Page 9 of The Notorious Lord Sin
His mama, a woman who had never hidden her distaste for Paris, turned and greeted Lady Esme Smithers, who also seemed to be joining his lordship for the opera. Dominic's surprise at her attendance was telling, and she chuckled to herself, knowing only too well what the Dowager Viscountess Astoridge was up to.
Poor Lady Smithers seemed doomed to attempt to court men who had wooed Paris. Was the woman trying to get one up on her by making her interest known to Dominic?
Not that she would not be perfect for the viscount, considering she was an heiress and her father owned half of Kent.
The thought left a sour taste in her mouth.
"Lord Astoridge is here with his sisters and Lady Esme. Can only mean one thing," Millie said, raising her brows and turning to watch his lordship.
"And what is that?" Paris queried, not wanting to discuss his lordship at all. Not really. To do so only made her feel wretched and remember how he so cruelly used her and broke her heart.
"That he's searching for a wife." Millie met her eye, and Paris knew what her friend believed. That she ought to step forward and try to win his heart again.
She would not. The man deserved no forgiveness for something unforgivable. He had led her on a merry dance five years ago, and she had not forgiven him. Nor would she ever.
"Well, it seems that Lady Esme is certainly letting him know, if her delicate chuckles and fluttering eyelashes are anything to go by, that she's willing to be the next Viscountess Astoridge."
"You cannot possibly see her fluttering her eyelashes, Paris," Millie stated, laughing at her words. "We are too far away."
Paris shrugged but continued to watch the Astoridge box and the goings on within it. "Well, one can assume."
Lady Esme sat beside Lord Astoridge as his sister moved to sit elsewhere in the box. "His sisters are very handsome," Paris managed, narrowing her eyes at him. The simmering anger, mixed with the hurt that was always present, bubbled within her.
As if sensing her, he looked across the room. Their eyes met, held for a second time. The determination, the hunger in his dark eyes conjured a need within herself she had long denied.
Paris fought against the gnawing in her stomach, refusing to allow herself to feel anything for the man but contempt. As handsome as he was in his superfine coat, his broad shoulders and a face that would make weaker men weep, she would not fall at his feet a second time.
"He certainly is watching you a great deal, Paris. Even with the diversion of Lady Esme beside him. He is not looking at her for all her chattering and trying to gain his attention."
The theater staff snuffed the candles, and she turned her attention to the opera and took a deep, fortifying breath. She would not look at him again. Not this evening or ever if she could manage it. He may watch her all he liked. "It does not matter to me. I do not need his name or his money. I'm a countess, and he can go to the devil for all I care."
ChapterFive
Dominic was determined to speak to Paris this evening. Even if she continued to ignore his presence and watch the opera without a flicker of awareness of what was going on about her.
Was she doing such a thing on purpose to him? Punishing him by pretending that he did not exist?
The inane chatter from Lady Esme beside him whenever she could get a word in between his mother and his sisters grew tiresome, and his mind wandered.
He looked back to where Paris and the duchess sat and noted during the opera's intermission their box was full of visiting friends, some siblings of the duchess, all of whom were from the same town of Grafton.
Regret sliced through him that he was not part of that world. Not really. He had been away for so long, and although Lupton-Gage was a close friend, he was the only one.
His choice five years ago ensured they rallied about Paris, and he was happy she had the support after he denied her marriage, but that did not change what he wanted now.
Paris ...
"Lady Hervey is a beautiful woman, is she not?" Lady Esme said, pulling his attention back from her. He cleared his throat, having not expected such a compliment from her. Paris had often spoken of Lady Esme's dislike of her during their coming out, and he couldn't help but wonder what mischief she was leading to.
"There are many beautiful women at the opera tonight, yourself included," he added, wanting to compliment the young woman beside him. For all her beauty and wealth, he felt very little for the chit. Mayhap it was what he knew of her from Paris, or simply because he wanted someone else.
The woman he had thrown to the curb and had regretted his decision ever since.
"I understand she's recently back in town after the death of her husband, the earl. While I do not remember much of Lord Hervey," Lady Esme continued, "I heard they were a love match and very happy. I feel for Lady Hervey. I'm certain she misses him very much."
Dominic almost choked on his wine. He glanced at Lady Esme to see if she were in earnest in what she said and there was not even a smidge of blush on her cheeks at her blatant lie. The woman knew and had coveted Lord Hervey. Did not remember him, indeed.
But then she made a good point. Did Paris love and miss her husband? Had it turned into a love match? The thought made bile rise in his throat, and he swallowed hard.
