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experience and no nerve to speak of. He’d been what he presented himself to be, an affable gentleman who was always friendly and achingly perfect.
    He was perfect. Every naughty thing he’d done to her tonight had been everything she’d wanted. His lips on hers, his tongue in her mouth. His kisses on her breasts, his finger teasing her nipple. Only when he moved those clever fingers up her leg had she finally summoned the conviction to stop him. What if she hadn’t? Would he have touched her … there?
    “Oh, my.” She breathed.
    “What was that, Constance?” a woman asked.
    Constance turned to find Lady Brookdale eyeing her closely. The pretty widow tilted her head to one side and for a moment Constance feared she knew everything that had happened between her and William. She felt her cheeks heat but smoothed her countenance of any giveaway expression.
    “Nothing, Lady Brookdale,” she said with a small smile.
    The lady nodded. “Nothing, indeed. This party is woefully dull, don’t you think?”
    Dull? Hardly. “I suppose,” she answered.
    “I saw you with Lord Chester earlier.” The widow’s eyes sparkled. “Handsome fellow, like his circle of friends.”
    Constance could only nod her agreement.
    “Pity Lord Roberts isn’t here.” Lady Brookdale pouted. “I daresay the evening would be anything but dull with his charming self about.” The provocative statement was accompanied with a glint in her eye. “I do hope he returns to town soon.”
    Constance didn’t care if Lord Roberts brought his charming self to London or not, save for the fact that he was good friends with William. Roberts might be the most beautiful man in the ton, but she wanted more than that. She wanted strength and heat and kisses and caresses, and …
    “Pity Lord Chester is so bloody perfect,” Lady Brookdale said.
    Constance turned to her. “Why?”
    The lady preened. “If he was a shade less than a paragon, perhaps I could tempt him into an assignation.”
    Constance’s mouth dropped open. “Lady Brookdale!”
    “Oh, I realize you are untried, but you must be getting tired of keeping up your own façade.”
    “My façade?” Constance did a quick review of her actions tonight, as well as those in public this season. Nothing untoward, not a whiff of scandal, hung about her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Lady Brookdale smiled indulgently and patted her hand before coming to her feet. “I know you don’t. Not yet. I daresay you will, however.”
    “Lady Brookdale, I don’t know what you’re insinuating.”
    “You run in their circle, my dear. Kane and Leed and Chester, not to mention the delectable Roberts. They can’t help but draw attention, dashing nobles that they are.”
    With that, the lady swept out of the retiring room. Constance leaned back, sucking in a deep breath as she pondered everything the widow said. Was she in danger of ruining her perfect reputation, simply by being in William’s company? She was certainly in danger of ruin itself. That was true. Had anyone seen her wanton behavior in the alcove, she would spoil more than her lauded reputation. Her stomach clenched as the truth settled on her.
    She was afraid her involvement with William would ultimately break her heart.
     

Chapter 3
    “What gentlemen did you dance with, dear?” Lady Bridgewater asked.
    Constance eyed her mother, seeing the acute interest stamped on her face. She sipped her tea and picked up a piece of toast.
    “Several, Mother,” she answered. “None more than two times, though.”
    “Of course not.” Her mother sniffed. “Unless … was Lord Chester there?”
    Constance managed to swallow around the tightness in her throat. Keeping her own face impassive, she nodded. “Yes.”
    “And he didn’t press for more, Constance? Another dance, I mean?”
    “He would never do so.”
    “No.” Lady Bridgewater sighed. “I don’t suppose he would.”
    Constance took another sip of tea, then carefully