Page 40 of An Unexpected Earl

“Stay here.” Freddie maneuvered her to the side of the ballroom as several dozen pairs of dancers faced off for a quadrille and thrice as many people lined the walls to watch. “I’m going to find the master of ceremonies to learn where the devil Sandhurst is. I’ll be back. Don’t wander off.”

“Why on earth would I do something like that?” Amelia mumbled beneath her breath as he hurried away. With a long-suffering sigh, she turned her head to look across the room—

And straight into Pearce’s eyes.

Her breath caught in her throat.Good heavens.The man was mesmerizing.

Even in this crowded room, he stood apart with a dashing and dangerous look that was simply captivating. His dark-blond hair shone like gold beneath the chandeliers, his tailored finery accentuating the solidity of his broad shoulders and muscular arms. Unlike the other men at the party who’d dressed in solid black, he’d cheekily chosen a diamond-patterned satin in black-and-white for his waistcoat, daring to break the black-only rule. But of course he would. Even here, amid the gentlemen and peers where he now belonged, he wanted to prove that he was different. Yet hadn’t he always stood out from the crowd, regardless of dress?

Little of the boy she once knew was physically visible in the man who now boldly returned her stare. Except for his smile, which curled slowly at his lips and warmed her through.

He rakishly lifted his glass to her in a toast, accompanied by a long perusal over her, from the upswept curls crowning her head to her slippered toes just edging out from beneath her hem. A blatant and sexually predacious look, as if he could see right through her clothes to her naked flesh beneath. And very much enjoyed what he saw.

All the tiny muscles in her belly contracted in a primal response to his presence that came so swiftly, so fiercely that it took her by surprise. So did the pulsating ache that followed on its heels. Under the heat of that brazen stare, she knew— She wanted him. More than she’d ever wanted a man in her life. Not just for physical pleasure, although as she shamelessly let her own gaze travel over him the way he’d done to her, she very much wanted that.

No, she wanted even more. She wantedhim. In every way. Friend, confidante, hero, lover…

But that simply could never happen.

With his gaze pinned to hers, he lifted a brow. His sensuous lips twisted with private amusement to acknowledge her own lingering look.

Caught.She flushed and turned away, snagging a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing footman so she could lift it to her mouth and cover the expression of embarrassment blossoming on her face.

“You’re Miss Howard, aren’t you?” A beautiful auburn-haired woman sidled up to her from behind, catching her by surprise.

A second woman flanked her other side. This one younger, with a sprinkling of freckles across her pert nose. “Frederick Howard’s sister, correct?”

“We are so pleased to make your acquaintance.” The first woman smiled warmly and linked her arm around Amelia’s.

Amelia’s mouth fell open as she recognized the woman. The new Duchess of Hampton. “Your Grace.”

But when Amelia attempted to curtsy, the duchess would have none of it and held firmly to her arm, keeping her straight up. “Please call me Danielle. And this is my sister-in-law, Mrs. Claudia Trousdale.”

“A pleasure to meet both of you.” Amelia managed to squelch her surprise—and bewilderment—at the way the two ladies had descended upon her.

“You’ll forgive us that we forewent the stuffiness of a formal introduction and simply introduced ourselves, won’t you?” Claudia pressed.

Introduced themselves? No. They’dpounced. There was no other word for it. “Of course. But I don’t—”

“We have a friend in common.” The young duchess glanced across the ballroom toward Pearce and smiled. “The Earl of Sandhurst.”

Ah. Of course. The fog of confusion was beginning to clear. But when Amelia hardened her gaze on him for setting up this sneak attack, he didn’t look at all pleased. Downright miffed, in fact. So did the Duke of Hampton standing next to him.

Apparently the two women had taken it upon themselves to approach her.

“I understand that you’ve known each other for years.” Danielle wiggled her gloved fingers at Pearce in greeting. “From before he entered the army.”

“We knew each other as children in Birmingham.” Yet something told Amelia that the two women already knew that and were here to uncover other, more intimate details. So she threw the conversation back at them. “How do you know Sandhurst?”

“Marcus,” both women answered at once. Testimony to how close they were.

“My husband Marcus, Duke of Hampton,” Danielle explained. “That’s him there at Pearce’s side, scowling at us in dark irritation. He’s awfully good at it.”

Amelia had already lost the course of the conversation. “At being a duke?”

“Heavens no!” She laughed lightly. “At scowling with dark irritation.”

“An expert,” Claudia agreed. “That’s what made him such a good general.”