Free Enticing the Earl by Nicole Byrd

good hand of cards close to his chest, so no one else in the game could steal a look at his queen of hearts.
    Of course heads were turning, anyhow, dammit. How could anyone not get a glimpse of Mrs. Smith’s gossamer beauty and not look again, and again.
    Carter came up, the contessa clinging to his half brother’s arm. “There you are, at last.”
    â€œYou must break yourself of this new insatiable appetite for my presence, Brother,” Marcus told his sibling.
    Carter flushed. “You know it’s not that. Only—”
    â€œAnd no talk of private matters in front of our guests,” the earl warned swiftly. “That would be highly impolite.”
    â€œOh, well, if you say so.” Carter looked frustrated at the ban. “But—”
    â€œI mean it,” Marcus warned. “You will start rumors that will cause fluctuations in our company’s stock on the Exchange.”
    â€œI wouldn’t do that,” his brother argued, but he looked guiltily down at the hardwood floor as he said it.
    â€œYou vill not allow him to explain to me about the treasure ship?” The contessa spoke at almost the same moment, and several men nearby turned their heads.
    â€œCarter!” the earl said, his tone grimmer than ever.
    â€œI didn’t mean to!” his brother protested. “She has a way of getting around a fellow, don’t you know?”
    â€œHe knows.” The contessa smiled sweetly and nodded toward the back of the big room where musicians were almost hidden in one of the large alcoves. “Ve have music and dancing. If you vould dance vith me, Marcuz, for ol’ timez, you could tell me all about it, yez?”
    Lauryn, who felt that she had shrunk to the size of a field mouse, unnoticed by all in this conversation, felt her mouth go dry. If the contessa turned the full strength of her beautiful dark brown eyes on a man, could any resist her?
    Apparently there was hope.
    â€œThank you, no,” the earl told her, his voice firm. “I am engaged to dance with Mrs. Smith. And I’m sure that my brother would be devastated to lose the pleasure of your company.”
    â€œEr, right,” Carter said at once, under the pressure of his brother’s glance. “If you would allow me the privilege?”
    The contessa gave in with good grace. She accepted Carter’s hand and allowed him to lead her toward the dance floor.
    â€œYou don’t have to dance unless you wish it,” Lauryn muttered, meanwhile, as the earl led her in the same direction.
    â€œI have every intention of dancing with you, Mrs. Smith,” her escort said, his tone even. “Do you object to dancing?”
    â€œNo, no,” she said, flustered at once. “I mean, I only thought—”
    Instead of a formal set, where she stood up in a line of females while he took his place with the gentlemen, he pulled her into his arms, taking one of her hands in his, and putting his other hand on her waist.
    To her alarm, she saw that it was that most fast and frivolous of all dances, the waltz.
    He must have seen her confusion because he raised his brows.
    Keeping her voice low, she said quickly, “I have only practiced this dance a few times, and never in company!”
    She thought her face must have flushed, or else gone quite pale. She could feel her pulse jumping—he was so much pure male and the heat of his hand on her waist, the subtle odor of soap and clean linen and his own unique male scent teased her senses, and she was so aware of his nearness—
    But they were supposed to be dancing and surely everyone was looking—
    What if she made a muddle of it in front of all his guests? He would be angry, and she would be mortified!
    â€œDon’t concern yourself, it’s not that taxing,” he answered her, also in a quiet voice. “Just take a deep breath and follow my lead.”
    And then the notes flowed from the musicians’