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“Historical fiction. He’s working on a novel about Charles the Second.”
My jaw dropped. “Oh my god. Didn’t you do your master’s on him?”
“I’m surprised you remember that.” Her eyes looked over my shoulder, and I turned to see Crisp.
My mouth turned down. I refused to even strain a fake smile. Instead, I scowled at him, to which he returned a saccharine smile. I think he enjoyed being hated.
“A seasoned voluptuary whose sole ambition was to match Louis the Great’s incomparable artistic contributions. Charles the second’s greatest achievement, however, was siring an impressive number of children to an equally impressive number of women, he said.
“You sound like you knew him personally,” I said.
“He’s one of the more colourful monarchs and rather too fascinating to overlook.” Reynard gave my mother a knowing smile.
I left them alone and stepped outside the ballroom. I wasn’t looking at where I was going when I ran into a solid form and uttered, “Oh.”
A pair of large hands landed on my arms.
I looked up, and Carson’s hazel eyes met mine.
“Sorry. I was lost in thought.”
He smiled. “Isn’t that best left for staring at the sea or sitting somewhere alone?”
“I guess so.” I looked up at him and had the sudden desire to drag him off and have him fondle me. Okay, maybe more than fondling, like ravage me perhaps. “So where are you off to? Chasing some pretty staff member?”
His head jerked back like I’d accused him of exposing himself. “No. Of course not. I’m just off to powder my nose.”
I laughed. That was the last thing one would expect from someone as butch as him.
“Your nose looks a little shiny.” I opened my Louis Vuitton clutch. “Here. I can lend you some face powder.”
He touched my hand and sparks rushed up my arm. “No need.”
We shared a smile, and his eyes held mine again, making me forget to breathe.
“See you back in there. Maybe we can chat. Have a drink?” I tilted my head.
He smiled back. “Looking forward to it.”
A sigh exited my lips as I watched him walk off with that easy stride. I’d done nothing but fantasize about him after my embarrassing failed attempt at seduction. Feeling a little swollen between the legs, I headed back to the party to corner someone for some small talk.
Chapter 6
Carson
Mirabelhadthesweetestvoice I’d ever heard. She strummed her guitar and sang a heartfelt song about her love for Ethan, who looked very moved, biting his lower lip as she sang. If the woman of my dreams sang a song with such loving lyrics, I imagined getting a little misty-eyed myself.
After Mirabel finished her song, Theadora took to the stage and performed a classical piece on the piano. Her fingers moved with such freedom and skill that I might have been watching her perform at a concert hall, especially in that decorative ballroom.
The pair then joined forces and performed a song about a moonbeam kissing the sea, and I made a mental note to ask Mirabel where I could download the song. She sang about trusting one’s heart and closing one’s ears to harmful whispers. “Love comes in all forms,” she boomed. “Take it with two hands, hold it, caress it, soothe it, and make love to it.”
Savanah, whose attention was on the stage, must have sensed me staring because she turned, and her tantalising blue eyes trapped mine. With that dark hair slinking down the nape of her long neck and over her slender shoulders, Savanah made sensuality look effortless.
I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind, despite determined efforts to stay away. But then, Mirabel’s lyrics about embracing love with two hands by throwing away doubt kept repeating in my mind. Life was too short to deny myself pleasure. Something I knew too well because as a soldier, surrounded by bombs exploding in every direction, I was constantly reminded of the fragility of life.
Savanah was one woman I could imagine losing myself to. I’d already done that in a sense just from that night of breathing her in, while her curves pressed against me.
After capturing the audience’s imagination, including mine, the women bowed to rapturous applause, and from there the party kicked off with everyone singing “Happy Birthday” to Ethan.
