Free A Wild Pursuit by Eloisa James Page A

was exhausted. “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Fairfax-Lacy,” she said with a curtsy, “I will join Lady Rawlings.”
    Helene had hardly sat down next to Esme when Bea plumped herself on Esme’s other side. “Disastrous!” Bea announced.
    â€œWhat?” Helene asked, but Esme seemed to know precisely what she was speaking about and responded with a choked giggle. Helene narrowed her eyes. “What are you discussing?”
    â€œYou, darling,” Esme said, with such fondness in her voice that it removed the sting. “Bea and I have been conspiring to bring you together with that estimable gentleman on the other side of the room, but you’re not doing your share.”
    Helene already felt tired; now she felt obstinate as well. “While I much dislike the idea of my affairs being discussed in public,” she said, “I also resent the imputation that I have not attempted to…to sway Mr. Fairfax-Lacy’s attentions. I am wearing a new dress, and I allowed myself to be walked over to him, like a lamb to slaughter. It is not my fault that the man has no conversation.”
    â€œYou must have discussed something,” Esme said.
    â€œTopics I introduced,” Helene snapped. “First I brought up Napoleon’s escape and then the position of Catholics in the government. He had nothing to say to either issue. Really, if this is what he’s like in Commons, it’s no wonder the government never gets anything done!”
    Bea sighed. “He doesn’t want to talk about legalities, Helene. The man is bored with the House. He wants to talk about frivolous things. Men always pretend that they want intelligence in their mates, but it’s not really the case.”
    â€œWhat sort of frivolous things?” Helene asked.
    â€œI don’t agree,” Esme put in. “I think Bea has the wrong end of the stick. In my experience, it doesn’t even matter what you talk about. The man is burnt to the socket. Look at those circles under his eyes. Unless I miss my guess, he’s rather desperately hoping to find a warm body to curl up with. All you have to do is indicate that interest, Helene.”
    â€œYou make it sound easy,” Helene muttered.
    â€œIt is easy,” Bea said. “You watch, and I’ll do it right now. He’s utterly uninterested in me, so there’s no threat to your future.”
    Helene grabbed her arm. “I can’t let you do that!”
    â€œWhy on earth not? I do it enormously well,” Bea said with some satisfaction. “In fact, I think one could fairly say that I am an expert.” She sauntered off, and sure enough, even the very sway of her hips was a promise.
    â€œI do believe that girl is more outrageous than I ever was,” Esme said thoughtfully. “She must be quite unhappy.”
    â€œNonsense. She’s having the time of her life,” Helene said. “Look at her now!”
    Bea was laughing up at Stephen, waving her fan gently before her face. Her piquant little face was glowing, her eyes sending the man a speaking invitation. Her bosom brushed against his arm, and even from the other side of the room, Helene could see him start.
    â€œI can’t possibly do that sort of thing,” Helene said flatly. “I just couldn’t.” She felt positively riddled with embarrassment at the very thought.
    â€œBea is not doing much,” Esme said. “There’s only one important thing, and that’s to let your eyes tell Stephen that you’re available. That’s all. It’s easy.”
    â€œEasy?” Helene said in an appalled voice. “That’s not easy! Available? How on earth does one indicate such an unseemly thing?”
    Across the room, Bea was laughing up at Stephen. She seemed to be vibrating with desire. Then she turned around for the merest moment and grinned at them. The desire wiped from her face and was replaced by pure