The Danger in Tempting an Earl by Sophie Barnes Page A

sensing her lack of composure, which was probably for the best), “I shall start looking for a suitable gentleman for you—someone handsome enough and smart enough to hold your interest.”
    “I really wish you wouldn’t,” she said, finding her voice. “As I’ve said, all I want right now is to forget all this talk of courtship so you and I can make up for lost time. What I truly desire is a friend, not a husband or a lover, for that matter.”
    “Very well,” he acquiesced, “but if you happen to change your mind, I do hope you’ll let me know so I can find you someone of whom I approve.”
    Katherine felt her whole body tense up. The way he said it made her wonder if perhaps he’d disapproved of Charles and might know the truth about her marriage, but she could see no trace of such knowledge in his features. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes,” she said. “If I ever decide to take a husband or”—she hesitated as she struggled with being as forward as he had been—“a lover . . .” Lucien looked annoyingly amused as she repeated that word. “. . . then you shall be the first to know.”
    Bowing his head toward her ear, he quietly whispered, “I certainly hope so.”
    The maelstrom of emotion that flooded through her was enough to leave her not only breathless but also imagining the most wicked things possible—not with a faceless stranger she’d yet to encounter, but with Lucien, of all people. Good Lord, whatever was she going to do?

 
    Chapter 6

    “I believe it’s time for the fireworks,” Lucien said when the waltz ended and they stepped away from the dance floor. “Let’s go outside so we can find a good place from which to view them before it gets too crowded.”
    Katherine accepted his arm with only the briefest hesitation. There was a most delightful blush to her cheeks, but her eyes held a wariness about them that made Lucien wonder if perhaps he’d been too bold toward her when he’d spoken of lovers, passion and secret desires.
    It was time for him to pull back a little, so rather than pursue the issue, he said instead, “We can have our portraits drawn in the pumpkin carriage once the fireworks are over.”
    “What a splendid idea. I should like that very much,” she said as they passed through the throng of people gathering on the terrace and started down the steps toward the lawn where they’d spotted the duke and his mother, the duchess.
    “Oh look, I see that Mr. Goodard is there as well, along with the Winstons and the Huntleys.”
    “But who is that lady with the blonde hair standing next to the duke?” Katherine asked. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her before.”
    Spotting the lady in question, Lucien had to admit that he didn’t know either. “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough,” he said as they stepped down onto the gravelly path at the foot of the stairs. Crossing it, they headed for the lawn.
    “Even with her mask there can be no denying her beauty,” Katherine murmured.
    There was something so utterly sad about the way she said it—a sense of melancholy that reminded Lucien of her reaction earlier in the evening when he’d complimented her on her looks. Once again, he wondered if it might be possible for her not to realize how beautiful she truly was. Intent on setting her to right, he halted their progress and turned her toward him. “Indeed there cannot,” he said. Her entire posture seemed to wither before his eyes, and he knew then beyond any shadow of a doubt that Katherine’s confidence in herself had been drastically shaken during his absence. There would be a better opportunity to discuss the reason for this later, however, so he merely looked her squarely in the eye as he continued with what was the absolute truth. “And yet she pales in comparison to you.”
    “Lucien, I . . .”
    “You are beautiful, Kate,” he told her firmly. “I always thought you knew that.”
    Katherine’s lips parted ever so slightly as if