Free Lady Allerton's Wager by Nicola Cornick Page B

skilfully to the edge of the dance floor, where she plied her fan and desperately tried to think of an innocuous topic of conversation. Her mind was dazed, cloudy with desire, and all she could think of was what had happened between them and how she was still trembling with an echo of the passion she had seen in his eyes.
    ‘It is very warm,’ she said uncertainly, and was relieved to see amusement replace the sensual heat in Marcus’s face.
    ‘Certainly it is very hot in here,’ he drawled, ‘and between us, Lady Allerton, I should say that it is almost too hot for comfort!’
    Beth’s gaze flew uncertainly to his face, but before she could answer, Justin Trevithick appeared, escorting Lady Fanshawe. Beth was tolerably certain that Marcus’s cousin had summed up the situation with one comprehensive glance, for his gaze moved from her face to Marcus’s and his eyebrows rose fractionally as he picked up on the tension between them. Fortunately Lady Fanshawe was decidedly less perceptive.
    ‘There you are, my dear! You know that we arepromised to Lady Baynton’s rout and positively must put in an appearance before the night ends!’ She beamed at Marcus and Justin. ‘Do you gentlemen wish to accompany us, or do you have other plans?’
    Beth felt Marcus’s gaze rest on her. It was not difficult to imagine just what other plans he might have for her. She schooled her face to remain blank, annoyed that he seemed to be able to make her blush at the slightest provocation.
    ‘Thank you, ma’am, but I believe we are for White’s,’ Justin was saying, with a smile. ‘May we escort you to your carriage?’
    It felt cold outside after the stifling heat of the ballroom. Beth drew her velvet cloak more closely around her and tried not to shiver. Marcus kissed her hand before helping her up into the coach, and murmured that he hoped to call on her the following day. She was almost at a loss for a reply, half-longing to see him again, half-afraid of the feelings he could evoke in her.
    As she settled back in the coach, Beth reflected that it seemed strange now, but she realised that she had barely given a moment’s thought to physical passion in her whole life. She had married almost from the schoolroom and had considered herself happy with Frank Allerton, but he had rarely troubled her for his marital rights and had treated her with all the indulgence of a fond parent. No hint of passion had disturbed the even tenor of their relationship. From the vague comments that Charlotte had occasionally made, Beth had realised that there could be a great deal more to marriage than she had shared with Frank, but she had largely dismissed such matters as simply not for her. She had met a few personable men duringher widowhood and had even enjoyed the company of some of them, but had never felt moved to indulge in a love affair. She realised now that she had even begun to believe that she was simply not very interested in love.
    Then Marcus had kissed her and it felt as though a whole new side of her personality, both emotional and physical, had been brought to life. Curled up in a corner of the carriage, listening vaguely to Lady Fanshawe’s chatter, Beth reflected that Marcus had awoken something she had not even been aware was sleeping: a hunger to experience emotion and passion in vivid detail.
    And it was the first of these that was the problem. If she had only wanted to take a lover, matters would have been simple. Marcus was there and he was eminently suitable, eminently desirable as a lover. Beth felt the warmth steal over her again. It was a tempting thought, yet she knew that she could not accept it. Newly awakened, her feelings were craving satisfaction as much as her body was, and the thought was terrifying. Against her better judgement she liked Marcus. She enjoyed his company, his conversation, his humour. She knew she was in danger of loving him, too quickly, careless of the risk. It was in her nature to be impulsive,