Page 16 of One Dangerous Desire
She cut a glance at Rex, who returned a grim stare before answering the duke. “What did you have in mind, Your Grace?”
The duke strode toward May with one thick gray eyebrow raised. “Miss Sedgwick has plans for updating Ashworth House. You should see her drawings, Leighton. The lady has a daring eye for color and rich taste for details.”
“I have no doubt, Your Grace.”
Relief cooled the blush May sensed rushing up her cheeks when Ashworth stepped past her and focused on Rex.
“And you, Mr. Leighton, your plans for the Pinnacle Hotel do intrigue me.” Their host moved to the center of the room and lifted both arms out, one hand gesturing at Rex and the other held palm up toward May. “Whoever manages a betrothal to an aristocrat first wins my patronage. What do you say?”
“No.” Emily stood on the drawing room threshold, skin ashen and eyes wide. “How could you even suggest it? May needn’t race toward a betrothal.”
May swallowed hard. She’d yet to tell Emily of her father’s financial difficulties. Her friend had no notion of how critical time had become to her choice of husband.
“And I suspect Mr. Leighton prefers to keep his business and personal endeavors separate. You cannot wager with people’s lives, Papa.”
The room grew quiet, though the voices of others gathering in the hall behind Emily filtered in. May recognized the Earl of Devenham’s mellifluous tones and the laughter of his sister, Lady Caroline. The earl stepped into the room, and Emily ushered him and other guests in.
“I accept the wager, Your Grace.” Rex’s deep voice rang out through the polite greetings and offers of refreshment.
“Oh no, have we lost the chance at a wager?” The earl’s playful tone contrasted with the tension in the room. Then he glanced across at May, and she struggled to match his grin. “Ah, Miss Sedgwick, you must tell us what we’ve missed.”
Perhaps this gown hadn’t been the best choice. She’d intended to create an impression, not a scandal. As the earl approached, his gaze swept past her eyes and lingered on her décolletage.
“I’ll leave wagering to the gentlemen, my lord.” May turned toward the earl’s sister. “Lady Caroline, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“And you, Miss Sedgwick.” The lady greeted her with less chilliness than most noblewomen, but she turned immediately to scan the rest of the occupants of the room. Rex hovered on the edge of the gathering, observing more than participating in introductions. Yet wherever he stood, May sensed him with a simmer of awareness. As if he gave off a voltage of energy and its invisible tendrils stroked the hair at the back of her neck, sped the pulse in her wrist.
He stepped toward the three of them, and May fought the urge to walk away. Lady Emily had returned to the front of the house to greet more guests, and the duke had begun chatting with a couple who’d followed the earl and his sister into the room. May realized she was left to do the introductions.
He beat her to it.
“Rex Leighton.” He stuck out a hand toward Devenham, who stared at it a moment before finally relenting and shaking Rex’s hand.
“An American.” The earl glanced curiously in May’s direction. “Do you two know each other, then?”
Before she could acknowledge their acquaintance, Rex stepped forward. “Yes, we do.”
“And here I always thought of America as such a vast expanse,” the earl’s sister chimed in as she positioned herself near Rex.
“Yes,” May replied, since Mr. Leighton seemed far too busy grinning at the earl’s sister to do so. “But New York City is just three hundred square miles.”
The earl cleared his throat, and May wondered if he was more displeased with his sister’s simpering or the man she’d chosen as the object of her interest.
“Mr. Leighton, may I introduce my sister? Lady Caroline Grisham.”
Bowing before a lady was a bit much. Kissing her hand, unless they were acquainted or flirtation was intended, went beyond the pale.
Rex did both, and the lady appeared disappointed when he finally released her.
As more guests filtered in, the duke and Emily wove through the room attending to introductions. May hovered near the earl. He continued glancing at her neckline appreciatively, but every time she attempted to engage him in more than a polite exchange of inane questions and one-word answers, a new guest arrived and drew him into conversation.
Horses. He was talking about horses, again. And then another Lord So-and-So arrived, and he and Devenham carried on about a matter of fisheries that was to be debated in the House of Lords.
Her mind wandered. She found herself pondering how much better the drawing room walls would look papered with one of Mr. William Morris’s designs than the plain, timid beige damask currently lining the room. But even while she imagined vines snaking across the walls and rich colors catching the light, she watched for Rex Leighton out of the corner of her eye. Her neck started to ache from the effort tonotturn her head and search for him openly. Finally, she allowed herself one surreptitious sweep of the room, and it was all for naught. At some point, he’d made his escape.
Emily emerged from a cluster of ladies in glittering beaded gowns. “May, my dear, would you help me greet the Thorndikes?”
Nodding a bit too eagerly, May took leave of the earl. When they emerged into the much cooler main hallway, she allowed herself a deep breath before heading toward the stairwell. Realizing Emily wasn’t following her, she stopped and turned back. “Where are the Thorndikes?”
