown. She moved rapidly, faster than he’d ever seen anyone move, and caught the glass without spilling a single drop. With her left hand, she steadied the tray and righted it. The footman began to apologize profusely, promising to fetch her another ratafia or a cake or anything she desired.
    Miss Bonde sipped the drink and smiled. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
    “I’ll fetch you another, miss. Ratafia. Shaken, not stirred, correct?”
    “That’s not necessary.”
    “It’s my pleasure.” And he rushed away.
    “Do all men react to you like that?” Dominic asked.
    “What do you mean?”
    “That is answer enough. Come.” He offered his arm. He would have preferred she not touch him, but in this situation he knew the protocol. Even so, she looked as though she might refuse, but then she narrowed her eyes at something she saw in the ballroom and laid her hand on his sleeve. He waited for the shudder of revulsion at her touch, but it never came.
    He was still standing there, looking at her arm on his like an idiot, when she said, “Proceed, Mr. Griffyn. I think I would like a walk.”
    He led her through the ballroom. A better man would not have noted how many heads turned and how many raised brows accompanied those turned heads. A better man would not have felt a rush of triumph at having the woman every man wanted on his arm.
    Dominic was not that man.
    They stepped through the doors and into a garden lit by torches and lanterns. The breeze caused the flames to twinkle and flicker, and he could smell the fragrance of summer flowers. The air was cool, but Miss Bonde did not seem to mind it as they made their way past the small crowd of men and women just outside the doors. She paused to sip her beverage once again before setting the glass on a short stone column. He led her down a gravel path, toward the edges of the glow from the ball. Dominic had thought to keep quiet and allow her to speak. In his experience, ladies rarely remained silent for long. But Miss Bonde surprised him, yet again, by keeping her own counsel. She surprised him further by not objecting when he turned down a long aisle enclosed by tall, manicured hedgerows. Most well-bred ladies would have objected, concerned for their virtue. But she seemed…distracted.
    Was his company that tedious?
    “I have been to far more events this Season than I like to admit,” she said. Dominic was relieved. He had actually been contemplating speaking first. “And I have not seen you before. Have you recently returned from abroad?”
    “No.” He expected some show of annoyance from her for his brief answer, but she was peering up at the hedgerows and seemed not to mind. In fact, she seemed not to notice him. He actually peered at the hedgerows himself to see what intrigued her so.
    “Do you live in London?” she asked, dragging his attention away.
    “When obliged.”
    She smiled at that. “You prefer the country?”
    “Not necessarily.”
    “My lord—” she began, looking up at those blasted hedgerows again.
    “I’m no lord.”
    “Of course not. I do believe we have satisfied the requirements of our