Just a Kiss by Ally Broadfield

digging his nails into his palms. “Lady Lavinia, would you care to dance?” It came out a bit more like a growl than he had intended.
    “Why thank you, my lord. I would be honored,” she said, as if he was genuinely interested in dancing with her.
    He led the daft girl to the dance floor, and they took their places for the quadrille.
    “We’re having very fine weather,” she said.
    “Indeed.” He would suffer through dancing with her, but he would not force himself to engage in awkward conversation. After what seemed like hours, the infernal music stopped. He rushed Lady Lavinia to her mother and left, not bothering with the expected pleasantries.
    After circling the ballroom twice, he finally came upon Charlotte at the refreshment table, attempting to dislodge her dance card from underneath a large vase. Amused by her antics, he stopped to watch. She worked the card back and forth, apparently hoping it would slide out, but when that didn’t work she gave up and wrenched it free, sending the vase tottering. He rushed to her aid, slipping an arm around her to pull her against his chest while he steadied the vase. He closed his eyes, marveling at how perfectly she fit against him. The loud clearing of a throat brought him to his senses, and he lifted his lids to find Lady Paddon staring at him, brows raised in censure.
    Ballocks.

Chapter Eight
    Sebastian released Charlotte so abruptly she nearly fell to the floor. Still dazed from the jolt that shot through her at the intimate contact with him, it took a moment for her to register Lady Paddon’s stern countenance.
    “Is something amiss? I will not tolerate roguery in my ballroom,” Lady Paddon said in an imperious tone.
    Not wanting to sound like a complete fool, Charlotte decided to share an abbreviated version of the incident. “I’m afraid in my clumsiness, I nearly toppled your lovely vase.” She glanced toward Sebastian. “Thankfully, Lord Marley came to my rescue.”
    Lady Paddon blinked once and continued to glare at them. Sebastian unclamped his lips. “In order to save the vase, I had to steady Miss Lightwood as well. My apologies for the disturbance, my lady.”
    Lady Paddon opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it, opened it, and closed it again without uttering a word.
    Their salvation arrived in the form of Lord Paddon. “My dear, I believe you promised the next dance to me.”
    She shot them one last venomous glare and allowed her husband to tow her away. Charlotte smoothed her skirts and waited for Sebastian to say something. Anything. Finally, she took matters into her own hands. “Why, thank you, my lord. I would be honored to dance with you,” she said loudly.
    Sebastian jumped to attention and led her onto the dance floor. As he swung her into a waltz, the warmth of his body enveloped her. She inhaled his familiar scent and was disconcerted to discover how at home she felt in his arms.
    “I thought perhaps you’d left the ball. Where have you been?” Charlotte smiled at Anna as she waltzed by.
    “I was busy conducting reconnaissance,” he whispered.
    “You were what?”
    “Searching for a private place to meet,” he said out of the side of his mouth.
    She bit back a smile. “I see. Were you successful?”
    “I believe I’ve found the perfect location.”
    Her stomach dropped. Excitement warred with trepidation within her. “How are we to escape without Elizabeth discovering what we are about?”
    He frowned. “I’m saddened by your lack of confidence in my abilities.”
    Charlotte became lost in his deep blue eyes and promptly forgot what she was about to say. When the dance ended, he led her to the refreshment table, but Mr. Oldham approached before they had a chance to collect themselves.
    “Miss Lightwood, I believe we are engaged for the next dance.”
    “Yes, of course.” Charlotte glanced over her shoulder at Sebastian. He scowled, clearly impatient, but she could hardly refuse to dance with Mr. Oldham on