Once a Wallflower, At Last His Love (Scandalous Seasons Book 6) by Christi Caldwell Read Free Book Online

reading his thoughts, Waxham drawled, “You do realize for stating you have little interest in the lady, you’ve not removed your gaze from her since I arrived.”
    “Go to h…” His words trailed off.
    Her head shot up and she glanced out across the ballroom floor. He suspected she’d once again found him with her stare, except… He followed her narrow-eyed gaze to Lady Pemberly. The old matron stood conversing with Viscount Bull, a widower on his third wife, in the market for a fourth.
    And, he returned his attention to the spritely creature. By the manner in which she surged to her feet, she gauged the viscount intended to include her as a possible fourth viscountess. The young lady all but sprinted through the hall, earning curious stares from those she weaved between.
    Sebastian deposited his glass upon a passing tray. “If you’ll excuse me, Waxham.” His friend’s laughter trailed after him as he set out in search of the young woman. Sebastian trained his stare forward, discouraging matchmaking mamas and eager debutantes. He tightened his jaw. He’d become accustomed to dodging such advances through the years; young women, who’d scheme, steal, or seduce for the title of Duchess of Mallen.
    He exited through the end doorway that emptied out into a long corridor and caught a flash of bright yellow skirts as they disappeared around the corner. Sebastian quickened his stride. His experience avoiding those marriage-minded misses, of course, should have taught him the perils in following after unwed young ladies. He turned right at the end of the hall in time to see the lady slip inside a room.
    He hesitated. Perhaps the young woman sought out an assignation. Though the plain young lady who’d sent off Whitmore in a huff didn’t strike him as one to engage in clandestine trysts. So, it begged the question: what would one such as her be doing darting about the halls of their host’s home? He shoved aside the years of caution ingrained into him and started for the door. Sebastian paused outside the room. If the young lady intended to meet a lover, she’d do to have a good deal more caution than to leave the door ajar. He angled his head to study her furtive movements.
    She moved about the room with a purposeful stride. Logical and reasonable, he was not given to flights of fancy as was his younger sister, Lady Emmaline, recently the Marchioness of Drake. Yet, studying the ruffled creature, he considered all manner of nefarious intentions that had sent her here. He glanced back down the hall. He really should leave and yet… He returned his attention to the woman now running her fingers over the walls of Lord Denley’s office. He rather suspected as a favor to his host he really owed it to the man to determine what this stealthy creature was doing away from the festivities and searching his room.
    She paused, her slim body in profile and folded her arms about her chest. A loose strand escaped her orderly chignon. The dark tress fell over her eye. She blew it back and continued to peruse the room. The soft tread of her slippers padded across the earl’s Aubusson carpet. The loud scrape of furniture being shoved across the floor echoed out into the hall. “Bloody hell,” she muttered.
    In spite of the threat of discovery, a grin tugged at his lips. Ladies of his acquaintance did not curse. Though, the peculiar lady would likely never breathe those words aloud if she knew a duke was before her, he found it…her…endearing.
    She cursed again.
    His grin deepened, suddenly very eager to learn the identity of a woman who filled her dance card with mysterious words, cursed in private, and boldly commandeered her host’s private office.

    It could have just been poor, rotten luck or fate’s way of telling her its precise thoughts on her fleeing Aunt Agatha and Lord Lecherous Eyes, but at that precise moment, walking a distracted path about Lord Denley’s office, Hermione’s toes collided with an ill-placed