In the Garden of Seduction Read Free

recognize her? She felt almost positive he had not seen
her face.
    She drew in a deep breath, filling her lungs
with the spicy air in the room. Nothing for it, she thought
morosely. She had no choice but to return to the party. Sophy would
be looking for her. Taking her courage in hand, she came around the
screen, walked to the door and stepped into the hallway.
    “Where have you been?” Sophy Willis greeted
her as Cassandra entered the main drawing room. “I’ve been looking
everywhere for you.”
    “I told you I was warm and needed some fresh
air,” Cassandra snapped. At the look of reproach on Sophy’s plain
face, she tempered her words. “I’m sorry. I have been gone a
long time. The heat made me feel unwell.” She wanted to tell her
friend about her frightening experience with the unknown man but
could not bring herself to recount the humiliating episode.
    Sophy, ever forgiving, smiled. “Do you feel
better now?”
    Cassandra dipped her head, her thoughts
elsewhere, unable to dispel the self-conscious mood that now
gripped her. She scanned the crowded room warily, searching for the
wolf that lurked among the sheep.
    “What have you been doing while I’ve been
gone?” she asked absently.
    “Watching people. I’ve never seen so many of
the quality in one place before.”
    “Yes. I understand the ton has taken quite a
fancy to Mr. Plimpton.”
    “Someone said the Duke of Ambrose attended
this evening for that very reason. Can you imagine?”
    “What did he look like?” Despite herself
Cassandra was intrigued.
    “I can’t say—never saw him. But I wish I
had, for I’ve never seen a duke before,” Sophy said breathlessly.
“I suppose I’ll have to be satisfied with knowing he and I were in
the very same room, quite possibly at the very same time. Won’t our
friends be impressed?”
    Cassandra laughed. “Sophy, I wager a duke
looks fairly much like everyone else except perhaps for his nose
rising above the crowd.”
    Sophy put her hand over her mouth, nodding
as she giggled into her palm.
    At that moment, Mrs. Witherspoon came up to
her two young guests. “Girls, girls, can you believe the success of
my little party?” A self-satisfied smile brightened her plump
features, which were shiny pink with perspiration from the heat and
her own exertion.
    “Quite a crush,” Cassandra said
politely.
    “Indeed, but it does make the atmosphere a
bit sultry, doesn’t it?” Hanky in hand, Mrs. Witherspoon patted her
damp forehead. “Tell me, Cassandra,” she said nonchalantly, her
small, dark eyes flicking about the room, “what did you think of my
Chinese parlor?”
    Cassandra felt her face grow red. “I—I
thought it was extraordinary.”
    Mrs. Witherspoon’s gaze slid in Cassandra’s
direction. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She linked arms with
both young women. “Come, I have someone I’d like you to meet.”
    “You have?” Sophy asked.
    Their hostess smiled coyly. “You’re
garnering notice in high places this evening, Cassandra.”
    Cassandra glanced at Mrs. Witherspoon then
focused her attention on the gathering, curiosity aroused. Her
scrutiny fell on a tall, dark-haired man who lounged against the
doorjamb of the entrance to the drawing room. She would have looked
away, but he was staring directly at her. Allowing her gaze to meet
his, she found herself drawn in by a pair of smoldering black eyes.
Her heart began to flutter queerly.
    She turned her head, ending the eye contact,
but quickly realized Mrs. Witherspoon was conducting their
footsteps in that same man’s direction. Cassandra wanted to dash
from the room. Unfortunately, that was not a dignified response to
the sudden misgiving flooding her chest.
    As they reached the man, he straightened
from the doorjamb and Mrs. Witherspoon began speaking in a feathery
voice. “Lord Sutherfield, I would like to introduce you to Miss
Sophy Willis and Miss Cassandra James,” she said. “Girls, this is
the Marquess of