Free The Temptation of Lady Serena by Ella Quinn Page A

with me?”
    “No, she will not.” Marcus frowned. “You asked for this, now you must play propriety.”
    As Robert walked away from them, he glanced around hoping for an escape. He had no desire to dance with anyone other than Lady Serena, but the Dowager Lady Worthington found him and introduced him to a young lady in need of a partner. Hiding his chagrin, Robert prepared to endure the unmitigated torture of young females in their first Season.
    At the end of the evening, Robert walked home, annoyed. Other than his two dances with Lady Serena, he’d spent the rest of his evening dancing with several chits, in whom he had no interest. To make it worse, he didn’t understand the depth of his reaction when Lady Serena danced with other gentlemen.
    Robert had never minded seeing a woman with whom he was intimate dance with others. Why it should matter with Lady Serena, he could not fathom. He scowled. Nor had his hands burned when he had held another woman, but they did when he’d danced with her. Why had he felt the need to draw her body against his during the waltz? Or drag her away from her dance partners?
    If this was love, it was a damned uncomfortable feeling. He lengthened his stride in irritation.
    Was it love, or did he just want her? What could he do to end his agony?

Chapter Six
    E arly the next morning, Serena, mounted on her horse outside of St. Eth House, was surprised to see Phoebe ride up on Lilly without Marcus.
    “Marcus is with Arthur,” she explained. “The baby had another bad night. I cannot tell you how happy I shall be when he has all his teeth.”
    They galloped down Rotten Row. The Park always reminded Serena of the country, but to-day, even the trees leafing and the new flowers pushing up in the beds couldn’t distract her from thoughts of Lord Beaumont.
    Dropping Shamir to a walk, Serena considered how best to approach Phoebe with her questions. Questions that had kept Serena awake most of the night. In the end, she decided candor was the only way forward. “Phoebe, is there some reason Lord Beaumont was with you last evening and that Marcus and Rutherford gave their dances to him?”
    “Robert asked us to help him with you.” Phoebe pulled a face. “Beaumont is in difficult straits. He’s spent years running away from love and marriage only to find he now wants both, and it terrifies him.” Phoebe sighed. “We agreed that he could attend entertainments with us, but only on the proviso that he would not fix his attentions on you until he knew his own mind.”
    Serena’s heart somersaulted and her horse tried to pick up his pace in response. Could he really have the same feelings for her that she had for him? Rather breathlessly, she asked, “Do you mean he thinks he might be in love with me?”
    Phoebe shrugged in exasperation and reined in Lilly. “I wish I could tell you. Robert only knows that thinking of you makes him walk in circles.”
    But what did that mean? Serena wished she knew more about men.
    “Serena, how do you feel about him?” Phoebe asked, concerned. “Could you love him? If you cannot, we should end this now.”
    Part of her felt buoyant. But her practical Scots common sense made her pause. Serena thought for a few moments, her innate sense of caution guiding her. “I don’t have much experience with gentlemen, but I won’t deny that I’m very interested in him. I have been since the first time we met. He’s charming and good looking.”
    Serena slowed Shamir to a walk. “Is Lord Beaumont really a rake?”
    “A rake?” Phoebe rode silently for a minute before responding. “Robert is a good friend. I like him very well,” she said. “If he loves his wife, he’ll make an excellent husband and father.”
    Phoebe paused for a moment. “I can say with a certainty, he’d never seduce you and leave you. His intent would be marriage. Yet, I am not sure he would see the need to love his wife. I am most concerned for you, my dear. I do not wish to see you