Miranda's Dilemma by Natasha Blackthorne

wish to mislead her further.
    Then he paused.
    What the devil was the matter with him?
    Agonizing over the offended feelings of a night bird?
    He compressed his lips, scanning the dimly lit withdrawing chamber as he entered. Bodies entwined on the various velvet-covered pieces of furniture. A beguilingly sensual tableau.
    No sign of Miss Jones.
    Had he expected her to drop herself onto a settee with a lover and lift her skirts so quickly?
    Well, that all depended, didn’t it?
    He knew how easily the most sensible-minded, particular woman could be turned flighty by strong sexual attraction.
    Fatally flighty.
    That didn’t bear thinking on, did it?
    He continued his search of his house.
    No sign of Miss Jones.
    He stood on the balcony and frowned. Perhaps she had followed Froster’s example and left.
    Suddenly, the temperature seemed to have dropped, the air was quite chilly.
    Adrian finally spied Miss Jones, on the balcony, laughing and speaking with a group of young men. One of them was a particularly wealthy heir to a baronetcy, not even yet graduated from university.
    His eyes narrowed.
    Well, she was a true predator after all, wasn’t she?
    No wonder she was unconcerned at Froster’s departure.
    By God, he wouldn’t allow her to prey on a virtual innocent. Not under his roof. Not under his watch.
    He would go to her and ask her to leave.
    Immediately.
    “Adrian?”
    At the feminine whisper, he whirled to face a woman of middle height wearing a dark green mask that matched her gown and complemented her brown and eyes.
    Shock jolted through him, and he grasped her by shoulders. “What the devil are you doing here?” he whispered.
    “Is Froster here?” She frowned. “Or did he leave with her?”
    “Good God.” He took her by the shoulders and pulled her with him into a nearby alcove. “Have you gone mad?”
    “No one would ever guess who I am.” She laughed softly. “No one would ever believe such a meek and retiring  lady would ever show herself at such an event.”
    “Dorothy…” He ran out of breath before more words came to his shocked brain. “Don’t you trust me to handle this situation?”
    “I just had to know, that’s all.”
    “Froster left earlier. Alone.”
    Her expression relaxed. Her body went limp in his arms. ”Oh.”
    He had not realized the extent of her concern with Froster. Now the depth of relief she expressed struck him as odd. He suppressed the concern and caressed her back. “See, I can handle the situation just fine, if you’ll only trust me.”
    “Froster went back to Mayfair?”
    “I am not certain. I do know that he plans an extended trip to Paris.”
    “Paris?” Surprise sounded in her voice.
    “Yes…” Adrian’s voice trailed off for she pressed herself into him whilst her hands caressed his shoulders.
    At the familiar feel and scent of her, his body, still reeling from the twin stimulation of Miss Garret and Miss Caster, reacted, his erection rising quickly. He felt disconnected from the sensation, for his mind was beset with thoughts of confronting Miss Jones for her outrageous, predatory behavior with such a young, unwitting victim.
    The woman in his arms wriggled against his rising erection. Lust reared within him, and he caught his breath.
    It would be so easy to bed her, to find hasty relief for his body’s hunger.
    But he did not want distraction at this moment. He had business to settle.
    “Dorothy…” He reached for her hands and tried to pry her off. “Not now—”
    “Why not now?” She tightened her grasp.
    “Because I have a house filled with guests.”
    “Most of whom are either getting steadily into their cups or are fornicating.”
    “You should not be here,” he said firmly. “Let me call for your carriage to be readied.”
    “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly turn around yet. I need to rest.”
    Dorothy was not a robust traveler. She would need to rest. It would be churlish to send her away tonight.
    Yet he did not want her here.
    He