The Viscount's Vow (A Regency Romance) Read Online Free Page A

ladyship half-turned toward the card room. Speaking over her shoulder, she said, “Enjoy your dance, dears. I’m off to challenge Lady Higgenbottom to a game of faro. She’s such a poor loser.”
    With a wink, and a naughty chuckle, she slipped from the ballroom.
    Lord Warrick tilted his head, indicating the other dancers. “Shall we?”

Chapter 3
    Noticing the numerous pairs of eyes watching him escort Miss Caruthers onto the polished floor, a wry smile touched Ian’s lips. “I haven’t danced with any other ladies this evening. No doubt the rumormongers are hissing envious conjectures as to why I’ve asked you.”
    She shot him a startled look before glancing around the ballroom. “Why did you?”
    “To see if what I’d heard was true.” Ian watched for a reaction.
    She opened her mouth then closed it. They waltzed around the dance floor for a few moments in silence. The string quartet was quite satisfactory. Ian allowed the lilting strains to soothe his troubled spirit.
    “What did you hear?” Miss Caruthers’s soft question reminded him of his purpose.
    “That you are an excellent dancer.”
    It was true. She moved with natural grace, following his lead, all the while holding herself in a most proper stance. He had to acknowledge she was a superb actress. Her gaze remained fixated on a spot above his left shoulder, except for one brief instance when she’d flicked her cobalt-blue gaze upward and unintentionally met his eyes.
    “Is that all?” she asked softly.
    He’d never seen eyes such a dark blue before. “All?”
    “You’ve heard nothing else about me?”
    Her eyes held the perfect combination of trust and innocent curiosity. So convincing was she, that when their gazes fused, a peculiar jolt stabbed the center of his being. What was it?
    Something foreign, tantalizing, rousing from dormancy and flickering to awareness .
    Startled by his train of thought, Ian stiffened. Good God, now he was waxing sentimental claptrap. Even so, he continued to stare into her seemingly guileless eyes. How could someone that jaded appear so innocent? He couldn’t very well tell her what he knew, now could he?
    He searched her eyes. “Is there something else you would have me know?”
    Furrowing her smooth brow, she stared at him. “No.”
    Was that confusion in her gaze? She looked away first. That irked him.
    Man, control yourself . S he’s not even flirting with you.
    He could better understand Geoff’s fascination now. Miss Caruthers was skilled in her art. Most skilled. Ian would have to guard himself well. He sensed her siren’s allure; the tentacles of desire winding their way about his reasoning, holding him in an imperceptible, yet impenetrable grip. It was almost as if she’d cast a spell, bewitching him.
    What drivel. He was having difficulty concentrating, though, too aware of the voluptuous woman in his arms, their bodies moving as one to the music. No wonder the young blades were lined up, waiting for the smallest morsel of attention from her. Ian could almost believe she was as diffident and unsure of herself as she pretended. Both qualities were designed to stir the primitive male.
    He suppressed the protective response she roused in him with her seductress’s wiles. “You truly are an exceptionally graceful dancer,” he murmured near her ear.
    “Thank you . . . my lord,” she murmured.
    He flared his nostrils at her intoxicating perfume. Tilting his head a bit closer to hers, he drew in a deep breath savoring her scent. Something citrusy. Maybe orange blossom? And lightly floral. Lily of the Valley. He recognized the aroma. A myriad of the graceful, nodding white flowers blanketed the grounds near Somersfield’s pond.
    Ian ignored good sense and drew Miss Caruthers’s lush form closer. Her décolletage and his height advantage gave him an excellent view of her ample cleavage. A diamond pendant was nestled in the valley between her creamy breasts. It gently caressed the sloping mounds