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Evan allowed himself to be sent to Lady Holly because Evan was suddenly, and a bit inexplicably, quite desperate to get to know her.

He was halfway across the room before he realised what he was doing.

He couldn’t just bloody well walk up to the girl!

They’d met but briefly three years ago and in truth, it now felt like a lifetime ago.

For in those three years, Lady Holly had gone from a pretty young girl in the first blush of womanhood to a siren, whose beauty left him speechless.

Though her hair was glorious as it had ever been, the rest of her had definitely caught up.

And much as he was intrigued not only by her beauty, but by the somewhat bored gaze she was running over the drawing room, he still couldn’t just march up and begin talking to her.

No matter what this Angela person might think.

He stood like a simpleton in the middle of the room before he suddenly heard tutting and muttering, even an oath or two, behind him.

In the next instant, Angela had barged past him and straight up to Lady Holly.

He watched as Angela began speaking to the red-haired beauty. Watched as her eyes, dark as chocolate, widened in surprise at the sudden appearance of the old lady. She looked startled but being of impeccable breeding, she recovered quickly and answered whatever it was Angela was saying.

As Evan watched, Angela suddenly swung her gaze to him, her green eyes seeming to burrow into him.

She scowled at him, as though he’d somehow displeased her then, rolling her eyes, she jerked her head to signal that he should come over.

His mind, usually not so slow, finally understood.

Angela was giving him a reason to speak to Lady Holly.

But Evan didn’twanta reason to talk to the lady.

Hadn’t he just been thinking earlier about how he had no interest in a dalliance? Especially with a young, single lady of Quality.

Angela jerked her head again and this time, she caught the attention of Lady Holly.

The lady looked over in Evan’s direction, and his whole body froze as her deep, dark gaze met his own.

Despite what he’d just been telling himself. Despite all of his intentions. And despite the fact that he didn’t want to let this mad old bat dictate his actions, Evan found himself closing the distance between himself and Lady Holly.

CHAPTER4

Holly’s heartfluttered wildly as she watched Lord Stockton prowl across the room toward where she stood with Angela.

She hadn’t had a chance to greet all her guests, or even find Grandmamma to introduce her to their surprise visitor, before the white-haired lady was before her.

“Ah, here comes my friend Lord Stockton,” Angela said, as though Holly hadn’t watched the woman practically demand that he come over to them. As though she hadn’t already noticed that he was complying.

My friend,Angela had said. Is that how she’d come to be here then? Had the Scottish earl invited her as his guest? It was unorthodox, and really rather rude, but it would at least explain the lady’s unexpected arrival.

Holly was suddenly distracted by the scent of sandalwood, and she turned her attention back to Lord Stockton, who had come to a stop before them both.

Her heart, which had barely settled when she’d first caught his gaze, beat even more erratically as she took in his appearance.

It had been years since she’d seen him and either those years had been very good indeed to him, or Holly hadn’t paid close enough attention back then.

He was even more handsome than she remembered. His hair, a darker gold in this evening’s candlelight, was neatly trimmed with one unruly lock falling across his brow. And his eyes, a light, almost caramel colour, were surrounded by thick, dark lashes that many a lady would be envious of.

“Holly, have you met Evan?”