They drank, and then Alec lifted his glass again with a grim smile. “And to Prinny, our royal sire. May he rot in hell.”
Chapter Two
No woman can resist a man who undresses her with his eyes.
—Anonymous,A Rake’s Rhetorick
Katherine Merivale couldn’t believe it. Apparently Papa’s scandalous chapbook had been right—a practiced rakehellcouldtempt a woman to sin with just a look. Because only a nun could resist the power of the Earl of Iversley’s gaze from across Lady Jenner’s ballroom. Katherine had never been so unsettled by a man’s stare. But then, no man had ever looked at her quite like that, either.
She tried to ignore him. Yet everywhere the waltz took her and her dance partner, Sir Sydney Lovelace, she could feel Lord Iversley’s blue gaze following her, stripping her bare, unveiling all her secrets.
And she didn’t evenhaveany secrets.
If she were to believe the gossip about him, however,hecertainly did—ten years of secrets from his wild and reckless adventures in exotic ports. And every one of those years showed in the darkly compelling eyes that promised he could make any woman yearn for his caresses…
Lord preserve her, how her imagination ran away with her! And what right did the Earl of Iversley have to undress her with his eyes, anyway? She hadn’t even been introduced to him, for goodness sake.
After another circuit around the ballroom, she sneaked a glance to where his lordship still stood by the gallery doors, holding a glass of champagne. Lady Jenner was with him now, leaning forward to give the man a generous view of her ample bosom.
Katherine rolled her eyes. Just because Lord Iversley was a handsome devil in that striped white-on-white waistcoat and suit of jet-black superfine was no reason for women to slobber over him.
Not that Katherine cared who slobbered over his lordship. She had Sydney, her betrothed. Her nearly betrothed, anyway, if he would ever get around to making their informal childhood “understanding” into a formal lifelong one.
All right, so Sydney’s shoulders weren’t quite that broad, and his hair fell in precise golden ringlets instead of that gloriously rumpled mass of smoky black waves—
She stifled a groan. There was no comparison. Sydney epitomized gentlemanly refinement. Lord Iversley looked downright dangerous, like that caged panther she and Mama had seen at the menagerie today. No true gentleman had such tanned skin, such large hands, such blatantly muscular thighs practically bursting from his tight knee breeches…
Goodness, what was wrong with her? And now both he and Lady Jenner were staring at her and murmuring together.
About her? Surely not. A man of his vast experience and taste for wild living would never pursue her. Not according toThe Rake’s Rhetorick,that horrible book she’d found hidden in her late father’s study. It dictated that “since willing widows and wives abound, the pleasure-bent rake should avoid wellborn virgins. Seducing an innocent brings consequences that outweigh its delights.”
She was certainly a wellborn virgin, and Lord Iversley was surely bent on the sort of pleasure only the Lady Jenners of this world could give.
“Kit?” Sydney said as he swept her into a turn.
She jerked her gaze from Lord Iversley. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Sydney had noticed the earl staring at her and was now insanely jealous? “Yes?”
“You’re attending my reading tomorrow, aren’t you?”
Suppressing a sigh, she gazed up into the sweet face she knew as well as her own. “Of course. I’m looking forward to it.”
He beamed at her, then returned to his usual state of distraction, probably mulling over a difficult rhyme in his latest epic poem. No, Sydney would never notice the earl’s glances.
And if Sydney didn’t act soon, Mama might make good on her threats. Katherine set her shoulders. Perhaps it was time to force her suitor’s hand. “I only wish I could also attend your reading at the Argyle Rooms next month.”
He blinked. “Why can’t you?”
“We lack the funds to stay in London much longer. Unless something changes in our situation, of course.” How much broader a hint could she give?
With a frown, he glanced over at Katherine’s mother. “You can’t touch the funds your grandfather left you? You’ve spoken to the solicitor?”
“He says the will is inviolable. I can’t access my fortune until I marry.” Which was why Mama was driving her mad about settling her future.
“Dashed inconsiderate of your grandfather to do that to you.”
Katherine thought it rather clever. Between Papa’s illicit pursuits and Mama’s love of lavish spending, the money would have disappeared in a matter of weeks otherwise. Unfortunately, Grandfather hadn’t expected Katherine to take so long to marry. Or his son-in-law to die young and leave them in debt to half of Heath’s End.
Sydney whirled her beneath the crystal chandeliers threaded with sprigs of cherry blossoms. “Perhaps I should speak to Mother about inviting you to stay at our town house.”
