Page 5

With one more look to her mother she slipped her arm though his and let him lead her into the center of the dance floor.

She usually liked to dance on the outside, that way when the dance ended she could make a quick escape. Whenever her partner pulled her to the center she felt as if all eyes were on her.

However, with Graham leading her, her eyes were only his broad back. When he turned back to her she forgot the rest of the room was there.

He stepped closer to her and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her in. The familiar scent of sweet smoke and something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on surrounded her. This had to be the man from last night. She has never smelled this combination before last night.

She tilted her head up causing the curl to break free again. He reached up and tucked it behind her ear. She saw the slight silver scar across the back of his hand and gasped.

It was him.

Ezra watched as the realization spread across Beatrice’s face. When her brow furrowed followed by her brown eyes widening he wanted to laugh but thought better of it.

He tightened his hold on her and began the dance. His fingers stretched along her back, his body humming with the way her curves fit against him.

Much to his dismay he hadn’t been able to get this little vixen out of his mind since last night.

Here in the light of day she appeared to be the perfect daughter of the ton .

But the woman he met last night was one for danger and adventure.

He had trouble reconciling the two in his mind.

But he had a feeling he would enjoy the challenge.

“How are you faring today, Lady Beatrice?” He kept his tone conversational, although it was taking every bit of his self-control not to ask her about last night.

She eyed him curiously. She could sense a trap which meant she was smart. He liked that.

“I’m well, thank you.” Her response was curt.

He got the sense she didn’t like not having the upper hand. The thought delighted him immensely. His eyes stayed focused on her as she started to nibble on her bottom lip. Oh to be that lip.

The thought surprised him, but then again, it has been some time since his last tryst. He may want to settle that soon.

He looked over Beatrice, her brown hair perfectly curled and styled.

Other than that one curl he tucked away, which his fingers were still buzzing from touching, everything about her was perfectly positioned.

What would she look like a little disheveled and undone?

Ezra gave his head a slight shake. Those were extremely dangerous thoughts, especially during a mid-afternoon ball.

“Do you enjoy dancing?” His voice was getting harder to control and keep light with her in his arms.

She snorted. “Do you like propositioning young women in the dark streets of London in the middle of the night?”

His laugh was so loud it drowned out the music and had people turning towards them in curiosity.

Her smug look was quickly replaced with reddened cheeks as she dropped her head in embarrassment.

So she was quick-witted and had no problem asking hard questions, but was not a fan of attention. He had learned more about this girl in thirty seconds than he had learned about most women he’d spent weeks with.

“You embarrass me, Your Grace.” She whispered.

He lowered his head towards hers. “Come now, where is the brazen girl I met last night? The one who challenged a stranger with no care for her safety?”

Her brown owns tightened on his. “I had care for my safety. And, may I remind you, my safety was and is none of your concern.” She sniffed as they continued to turn around the dance floor.

Ezra wanted to smile at her naivety but he couldn’t help but to think of what could have happened to her if she had run into anyone else on that street. His grip tightened as they twirled.

“I wonder if your mother has the same opinion.” Beatrice’s body stiffened within his arms. “I would assume she is not a fan of your midnight strolls. Actually, I think one would question if she even knew about them.”

He lifted one eyebrow as he looked down at her. Fear had frozen her features.

“You wouldn’t.” Her whisper was harsh.

Ezra lifted a shoulder. “It’s not a concern of mine what your mother knows. That’s between you and her. But I assure you, Lady Beatrice.,” he leaned down, his lips whispered just beside her ear. “Who walks my streets at night is very much a part of my concern.”

Beatrice shuttered in his arms. “Your streets? I was unaware you were the Constable of Water Street.”

This time his laugh was more subdued. She really did have a tongue on her.

“I am not, however, I frequent that area enough to be held in high regard and I take that privilege seriously. We don’t need some curious spoiled brat ruining our good time. We lead hard enough lives, we deserve a chance to let loose without the eyes of the ton watching our every move.”

Beatrice’s feet stopped as she stared up at him in shock.

Ezra, bewildered, looked down at her feet, then around the room. “What is it?. Are you well?”

If his laughed drowned out the music, her laugh reached the Queen. She doubled over in laughter, wiping tears from her eyes.

“Really, Lady Beatrice,” he chided. “Now who is embarrassing who?”

He reached his arm back around her waist to draw her back in and started dancing again. She was still giggling. He didn’t know whether to chastise her for her outburst or enjoy the lightness her laugh brought him.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace, it’s just you speak as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. You do realize there are people in this world who can’t afford food or a place to sleep and yet you were just drinking out of a crystal glass.”

Ezra rolled his lips. He was right, she was a smart woman. Smart women were dangerous, and too much of a challenge. Pity he loved challenges.

“While it is true I am far better off than the common man, that does not mean I do not know the pain of hardships.”

Beatrice rolled her eyes. “What? Have they run out of your favorite brandy? Your favorite silk cravat was lost? Oh, I know,” her voice rang out in mirth. “Your favorite hunting dog has fallen ill.”

Ezra was not amused. “Are you done?”

Beatrice squinted her eyes as she looked up towards the ceiling. “Wait. I can come up with more if you just give me a moment.”

The familiar refrain sounded throughout the ballroom, the song was coming to its end.

“Lady Beatrice, I have seen and experienced more in my twenty-seven years than most men have in their entire life times. I have seen and done things that would make you, yes, you, the daring little vixen that you are, blush in desire and in derision.”

With each word he slowed his steps and lowered his head and voice. They were barely swaying to the music now as he leaned in to whisper in her ear.

“I have tortured men with the same hands I use to play Beethoven. I have seen death, destruction, beauty and passion all within moments of each other. I think it is safe to say that I have embraced all walks of life and take very little for granted. I know pain and pleasure go hand in hand very nicely.”

Beatrice’s chest quickly rose and fell against him. Her eyes were wide, unblinking as his words penetrated her shield.

“And something tells me you are more curious about that side of life than you care to admit.”

Ezra refused to move until the right moment. The song had ended and common decency be damned. She needed to know who she was playing with.

“And how could you possibly know that? Because you saw me out one night?” Her words did not fool him, her voice shook with fear.

“Because I have your list.” His whispered before he placed a soft kiss on the shell of her ear.

He stepped back to see the reaction he was waiting for.

Triumph and victory sang in his blood. Her facial expression changed from confusion to shock, then horror, to defeat before finally settling on his favorite one, absolute fury.

Her eyes fired at his as she pursed her lips. He dipped at the waist and turned on his heel. He had a feeling he’d been seeing Lady Beatrice again and, if their interaction would be anything like last night’s or today’s, he couldn’t wait.