The Earl of Ice Read Free

indeed, and her smile transformed her face, making it, if not beautiful, very compelling.
    “Yes, indeed. I hope you are now keeping well?” Her eyes searched his as she waited for a response. Rollo felt as though she was looking into his very soul and had to blink and quickly dismiss this thought as fanciful.
    Keeping his expression shuttered, he probed further, trying to determine whether or not she intended to disclose his affliction.
    “I am indeed keeping well,” he replied. “Thank you for asking. I am only very rarely afflicted in the way you observed. So rarely, in fact, that none of my friends and acquaintances are aware of this issue.” Damn it, he wished she would stop looking at him; he was not going to beg her to keep his secret.
    “I am pleased to hear you are well, my lord.” She continued to study him closely as if trying to read his mind. “I can see no benefit for you in others knowing that you have suffered fits. It is, after all, a very personal matter.”
    It was only habit that prevented Rollo from smiling down at her in relief. He knew instinctively that he could trust her and that she would not spread her knowledge. He respected the fact that she had directly referred to the fit, rather than trying to politely skirt around the matter.
    “I had not had a seizure for many years and I was so very taken aback by it that I did not think to thank you for help at that time. So I will do so now.” He hoped that was now the end of the conversation. The young lady, however, was not prepared to let it drop so easily.
    “Is it the fits—or seizures, as you call them—that make you unhappy and cross?” Diana questioned without guile.
    Rollo was at a loss how to respond; it was not polite for a young lady to ask such a direct and personal question. Reasoning, however, that it had been he who had first introduced the topic, he felt a rebuke would be unjust.
    “I am neither unhappy nor cross,” he replied a little sharply, and to his amazement he saw the girl raise her eyebrow slightly as though she did not believe him. He even imagined he heard a slight “humph” sound come from her.
    They continued the dance in silence and when the music stopped he escorted her back to her mother. With satisfaction he noted that it was time for him to find his friend Bono and escape to their club.

 
     

Chapter 2
     
    Diana and her cousin, Caroline, were buzzing with excitement as they returned home from their first ball at Almack’s Assembly Rooms. It was everything they had dreamed of and more.
    They had already been in London for two weeks; they had shopped, been fitted for new gowns and had avidly read the gossip columns and the society pages in the newspaper whilst waiting for vouchers for Almack’s to be purchased. Tonight had been their first proper introduction into society and they had both enjoyed themselves immensely.
    Caroline and her mother were staying with Diana and her family in her father’s London residence. Viscount Westbury, Diana’s father, had business to conduct, and her mother and aunt had the task of bringing the two girls to town for their first season.
    Diana’s and Caroline’s worst fear was they would not have a partner for any dances, but although at first they had sat quietly, once Lady Sefton had introduced them to Lord Brockwood and they had each danced with him, their dance cards filled up quickly. It was beyond hope that they would meet the infamous Earl of Ice at their first outing!
    “Did you see how severe he looked?” Caroline said, her green eyes shining with excitement. “He well deserves his nickname, does he not?” She chattered on, “He was so cold it was frightening. He did not speak one word to me throughout the entire dance.” She looked speculatively at her cousin. “I noticed he did speak to you.”
    Diana was not about to divulge the nature of their conversation. “He said very little, just the commonplace.”
    Caroline gave a pretend shiver. “I