One Night with an Earl by Jennifer Haymore Read Free Book Online Page A

you were…” She made a twirling motion with her hand. “Then there will be a scandal. Quite a vigorous one, at that.”
    Damn. She was right. Drew ground his teeth and glanced over her shoulder at the glass ballroom door. It was flanked on both sides by rows of tall windows. People passed by in a constant stream, some of them glancing out onto the terrace.
    Hell. He usually took his surroundings into account before taking actions that might be considered rumor-worthy. But he’d been so caught up in Beatrice, so focused on her, he’d forgotten where they were.
    They’d be lucky if they hadn’t already been discovered. He was quite certain many of the attendees of the masquerade knew his identity—he hadn’t done much to hide it, after all—but it seemed no one had identified Beatrice. Thank God.
    Madame Lussier wasn’t finished. She leaned in and said conspiratorially, “You two lovebirds require privacy. I’ve many empty rooms upstairs, and I would be happy to have one of my servants escort you to one.”
    Beside him, Beatrice gasped.
    â€œOh, I assure you, my servants are discreet!” Madame Lussier exclaimed.
    â€œI don’t think that’s why she’s scandalized, madame,” Drew said dryly. Because while he believed she’d been just as caught up as he had, being with a man who was not her husband was a completely new experience for her.
    She had been caught up, too—he had enough evidence of that. The way she’d kissed him. The way her hands had moved over him. The way she’d thrust her body against his erection. She’d been as drunk with lust as he had.
    â€œAh…” She narrowed her eyes at Beatrice through her mask. “Why is it that you appear so shocked, then, my Grecian lady?”
    â€œUm…” Beatrice cast him a helpless look, and he gave a low laugh. Her hand was clamped around his as if she were on a sinking ship and he was her lifeline.
    â€œPerhaps because she would never have considered retiring to an empty room alone with a man,” Drew supplied.
    Now Madame Lussier looked scandalized. “Why on earth not?”
    â€œI believe she might be too innocent to consider such scandalous behavior.” Maybe too innocent to consider such a thing, but definitely not too innocent to want him.
    â€œIndeed?” Madame Lussier turned to Beatrice. “Is that true, my dear?”
    Beatrice blew out a shaky breath. “I…ah…well—”
    â€œThere is no sense in your actions at all,” Madame Lussier interrupted. “You nearly engage in sexual congress in front of six windows and a glass door, and yet the thought of seeking privacy shocks you? That is completely illogical. You know, my dear, it is perfectly acceptable to be carried away once in a while, especially by such a specimen of manhood.” Madame Lussier waved at him dismissively. Then she leaned forward, looking stern even through the ridiculousness of her mask. “But I must ask you, why would you refuse to go up to one of my rooms? You are clearly attracted to this man. As he is to you. You are both consenting adults. Why not indulge in your baser desires for one short night?”
    She looked at Beatrice, awaiting a response. Beatrice just stared at her, her lips open in shock. She had no idea how to respond, and Drew couldn’t blame her. Beatrice was a gently bred young woman. She’d been married to a man who’d kept her as an ill-treated prisoner for several years. Then she’d lived in relative seclusion for the past two years, watched over by her overbearing parents.
    She certainly didn’t have much experience with the underbelly of English society. She wouldn’t have any familiarity with the flippancy with which people of their class generally regarded sexual relations outside marriage.
    Of course she was at a loss.
    It still didn’t mean she didn’t want him. Even