Page 80 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
He joined Jackson and his sparring partner in the ring. When he glanced back, the Count had left.
Xavier frowned. At some point he and the Count—Charles, he corrected himself—were going to have a long conversation.
He balanced on the balls of his feet and feinted, before landing a blow to the other boxer’s shoulder.
‘Oh-ho,’ said Jackson, ‘One of those days, is it?’
His hand flashed out and hit Xavier on his bicep, numbing his fingers.
Yes. This was what he wanted. He circled to the left and watchedfor an opening.
When Barbara saw the other occupants of the theatre box, she kept her smile fixed firmly in place, but it was hard not to feel let down.
Why on earth would Xavier have invited two other ladies and their duennas, in addition to his friend Pettigrew and another gentleman she did not know?
Or perhaps they were just visiting the box before the performance started?
But no, there were nine chairs in the box in three rows. Was he trying to tell her she was of such little importance to him that— Well, it certainly scotched any idea of using this event to reveal their affair.
Suddenly irritated, she turned to leave.
Aunt Lenore grabbed her arm. ‘Where are you going?’ she whispered forcefully.
‘Somewhere less crowded,’ she said.
‘You cannot leave,’ Aunt Lenore said. ‘That would be rude.’
Xavier turned from speaking to one of the other ladies. ‘Countess. Miss Lowell. Welcome.’
She peered at him. Was that a bruise on his cheekbone? The light was not good, too many shadows cast by the oil lamps… But surely that was a cut on his lip too?
‘Were you attacked by highwaymen?’ she asked.
Aunt Lenore nudged her with an elbow.
Was it impolite to notice that a man looked as if he had been in the wars?
Xavier touched his bottom lip. She had the urge to touch it too. And taste it and—
She squeezed her thighs together and relished the tingle between her legs. Their next assignation could not come soon enough.
Who would have imagined such pleasure while accomplishing one’s ruin? Perhaps she wasn’t so disappointed that it would not end tonight.
‘A sporting accident,’ he said smiling. ‘Your seats are in the front row with the other ladies and the gentlemen will sit behind. May I introduce you to Miss Redhill and Miss Graves?’
The two young ladies and their companions curtsied, giggled and tried to look interesting.
‘What a crush,’ Barbara said under her breath.
‘I thought you might like to meet some of your peers,’ Xavier said, obviously hearing her words, ‘since I have noticed you do not know very many people in town as yet.’
By design.
She intended to be in London no longer than a few weeks.
‘How kind of you to think of me.’
‘I am always thinking of you.’ He hissed in a breath and glanced around.
