My Lady Rival Read Online Free Page B

feel herself melting into their warm depths. “I believe she agreed the next dance to be mine.” To Willa, he lowered his voice and said, “You shouldn’t have turned around. I had every intention of accidentally running into you.”
    She smiled, disarmed by the simple pleasure of hearing these words. They’d met before for only the space of a minute, and yet already they shared a secret jest. “Shall I turn again and wait to be knocked to the ground?” From behind her, Mr. Lunsford said, “I suppose I’ll simply stand here and pretend as if I’m also included in the conversation.”
    She should have been distressed at offending him. He could be her key to A lex Laurie and any connection he had with the dye. A nd yet . . . for once Willa didn’t want to have to think about all the reasons she shouldn’t do something she wanted. Getting the dye was something she had to do. Dancing with a handsome man who made her heart beat faster was much more appealing than spending the rest of the evening trying to avoid Lunsford’s amorous interest. If she didn’t come up with an alternative plan to find Woolstone in the morning, she could speak with him again. A fter all, she knew where he lived and dined and raced, all of the invitations he’d accepted for the next month. Mr. Lunsford would be the easiest invitations he’d accepted for the next month. Mr. Lunsford would be the easiest man to locate in all of England if she wanted to; the stranger in the black mask would not.
    She peered at Lunsford over her shoulder and lied. “I apologize, sir, but I did promise him the next dance. I’ll see you again soon, I hope. I’d very much like to continue our discussion.”
    She was placating him. She couldn’t even remember the topic of their conversation. A nd he knew she was placating him. But instead of becoming offended or dismissing her as easily as she had him, Lunsford only smiled and then waved them away.
    He—the man she wanted to spend the rest of the evening with—took her hand in his. She thrilled at this, knowing enough of English Society to understand it was a forward gesture. Her toes even curled in her slippers, and only as a result of the touch of his gloved fingers. Perhaps later, if he were to invite her to the ballroom terrace for a breath of air, she wouldn’t refuse him as she had Mr. Lunsford. A nd if he accidentally bumped into her again in the dark of night, she might also allow him to steal a kiss. Or two.
    For now he drew her to where other couples waited for the beginning of the music. The first notes of a waltz lifted in the air. He clasped her hand and settled the other at her waist, and she became his captive once more.
    A lex liked the way she fit in his arms, more natural than a stranger should have.
    Had they danced together before?
    “Do I know you?” he asked.
    The Lady in Diamonds laughed and her head tipped back—not far enough to be immodest, but enough to hint at abandonment. The movement drew his gaze to the slender length of her neck, teased his imagination with the thought of her head tipped the same way in his bed, her mouth parted in pleasure instead of laughter.
    He normally didn’t indulge in such lascivious thoughts. Interesting that she should be the exception.
    “No, my lord, this is my first Season in London.”
    My lord. Clearly she didn’t know who he was, either. He could have been mistaken . . . or perhaps she simply reminded him of someone else.
    “But I feel as if I should know you also.” She paused, angled her chin to the side; a blond curl grazed the side of her neck. She pursed her lips, revealing a dimple hidden at the side of her mouth. “Perhaps this is a sign that we are kindred spirits, that we are meant to become friends.”
    A lex smiled and bent his head toward her, creating an intimate space he knew from his dancing lessons to be as improper as taking her hand instead of offering his arm. He wanted her to remember him. “I should like very much