Page 22 of One Night with an Earl

She despised him.

Why? It made no sense. Unless she was someone who had spent the night with him, who was incensed that he then appeared at her home the following day to court her charge.

His instinct told him there was more to her than what one saw at first glance. Could that be it?

He pictured the chaperone once more. The tight bun could not contain unruly wisps of dark, curly hair that protested the lace cap. She was as tall as Lady Scarlet, but no one could discern whether or not she had curves beneath the heavy crepe fabric.

What was her name?

Green? Garber?

No! Miss Gardner.

A heightened anticipation struck Oliver’s chest—one he hadn’t felt since first spotting a lady dressed in red at a notorious brothel.

“My lord? Shall I keep searching?” Mr. Willis asked.

“No. I shall get back to you.”

He couldn’t wait to pay Lady Penelope another visit.

…

A kiss on the base of her spine stirred Ana. Splendidly naked, she turned over and met a muscular male chest. Strong arms held her as his lips trailed a heated path down her neck.

She arched her back and wantonly offered her breasts. “Oh, yes. Please kiss me there,” she whispered.

Teeth grazed her right nipple, then her left, leaving her aching. His hand followed down her abdomen to brush the throbbing secret bud between her thighs that left her panting for more.

Her eyes fluttered open to meet dark eyes. “Remove your mask.” His voice was deep, powerful.

With trembling fingers, she untied the laces behind her head and then took off the mask. She lay naked before him, exposed in every way.

A flash of anger clouded his fierce face. “You! You can no longer hide from me.”

No. No. No.

He put his hands behind his head on the pillow, his eyes dark, fiery, and gleaming with lust in the candlelight. “Come take what you want, what you need.”

Ana moaned and rolled over. The rustle of her coverlet slipping to the floor woke her.

She sat up in bed. A sheen of perspiration dotted her brow, and her heart beat swiftly in her chest. The dream had been vivid and lurid.

She hugged her pillow to her, her breasts still tingling from the memory of his touch.

Why him? Why the Earl of Drake?

She had betrayed her family in the worst way.

Traitor! A snake of betrayal wound its way around her heart and into her head, squeezing, suffocating. Still, no matter how hard she tried and even knowing who he was, she could not forget him.

Oliver had already occupied her waking thoughts.

And now he’d invaded her dreams.

Chapter Nine

The Evermans’ ball was one of the most popular of the Season, and as a result, a crush of people were in attendance. Carriages lined up along the long drive of the large London mansion. Ana arrived with Lord and Lady Malvern and Penelope, and she trailed behind, surveying the ballroom.