Love at First Glance Read Online Free

back to Mr. Smythe . He’s quite charming and I’d hate for another woman to be charmed by him as I am,” Kate replied, still starry-eyed and breathless.  
    Lillian made her way through the sea of people who were standing around talking. She politely excused herself to make it through the crowd. She was almost out of breath when she got to the spot where she thought she saw the handsome stranger standing.
    He was not there. She looked around and felt a sinking feeling in her heart to know that he was no longer where she’d seen him last.
    “Get yourself together, Lily,” she whispered to herself. She threw a mini tantrum thinking that she would not get a chance to meet this mysterious man.
    She composed herself and decided that she should tell her mother how much she was enjoying the party. Normally, she couldn’t wait until one of her mother’s parties were over, but this time, she was actually having a good time.
    Lillian politely nodded a greeting to a few of the women in attendance. She was on a mission, but still understood the value in being a polite hostess.
    At that current moment, Lillian wanted nothing more than a breath of fresh air. She was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the festivities.
    She loved the feeling of the wind dancing against her skin. The sun was just setting and it sprayed magnificent red and orange across the horizon. The view from Willington Manor was always spectacular. Lillian spent many evenings on the veranda watching the sun set. It was quite possibly her favorite time of the day.
    She leaned against the railing and inhaled the scent of the roses coming from her garden. Hopefully all of the fanfare surrounding her mother’s party would be over soon.
    “You seem to be enjoying the sunset.” A hand gently touched Lillian in the small of her back.
    Lillian didn’t even turn around. She knew exactly who it was. His hands fit her waist perfectly. His scent was masculine and woodsy.
    “I’m not the type of girl who let’s men I don’t know get this close to me.”
    “Interesting. You seem completely comfortable with me standing right here so close.”
    His accent was clearly American. Lillian had always been intrigued with American men, but to court one was out of the question in her household. Her parents expected her to meet and marry a proper English gentleman.
    Her cheeks felt flush. Even with the cool breeze, she felt her temperature rising. Her bosom heaved as she tried to catch her breath.
    She turned around to look into the face of her suitor. His fingertips slid down her arm until his hand was holding hers. He squeezed her hand in his and then bringing it to his lips, he gently kissed her fingertips and then her palm. The feel of his lips on her hands sent a tingle up her spine.
    His other hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her in close to him. Fingertips danced along her spine, expertly feeling her skin through the silk material of her dress.
    “We don’t even know each other’s names,” Lillian said as she tried to gain her composure.
    “Well, let’s see,” the mysterious stranger said as he looked her directly in the eye.
    Lillian thought that she was going to melt. His eyes were warm, dark pools of brown. She was at a loss for words.
    “My name is Johnathan Bailey. And you, my dear are one Lady Lillian Willington. Beautiful hostess of this wonderful soiree that we are enjoying so much this evening.”
    He paused for a moment and bowed before Lillian.
    She was immediately taken by him. He was captivating.
    Standing on the balcony, they could hear the music playing inside of the party.
    Johnathan swirled her around, first away from him, then pulling her in to his chest. He began to lead them in a dance, close to his body. Lillian had never danced that closely to any man before. She could not remember ever being that close to a man, only in her dreams. She was quite sure that he could feel her heart beating out of her chest.
    For that moment, she didn’t