If He's Wild Read Free Page B

the government. Hartley’s smile widened briefly when William gave him a surreptitious wink. They both knew he would stay only a short time, escaping the marriage-minded mothers and their daughters as soon as courtesy allowed.
    “Oh, Hartley, we have had several entertaining surprises tonight,” said Beatrice. “One of those surprise guests was asking for you.”
    Although he tensed slightly, since there were many people he would rather not see, Hartley pleasantly asked, “And who would that be, Cousin?”
    “Another one who rarely attends these functions. A bit of a recluse, but then his whole family is like that. A shame, for he is a lovely young man. He brought his niece with him.”
    “Him?”
    Beatrice nodded. “Iago Vaughn, Baron Uppington. I did not know you were acquainted with the man.”
    “I am not, not truly. A nodding acquaintance at best. Did he say why he sought me out?” Since William gave him no warning sign, Hartley relaxed a little.
    “No, he simply asked if you would be attending. Perhaps he wishes you to meet his niece. She is a lovely young woman. She is a widow, poor thing. As she cannot be above twenty, she must have lost her husband not long after their marriage. So sad.”
    Hartley nodded, thinking Bea was the only person in all of England who would think it acceptable that someone introduce him to a young widow. He only knew Baron Uppington in passing and from rumor, but he could not believe the man would dangle one of his female relations in front of him. Only a few people knew that his satyr’s reputation was more rumor than fact, and if one discounted the times that seduction had been mostly a tool used to gain information for king and country, that was even more true. Baron Uppington was not one of those privileged few.
    He could not make himself believe matchmaking was Baron Uppington’s plan, either. Curiosity stirred within him, and he could not quell it, despite knowing the dangers it could lead him into. Then again, he mused as he excused himself from his cousins and started to make his way toward his friends Aldus and Gifford, for he was aware of all the traps matchmakers could set for a man. He had been dancing free of them for years. He could easily do so again.
    Only feet away from his friends, Hartley caught the flash of motion out of the corner of his eye and saw Baron Uppington stand up from the chair he had been sitting on near the wall. Hartley next looked at his lordship’s companion and abruptly halted. The sharp tug of awareness that tore through him startled Hartley. The woman standing up and looking at him so intently was not the sort he usually felt any interest in.
    It took only a swift, expert glance for him to completely tally and judge her attributes. She was small, dainty, and dark. Thick black hair that held a gloss of blue beneath the candlelight was done up in a severe style, with only a few curls dangling to soften the look, but it was a style that suited her small, faintly heart-shaped face. The ivory tone of her skin next to her thick dark hair reminded him strongly of a cameo, for her features were a soft perfection, as if carved with an expert hand. Gentle dark arcs formed her brows, and even from where he stood he could see the thick length of her lashes. Her neck was long, a soft, pale throat that begged to be nuzzled by a man. She tilted her chin up as she became aware of his intent study, revealing a touch of strength in her delicate jaw. A hint of color touched the perfect line of her cheekbones, and she looked down her small, straight nose in a way that almost made him smile. The only thing that did not quite match the sweet innocence of her face was her mouth. It was slightly wide, with sinfully beckoning full lips.
    Her figure was slim, almost too much so, but the swell of enticingly pale skin above the modest neckline of her gown told him that she had softness enough to please any man. He was suddenly swamped by the need to place his hands