Free Losing the Earl: Regency Romance Clean Read (Yearnings for Love Book 2) by Rebecca Grave

Chapter 2
     
     
     
     
    Without having ever seen him before, Mary knew him from the across the room. She assumed his gaze falling on her to be the work of aligning stars. And why shouldn’t it be? He looked perfect. It just added more magic to the night.
    Her future husband knew his wife-to-be without prior introduction. Yet Lord Samuel Henry Surry, son of The Earl of Arthingworth, did not walk toward her, he glided with charismatic confidence. Crossing the dancers on the floor, he was the thing of artist's inspiration to cut marble. More than his face, she noticed his chest, wide and prominent under his jacket as hard muscles moved. His winter-paled, clean-shaven face was contrasted by dark, firewood brown eyes and ink black hair. He was tall; even in dancing shoes her head only came to his chest.
    Naturally he drew many eyes, despite attempts to politely hide doing so.
    And it excited her.
    She felt foolish, like a child in a room full of adults, giddy with energy from eating too many sweets.
    As he approached, he bowed, eyes taking her in. “My Lady, I took the liberty of asking your parents to allow myself introduction. I am Lord Samuel Henry Surry, of Arthingworth, and it is my distinguished pleasure to be at your service.” His cologne a musk scent with hints of ambergris, she wanted to bury her face against his jacket and inhale him.
    “And I yours,” she said. “I was crestfallen that you and your family were absent on New Year’s Eve.” Their first meeting had been planned for her family’s ball celebrating the start of the new year. She had taken his absence that night to mean she may never meet her future husband until wedlock.
    “My deepest apologies. My uncle's fever broke days after. He will never go ice fishing again, the clumsy man. While he is much better, he is not in attendance tonight as his recovery is yet incomplete.” He paused as his eyes took her in again.
    “Well, it is a tremendous stress on your future wife when you do not appear when expected,” she replied.
    “I promise, I will never fail you again.” He bowed again, and she pondered if this was how being under the influence of absinthe would feel. He seemed…wonderful. “I would ask you to dance but the composition is half finished…” he said, arm gesturing towards the dancing.              
    “I’m sorry; my maid took forever in retrieving my pearls.”
    “You know, I can do everything by myself, I merely employ servants so when running late I have someone to blame.” He smiled, and she giggled at the joke, not because she found it humorous but because she felt like laughing.
    When Mary’s father announced the last dance before super, Samuel made it a point to be next to her, guaranteeing a seat across from her when dining. A loud pounding at the door stirred voices though the room. “This is how the terrors in France started,” said Samuel as the music continued, “with a loud pounding at the door. If King Louis had not answered, Robespierre would have gone home and the whole French Revolution would have never happened.” He flashed his big smile again as the two sailed over the dance floor.
    She felt as if nothing in the world mattered but his attention. And she loved it. Whatever was at the front door could not take her from this moment.   
    Feeling his palm against hers, she looked at where their hands met. Large, but soft and unblemished, his warm hands were those of a gentleman. Looking up past their hands, she noticed her father’s steward and butler carrying two more chairs towards the dining room.
    Curious, she thought.
    Mr. Bancroft, her father’s butler, entered the doorway where gallery met the ballroom. He stood looking at no one and waited for the music to end before announcing supper. The crowd of friends and relatives began milling out of the ballroom. As she realized everyone in the room had their backs to them, Mary felt Samuel's hand on her hip. Her heart felt a