Free Seduced by a Dandy ~ The first novelette from "Different Desire", a Gay Victorian Romance and Erotic novelette collection by Lady T. L. Jennings Page A

lo ve, and while the feelings never were mutual, he never condemned me and we remained close friends. In fact, he was dearer to me than my own brothers were . He had married three year s earlier and already produced two sons , and he seemed happy with his new family life. However, o ne of his many abilities was that h e knew everything about everyone, and to be perfectly honest he gossiped worse than a bored housemaid .
    “That, my dear fellow, is Mr Luciano Cosanni, the only son of Lord Cosanni, the Italian ambassador, who is standing over there together with L ady Powlett-Saville and the Baron of Brins ley. Apparently the son is infamous for almost being disinherited twice by his father for ill behaviour. He is somewhat of a dandy, a gambler, and has the most terrible reputation. ”
    “I see,” I said and studied the gentleman closer. He really was remarkably handsome.
    Hen ry lowered his voice and he move a little bit closer to me, so as not to be overheard before he continued:
    “Mr Luciano Cosanni has been engaged no less than three times, last time with the Countess of York, however the engagement s never seem to last. In fact, as soon as they start to take measurements for the wedding dress, he breaks them off.”
    Henry was as usually amazingly well informed. “I do not know why he breaks off the engagements thoug h,” he added and sounded rather vexed by that this kind of essential rumour had slipped passed his network of informants.
    “Interesting,” I mumbled. The background information regarding the gentle man , this Mr Luciano Cosanni, who gazed at me so intriguingly, should have made me vigilant and careful, however instead I found myself even more fascinated by the strange man in the corner. Who is he really ? I wondered and sipped my punch . And why is he studying me?
     
    *
     
    I was standing corned by a pretty young woman who desperately tried to wake my interest for her . As I pretende d to listen to how she had spent the season in Bath , suddenly a young man on the other side of the room caught my attention. He was standing by the refreshment table, apparently waiting to be served.
    All the other people in the grand ball room seemed to fade away and I had the strangest sensation of that there w as only he and I left in the room. The rest of the crowed turned into grey invisible shadows, into petty background actors on a country side theatre stage . I tuned out t he constant chatter from the young woman next to me as I watched the man with a n immense curiosity.
    He was by far the most beautiful man I had ever seen since I came to this miserable and cold country. He stood clearly separated from the rest of the bland and colourless people around him . He was rather tall and slender, but not lean, and he had straight honey-coloured hair, neatly tied back in the nape of his neck . His green eyes were slightly downturned, which gave him a serious and solemn expression. A pair of short trimmed sideburns enhanced his jaw line and manliness , and made him look a little bit older than he probably was. He was somewhere in his late twenties, which meant that I was around ten years older than he was.
    I knew in that instant that I wanted him to be mine, if only for a night.
    Suddenly he looked up and around. I flinched in surprise. It was as if he had heard my dastardly thoughts ! His jade- green eyes surveyed the crowd. I hid myself behind my crystal glass, pretending to drink from it, when his eyes met mine and he stole my breath awa y. He has been searching for me! How he had known that I was watching him or what I have thought was unknown to me, but I gave him a small smile in recognition and was rewarded with the slightest blush, which covered his pale complexion and gave colour to his almost white cheeks.
    A little bit shy... How utterly irresistible , I thought. Everyone knows that it is the modest ones that are the best to bring to your bed chamber , I added sinfully to myself.
    Then I felt a stab of