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The carriage entered the line of vehicles waiting to unload at the front doors of the Millvilles’ estate and Natalie found the knot of tension in her stomach tighten as they moved closer.
Finally, they were out of the carriage, moving up the front stairs and into the sweeping foyer amongst the crowd.
She found herself glancing about, waving to several people she knew but not spotting the one person she most wished to see.
“Miss Blake,” Abigail called with a friendly wave.
Natalie left her mother’s side and reached out both hands to Abigail, who promptly kissed Natalie’s cheek. “So good to see you,” she replied, giving Abigail’s fingers another squeeze.
“And you.” Abigail winked and then nodded her chin to the right. “But I know someone who will be even happier that you’ve arrived.”
Natalie followed Abigail’s gaze and her heart fluttered in her chest. There was Ethan, standing tall and handsome. But her rush of excitement was quickly dashed as she noted no less than five women standing about him, fans fluttering.
He gave one of them a wink, looking completely comfortable with the company that surrounded him. “Happy that I’ve come?” she found herself saying. “He looks far too occupied for that.”
Lord Smith gave a disapproving growl. “He draws an inordinate amount of attention.”
He surely did. A gaggle of giggles came from the group around him, and she felt her own face heat. Why had she allowed herself to grow excited about his attendance? With so many ladies about, he’d likely not notice her.
Had he only given her his attention because no one else was about? She didn’t sparkle like Emma or even Abigail, she knew that.
Her chin dipped and she turned away. “He does draw a great deal of attention.” She pushed her disappointment away, reminding herself that his interest in her was due to their bargain, nothing more. Watching him, she knew it had to be true.
“It’s the smile,” Abigail said with a bit of a sigh. “Or the eyes. Perhaps the jaw…”
“Hell’s bells, wife,” Lord Smith growled. “Don’t make me knock him to the ground.”
Abigail only laughed but Natalie had another moment of envy. What would it be like to have a man jealous like that? A husband willing to fight for his wife’s love and attention? She’d like a bit of that for herself.
“Stop,” Abigail said, but her grin implied that she liked his jealousy too. The couple shifted closer and Lord Smith’s hand wrapped about his wife’s waist.
Natalie realized she was intruding. “I should return to my mother,” she said, clearing her throat, taking a step back.
“Why?” A deep baritone rumbled behind her a moment before she ran into the solid wall of a man’s chest. “The night has only just begun.”
She snapped her head around, her gaze meeting the crystal blue of Ethan’s. “Lord Somersworth.”
“It’s Ethan,” he said, his fingers coming to her waist.
His touch made her shiver with delight as her derriere brushed against his hips. Something hard pressed into her softness. “I can’t call you that here,” she whispered as his head naturally dropped closer.
“Be bad, Red. Be bad,” he answered, his eyes twinkling in the candlelight. His words, the intimacy of their touch, the feel of his hard member pressing into her backside filled her with such excitement that she found herself nodding her agreement.
“All right, Ethan.”
He gave her the most wickedly sinful smile, and his hand slid down to her hip. He pressed her a touch closer, the contact making her breath catch. “Well, Red. What naughty things shall we do this evening?”
“This evening?” She swallowed down a lump. “Don’t you want to show everyone we’re courting?”
“We will,” he answered. “But first…”
And then he slid his hand into hers as he began pulling her across the ballroom.
This woman…
Ethan looked back at the beauty who trailed just behind, Natalie’s much smaller hand encased in his.
A flush colored her cheeks, and her green eyes sparkled in the candlelight. His gaze drifted down to her ample bosom on display in that gown, and he groaned softly. It was as glorious as he’d imagined. Her hair was barely contained by the pins, and he wondered what it looked like undone. What would that mass of red hair looked like splashed across his chest?
