Free Belmary House Book One by Cassidy Cayman Page A

shame?”
    Oh, now this was more like it. She blushed at his cheesy line and half curtsied, watching his eyes drop to her chest. He was absolutely right, she shouldn’t be left alone. At least someone recognized that.
    “Did Lord Ashford send you looking for me?” she asked, not sure if she was hopeful or not. This man was blazing hot and she was going to flirt with him so when she finally returned she could tell Dex something other than the varieties of stew she ate. If Ashford came around and got mad about it, that would be his own fault.
    “Certainly not. He wouldn’t want me within a mile of you,” the man said, then bowed. “Nicholas Kerr, but I beg you to call me Nick.”
    “I’m sure that’s very improper, sir,” she said, surprising herself with her coquettish voice. Oh, hell yes. This was what the ball was supposed to be like.
    “I’m very good at keeping secrets,” he said, stepping closer. “What shall I call you, my dear?”
    “Tilly,” she squeaked, backing into the wall.
    “That’s so very charming,” he breathed, leaning over her as if to smell her hair.
    Her nerves flared up, and she cleared her throat. “Now, Nick, you haven’t even asked me to dance.” She planted her hands on his very firm chest and pushed him away.
    He only took both her hands in his and pulled her into him, smiling down at her intently. “Then, let’s dance,” he said, beginning to sway. He slid his hands to her waist and gripped tightly, pulling her flush with his hard body.
    This was too much. She thought men from this time were supposed to be chivalrous. She’d wanted to flirt and chat, not be groped.
    “Don’t you think we should go back inside where we can hear the music better?” she asked, getting her arms free. “I really think we should.”
    He backed her up against the wall again, leaning down to breathe near her ear, “Let’s not. It’s so much cozier out here.”
    She tried one more time, twisting her head away to keep him from kissing her neck. “I want to go back inside now,” she said firmly.
    He chuckled and continued to try to kiss her. With a sigh, she slammed the heel of her hand upward into his nose, then swiped her foot behind his ankle while pushing backwards. As he howled in pain and flailed to keep his balance, she prayed she wouldn’t lose her bosoms while she grabbed his hand and wrenched his arm behind his back. Pressing his thumb into a painfully awkward position, she flung all her body weight forward, forcing his face into the wall.
    He grunted an obscenity, and she turned to the open door to see if anyone had noticed the commotion. All she needed was a bunch of judgy nineteenth century fancypants’ gathering around to gawk at this. She pushed harder against the arm she had pinioned behind his back, making him yelp.
    “Come now,” she said, trying not to reveal how difficult it was to hold him while her corset strangled her. “I thought you were good at keeping secrets.”
    There was the sound of stamping feet behind her and she closed her eyes.
    “Miss Jacobs, is that you?”
    She gave Nicholas Kerr’s thumb one last ruthless twist before shoving away from him and whirling on Ashford.
    “About time,” she said, rushing to his side. “This pervert assaulted me.”
    Ashford pressed his lips together in a thin line and perused Nicholas, whose nose bled freely, cheek scratched from being slammed against the brick.
    “I assaulted you?” he said indignantly, pressing a handkerchief to his face. “Madam, I think you broke my nose.”
    “Good,” she spat.
    He frowned and took a step toward her, but before she could jump away, Ashford thrust out his hand and held him back by the shoulder.
    “What happened.” His voice was low and calm, but his eyes were full of murder.
    “He groped me and kept trying to kiss me. I only wanted to go inside and dance, but he wouldn’t let me.” Tilly didn’t think Ashford could get any scarier looking, but he did, turning a