Page 81 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
Clearly, he had not intended to say that out loud.
Interesting. And exciting. And wonderful. She tried to quell the rapid beating of her heart with deep, slow breaths.
But why had he invited all these other people, giving her no opportunity to fullyenjoy his company?
Did he intend to hide his interest from thetonand protect her reputation?
Hmm. It seemed they might be working at cross purposes.
The orchestra struck some chords and the audience and the guests in his box settled into their seats.
Xavier took the chair behind hers. She knew it was him, she could smell the woody depths of his cologne and feel his presence like the slide of his hand on her breast. Her nipples tightened.
Never had she experienced such a visceral reaction to the mere presence of a man.
Was she too attracted to this man? It would not do to become enamoured. She shifted uncomfortably.
Someone waved from a box on the other side of the theatre. Charles? She borrowed Aunt Lenore’s opera glasses. It was indeed Charles.
She waved back.
He was seated beside a young woman she did not recognise.
Aunt Lenore took possession of her glasses and also trained them on Charles. ‘Ah,’ she said in a low voice. ‘As I suspected. Your brother-in-law is looking for a rich wife.’
‘Why would you say so?’
‘The young lady beside him is the heiress to a great fortune.’ She gave a snort of distaste. ‘A mill owner’s daughter. They have been seeking a title for the last two years. I wonder at the Count, stooping so low.’
‘She looks like a perfectly pleasant young woman.No doubt if Father could have come up with a mill owner’s son for me, he would have. Provided he was rich.’ After all, he had married her off to a man old enough to be her grandfather to further his ambitions.
‘Never!’ Aunt Lenore declared. ‘It would ruin the family name and you know how important that is to your father.’
‘Too bad Father didn’t have a son. The family name dies with him.’
‘Not for the want of trying,’ Aunt Lenore said.
No indeed. Barbara had never been enough for him. He’d kept trying until her mother had died in childbirth. What she did not understand was why he never married again.
Still, he had lots of time to father an heir; after all, he was only sixty. Far younger than the man he had first married her off to.
The theatre lights dimmed.
In the dark, Barbara became doubly aware of Xavier at her back.
She felt as if his gaze rested upon her and not the stage.
She did her best to resist the urge to look at him, but it was no use.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Their gazes met.
Heat zipped along her veins. She could feel the echo of his hands on her skin, his lips on hers. Desire rose.
She cast him a provocative smileintended to acknowledge the sensations she was feeling as well as tease him with the promise of the future.
His indrawn breath, a light hiss of sound that no one else would notice, was a joy to her ears.
