Free Dancing With A Devil by Julie Johnstone Page B

in the best way possible.
    She blushed.
    “ For once we agree, Davenport. Lady Audrey, I am shocked to hear you voice an opinion so contrary to what I know your father and brother believe.”
    Trent watched Audrey. The smile on her face vanished and her lips turned down in a frown, then pulled into a tight line. He had the urge to throw Thortonberry out of the box for making Audrey lose her smile. He was contemplating actually doing it, when she spoke.
    “ I fear you do not know me very well, Lord Thortonberry, but I cannot blame you for that. I do not voice my opinions on the matter of women overly much, because to do so would be to risk my father’s anger. I beg you not to mention this conversation to Richard.”
    To Thortonberry’s credit, he nodded immediately. “I swear I will not. Perhaps I need to expand my views.”
    Trent narrowed his gaze. Thortonberry said one thing with words, but his flared nostrils and tight jaw told Trent the man was lying. This was the perfect opportunity to cut Thortonberry out of the conversation for the rest of the night. “What do you think about the new acting techniques being displayed on stage?”
    Audrey turned her body toward him and gave Thortonberry her back as she started telling him her views. He relaxed into his seat and listened to her melodic voice. He could sit and listen to her for hours. He had a sudden picture of them strolling in his garden arm in arm and talking for hours on subjects that interested them both such as the theater. His self-control was slipping.
    When the theater lights rose, he blinked, surprised to realize that the play was over. Time had passed quickly while he talked with Audrey. He stood, wanting to see the night finished so he could put needed distance between himself and Audrey. “I assume you came here with Whitney?”
    Audrey nodded and rose. On the other side of her, Thortonberry stood there like the nuisance he was. Trent pressed his teeth together, intent on removing Thortonberry’s ability to touch Audrey again or even walk beside her, for that matter
    “ May I walk you to Sutherland’s carriage?”
    She spared a glance at Thortonberry, which made Trent’s head pound. Biting her lip, she said, “Yes, that would be lovely. We can all walk together.”
    Trent barely contained his growl. He moved swiftly and offered his left elbow to Audrey to maneuver her to his other side and away from Thortonberry. Damned if the marquess did not move right along with her. Thortonberry had bollocks. Trent would give the marquess that much, but not any more.
    An awkward silence, made more pronounced by the excited chatter around them, descended as they made their way out of the theater and onto Catherine Street. Whitney strolled up to Lord Thortonberry, but Trent could not hear what they were saying over the sounds of clopping horse hooves, whistling wind and calls of farewells.
    Whitney pulled Sutherland toward her and away from their group. “Darling, I’m freezing. Audrey, dear, make quick goodbyes and hurry to join us.”
    Audrey nodded as Whitney and Sutherland walked a few feet up the row of carriages and disappeared into his.
    The night was unusually cool, so when Audrey shivered Trent pulled her closer. The bright moonlight and blazing oil lanterns made spotting his carriage and Thortonberry’s easy enough. They stood one behind the other in the long row of carriages. He did not see Primwitty anywhere, but the duke understood Trent was on a mission and had likely headed home to Sally. Trent turned to dismiss Thortonberry since the man had not made a move to bid farewell. Thortonberry’s gaze lingered on the valley between Audrey’s breasts, exactly where Trent had stared earlier.
    A fierce wave of possessiveness nearly choked him. He drew Audrey more firmly against his side. Her small frame pressed against his, and satisfaction coursed through him when she leaned into him and not away. When she swayed, he slid his hand to her back to