Free My Lady, My Spy (Secrets and Seduction Book 4) by Sheridan Jeane Page B

“Unless you don’t want them.”
    “Of course I want them.” He glanced pointedly at Lord Temple across the room. The man picked up two glasses of punch from the refreshment table. “But perhaps you shouldn’t bring them yourself. Lord Temple might not approve.”
    She narrowed her eyes as she lifted her chin. He could see the tug of irritation and disapproval at the corner of her mouth. “You are jealous, aren’t you? And this is your way of trying to discern my feelings for him. Don’t bother. It’s none of your concern. I don’t report to you, Mr. Woolsy. ”
    A hot flash of something seared through him. Jealousy? Of course not. It was irritation, plain and simple. Irritation with Josephine for turning what should have been a pleasant evening into something else. Something much more complicated.
    Josephine glanced at Lord Temple as he approached them and then flicked her gaze over Frederick. “Is it possible you’ve come to realize you care for me after all? It’s either that, or you merely wish to control me. I can’t quite decide which it is.” She gazed into his eyes, as if trying to read the answer in them. After a moment, she gave up, shaking her head. “It appears you aren’t certain of the answer to that question either.”
    Something intense and visceral tightened in his chest. He wanted to snap back a reply. He wanted to pull her into his arms again, just as he’d done a few moments ago. He wanted to banish that half-smile from her mouth by scorching it away with his lips and leaving her flushed and in no doubt that she wanted him and only him.
    But what he wanted rarely matched what he actually did.
    So he smiled benignly, leashing the jealousy— yes, jealousy— that smoldered in his chest.
    “Your refreshment, Lady Harrington.” Lord Temple passed her a glass filled with a frothy pink liquid.
    Frederick nodded to them both. “Please pass along my thanks to Mrs. Drummer, and let her know I’m looking forward to her delivery tomorrow.”
    And he turned away.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    Lord Temple glanced across the room. “He’s still watching you.”
    Josephine gave him a brittle smile. “I told you, Tristan. He’s jealous of you.” She sipped from her punch glass.
    Tristan leaned over and murmured into her ear, “If only he knew.”
    She batted her eyes. “That you have no interest in pursuing me?”
    Tristan shrugged, his muscles rolling beneath his evening coat so that it tightened across his shoulders. “That I feel as though I’m using you.”
    “We’re using each other, so it negates the effect. Thank you for agreeing to be my escort so often.”
    She glanced at Frederick, and he immediately looked away. He appeared quite irritated with her. Good. He deserved it after treating her so shabbily. One corner of her mouth drew up in an unladylike smirk before she smoothed it away. She finished off her punch and set the empty glass on a passing footman’s tray.
    A devilish gleam lit Tristan’s eye. “You certainly put poor Frederick in a bother,” he commented. “Would you like to let him cool off for a while, or would you prefer to raise him to a simmer?”
    She smiled and lifted one eyebrow. “Simmering sounds intriguing. What did you have in mind?”
    “This.” He stared directly at Frederick and scowled darkly. He grabbed Josephine by the elbow and hurried her from the room.
    Josephine nearly stumbled in her haste to keep up with him, but his firm grip kept her upright. She glanced around, but fortunately, the other guests didn’t appear to take note of their dash for the door. Instead, they were turning to focus on their host.
    “If you will please take your seats, Miss Bonneville will begin her performance shortly,” Lord Aldridge said.
    “What are you doing?” Josephine asked Tristan through tight lips.
    “Adding a bit of heat. Frederick is watching us, isn’t he?”
    She glanced back and caught Frederick’s scowl. “He looks