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But then he remembered that becoming blush when he’d claimed a dance.

And how excited he’d felt imagining holding her in his arms, even briefly.

And he suspected that it wasn’t only concern for her health that had him desperate for a glimpse of Lady Holly.

A sudden flash of red caught Evan’s eye and as he watched, Lady Holly glided into the room, every inch the regal daughter of a peer, smiling demurely at greetings sent her way, oblivious to the appreciative glances of the gentleman around her.

But Evan wasn’t oblivious to them, and he was shocked at the visceral jealousy that heated his blood and sent him halfway across the ballroom before he knew what he was about.

Forcing himself to stop, he merely gazed at her.

The blue of her gown against the red-gold of her hair made his throat dry.

She looked ethereal. Like a mythical mermaid, beautiful but untouchable.

And God help him, he wanted to touch her. Desperately so.

While he stood there like a damned idiot, he spotted Winchester sidling up to her, pulling at his cravat as he went.

Evan narrowed his eyes as he took in the scene.

Did the man have designs on Holly?

Evan clenched his teeth but resisted the urge to go marching over there.

He’d spent one morning with the girl; he had no right to feel proprietorial over her.

“Are you just going to stand here like an idiot or are you going to stop whatever that is?”

Evan jumped at the sound of a voice by his elbow, and he looked down to see Angela glaring up at him.

How did she keep bloody well popping up everywhere?

“Where did you come from?” he blurted.

She smiled slyly.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she answered cryptically. “Did your morning not go well?” she demanded.

“It did,” Evan answered, sounding defensive even to his own ears.

“So well, that you’re standing here like a dolt whilst another gentleman pays the lady some attention?” She snorted derisively.

Evan opened his mouth to argue, but his attention was caught by Winchester suddenly grasping Lady Holly’s hand.

Forgetting all about the old lady by his side, he took off across the room and was at Holly’s side in seconds.

“My lady.”

Lady Holly turned to blink up at him while she extracted her hand from Winchester’s.

Belatedly, Evan sketched a bow, ignoring Winchester.

The blackguard could find his own way home.

“I believe I have the honour of dancing the first with you?” He grinned, remembering that her teeth had been chattering far too much to refuse him.

The raised brow and haughty expression indicated that she remembered, too.