AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have come because I intend to protect myself tonight.” Jeremy stood tall and folded his arms across his chest, now certain of himself.
“What does that mean?” Stephen asked, jerking his head in Jeremy’s direction.
“It means that no matter what I fear I feel, I know what Sophia said.” Jeremy gulped, remembering how she had left his bed without even saying goodbye. “It was one night.”
“Two nights.”
“Fine, two nights, but that was all she wanted from me,” Jeremy spoke quickly and sharply. “She didn’t ask for more, she doesn’t want more. So, I must protect myself.”
“How do you intend to do that?”
“By…” Jeremy paused, thinking of what to say.
Put up walls, you fool! As you did before.
“By building a barricade around me,” Jeremy said with a forced smile, as if the thought didn’t matter to him. “I will not be affected by her, and I will happily dance with any lady here tonight, in order to forget her.”
“You think you can accomplish that so easily?” Stephen asked, with something of a smirk upon his lips.
“I do.” Jeremy sounded more confident than he felt. It had been hard enough to get over the last woman that had broken his heart. Now, he stood in a position where he might have fallen for a woman he never intended to fall for.
It is happening all over again. What if Stephen is right? What if I am in love?
“Very well. Shall I not tell you then that she has just arrived?” Stephen asked.
“Where?” Jeremy cricked his neck as he looked around, ignoring the way Stephen laughed as Sophia was pointed out to him through the crowd.
Jeremy swallowed past the sudden dryness in his throat as he caught sight of her. She had arrived arm in arm with her friend, Lady Rumpton. The gown she was wearing was not one he had seen before, but it suited her perfectly. The cream gown contrasted the brown of her hair and it seemed to glisten in the candlelight, showing off the curves of her waist and hips that the silk caressed.
Jeremy sighed, feeling his eyes wander over her.
It’s not love. It can’t be. I vowed never to feel that again.
Then the sight of Sophia began to disappear, for a gentleman stepped in front of her.
It is the Earl of Elkins!
