Free Rexanne Becnel by The Matchmaker-1 Page B

him get away with it.
     
    Neville had positioned himself in the entry hall with a clear view of the stairs. He’d finally introduced himself to his hostess earlier in the day and resolved to be on his best behavior tonight. It had not been difficult to charm Penelope Cummings, and when she spied him now, she hurried toward him smiling.
    “Lord Hawke. How fortuitous that you are downstairs. I thought that you, Lord Holdsworth, and Lady Dunmore, as
our ranking guests, might agree to stand in the receiving line with Mr. Cummings and myself.”
    He gave her an admiring glance, then bent low with a gallant flourish. Were it not for her annoying voice and nervous, fluttering manner, he might consider her a handsome woman. “I would be honored.”
    “Very good.” She coyly patted his arm with her fan. “I don’t believe you’ve met Lady Dunmore yet, nor her daughter, Miss Olivia Byrde. Ah, here they are now.”
    Neville straightened at once and stared up at the dual curving stair that led from the warren of rooms that made up the upper levels of the Cummingses’ manse. Two women paused at the head of the rosewood stairway, two women equally lovely, but without the least similarity between them, he saw. Lady Dunmore was exquisite. Small and fair, she looked hardly old enough to parent the young woman at her side. Then he turned his gaze intently to the daughter.
    Olivia Byrde was taller and more curvaceous then her mother, and her coloring was that of a Scotswoman, tempered only marginally by her English heritage. Auburn hair instead of red; hazel eyes instead of green. She had patrician features, yet colored with an earthy palette. He’d berated himself for mistaking her for a harlot, but he could understand now why he’d done so. Any number of women could be termed beautiful. But this particular one possessed also an innate sensuality. She was the sort of woman any man would desire. He most certainly did.
    The two began their descent, the mother clearly conscious of the entrance she made. Olivia, however, appeared less self-assured. Was it on account of him?
    One corner of his mouth turned up. He certainly hoped so.
    “ … my particular friend,” Mrs. Cummings nattered on as the women reached them. But Neville only had eyes for Olivia. And she, to his great pleasure, stared fixedly at him.
    Did the glint in those lovely eyes bode good or ill for him? Whichever it was, he meant to turn it to his advantage. He
would charm Miss Olivia Byrde and her mother, and gain those land leases no matter what it took. And perhaps, if he was lucky, he would take a little pleasure in the process as well.

CHAPTER 6
    “MAY I have this dance?”
    Olivia steeled herself against the beguiling darkness in Neville Hawke’s voice. She’d been anticipating this moment all evening, ever since he’d bent so gallantly over her hand at their introduction. Since then he’d played at being a perfect gentleman. She knew because for the past two and a half hours she’d surreptitiously watched him.
    He’d stood in the receiving line, so incredibly handsome and well mannered she could hardly credit that he was the same man with whom she’d already had two unfortunate run-ins. Then he’d circulated, speaking amiably with the men and dancing with his hostess, as well as several other women. It seemed now that she was next.
    “Thank you,” she answered, her voice cool, her expression bland. “But I am not keen on dancing.”
    He gave her a half-smile that was wholly masculine—and wholly dangerous. “You’ve accepted invitations from three other men. If you turn me down, you will hurt my feelings.”
    “How that shall worry me,” she quipped. “I doubt you have any feelings,” she added, though not so loud that anyone else might overhear.
    “You will hurt my feelings,” he repeated. “And you will rouse your mother’s curiosity.”
    Olivia glanced swiftly to the circle around her mother. Sure enough, Augusta was staring at her and