The Untamed Earl(18)

He shrugged casually. “I don’t know. You seem a bit … anxious.”

“Anxious? Me? No!” Again, the words were uttered far too quickly, and her chest was rising and falling rapidly, indicating that her breathing was increasing. Though he had to admit he was enjoying the view of her décolletage, which was on full display. He could see it well, since he was a full head taller than she.

“Not anxious?” he asked, slowing their pace a bit, hoping to put her at ease.

“N-n-not at all.” She pushed up her chin, and Owen had to give her a mental point for her bravery. She was clearly filled with nerves but didn’t want to admit it. Well played, Lady Lavinia. Courting her in the span of a month was going to be a simple task indeed. He had to wonder, however, if she knew he was her intended after all. Why else was she so full of nerves? He sighed and decided not to give it another thought. Perhaps it was merely her disposition. Father had sworn the lady knew nothing about their intended courtship.

“So, tell me, my lady. How are you enjoying the ball?” he asked, staring deeply into her eyes. He’d yet to find a lady who wasn’t enthralled with his dark blue gaze.

She glanced away first. He’d won.

“I like it very well,” she said with the twinge of a tremor in her voice. “Though I don’t think my sister is enjoying herself much.”

“It’s kind of you to have such regard for your sister.”

“It’s rather a pastime in our family,” she replied.

Owen narrowed his eyes on her. Now, that was an interesting thing to say. Perhaps Lady Lavinia wasn’t so vapid as he’d expected her to be. She certainly hadn’t proved difficult. Not yet, at least. Obviously, everyone had been exaggerating her temper.

He put his hand on her elbow and pulled her a bit closer to see how she would react. Surely she wouldn’t slap him or throw a fit here in a crowded ballroom.

Instead, she sucked in her breath sharply but otherwise remained as stiff as a board. Nothing difficult about her. He resumed their walk.

“Your sister is younger, is she not?” Owen ventured. “Just made her come-out recently? Perhaps she’s yet to develop a taste for this type of amusement.”

The lady in orange shook her head. “Oh no, Lavinia is my older sister.”

First, Owen nearly tripped. Then he froze. Very bad form. He composed himself before leaning toward her. He must have heard her incorrectly. “What did you say?” He leaned even closer to ensure he’d hear correctly this time.

“I said Lavinia is older. By three years. Why, I’ve only just made my come-out this past spring myself.”

Owen pressed his lips together. The diminutive brunette at his side continued to walk and he matched her steps as if in a trance. Now, this was a pickle. How in heaven’s name would he extract himself from this error? “Do you mean to say that you’re not Lady Lavinia Hobbs?”

“No, of course not. I’m Lady Alexandra Hobbs.” She laughed. “And I must say I don’t think you’ve done quite a good enough job of impressing Lavinia so far. Mother tells me you mean to marry her.”





CHAPTER SEVEN

As soon as their turn about the room came to an end and Lord Owen had thanked her charmingly, Alexandra hurried back over to hide behind the potted palm near Lavinia. He hadn’t known it, but Lord Owen Monroe had saved her from an exceedingly unpleasant conversation with her sister earlier. One in which Lavinia had been denigrating the looks and clothing choices of every lady at the ball, in addition to her usual rant against bluestockings and any females who chose to better their minds. She’d just launched into a similar rant against gentlemen with strong political views when Lord Owen arrived and clearly mistook Alexandra for Lavinia.

For a moment, an awful, wonderful moment, Alexandra actually believed that he’d meant to ask her to walk with him, that he knew who she was and had actually chosen her. But it became clear soon enough that that wasn’t the case, and while her heart plummeted into her slippers, she was still fond enough of a good jest that she looked forward to the outcome of the little debacle.

The look on Lord Owen’s face when he discovered he’d asked the wrong sister to walk with him had been ever so amusing. Even more amusing? Lavinia’s anticipated reaction to Owen reappearing to correct his error. If Alexandra didn’t miss her guess, that was precisely what he meant to do.

She watched as he grabbed two glasses of champagne from the tray of a passing footman and downed them both in quick succession. Alexandra smiled to herself. Drinking to excess? Check.

With a determined look in his eye that Alexandra could see even from her vantage point, Owen scanned the ballroom, spotted Lavinia, and stalked toward her. Alexandra’s smile widened. Overbearing? Certainly. If Alexandra didn’t miss her second guess, Owen was about to be exceedingly overbearing.