chiseled statue. Had he ever seen such ethereal beauty before? But he had to doubt such perfection, and wondered if corsets were responsible for the ideal figure.
There was something extremely compelling about this girl, and it wasn’t only her beauty. There was haughtiness about her, an arrogance unusual in a woman. It would be a challenge to make this one purr!
Could she possibly be Corinne Barrows? He frowned. Ned Dougherty’s report had said that she was extremelybeautiful. The more he looked at this young woman, the more he thought how well she would fit in his arms. Jared fervently hoped she was not Miss Barrows, for that young woman was as much his enemy as her father was.
Corinne noted the changing expressions on the stranger’s face as he watched her approach. She had seen appreciation in his eyes, even desire, but something else as well. It was as if he liked what he saw, but didn’t want to. This amused Corinne. Was he married?
“It’s good you could come, Cynthia,” Corinne smiled as she and Lauren reached the couple. “This party was so sudden I was afraid you might have had other plans and couldn’t make it.”
“I almost didn’t make it,” Cynthia replied. “But then Father told me who the guest of honor was going to be and, well—I just had to meet him.”
Cynthia was a small woman with a baby-doll prettiness. Corinne imagined that she would have fit perfectly in the Old South. But Cynthia was also very vain and did nothing to hide her vanity.
“And have you met him?”
Cynthia laughed, a tinkling sound that grated on Corinne’s nerves. “You’re teasing, of course. Really, Corinne, I don’t know why you didn’t tell me he was such a handsome and charming gentleman.”
“Is this by any chance the gentleman we’re discussing?” Corinne coolly nodded to Jared.
“You know it is.”
“Well, you see, I haven’t yet met Mr. Burk.”
She was stunned by the icy gray eyes. He seemed to dislike her, yet he had never even seen her before. He quickly masked his feelings and, with a fixed smile, bowed to her.
“I don’t think introductions are necessary,” JaredBurk said in a deep voice. “We know each other’s names.”
“That is hardly proper, Mr. Burk.”
“Since when are you proper, Corinne?” Cynthia laughed, getting a stabbing look in return. Cynthia recovered quickly. “You don’t know Corinne’s cousin, Mr. Burk. This is Lauren Ashburn.”
“A pleasure, Miss Ashburn.” Jared smiled at her, but she was too tongue-tied to answer and just stared at him.
A maid passed with a tray of drinks and Corinne took one. It wasn’t like her to feel so ill at ease, but Jared Burk kept staring at her. Though his eyes held only interest now, she couldn’t help but remember the cold look he had given her before. She was still stunned by it, and piqued that he had deprived her of a proper introduction.
“Are you aware of the rumors making the rounds about you, Mr. Burk?” Corinne asked him pointedly.
“If there are rumors, they are undoubtedly exaggerated,” he replied smoothly.
“The good ones or the bad ones?” When he did not answer immediately, Corinne grinned slyly. “Have I embarrassed you, Mr. Burk?”
Cynthia was annoyed by Corinne’s obvious attack, sensing Jared’s discomfort. “Corinne, what’s gotten into you?”
“I’m just trying to get at a few facts,” Corinne replied innocently. “I only just heard about Mr. Burk today, but undoubtedly what I heard is only rumor and speculation.”
“I assure you there is no great mystery about me, Miss Barrows,” Jared said in a congenial tone.
“Then you won’t mind answering a few questions?” Corinne ventured, no longer keeping the sharpness fromher voice. “After all, you are a guest in my house, yet I know nothing about you.”
“Not at all—if you will be equally frank,” he countered.
Cynthia moved between them before more was said. “I haven’t seen Russell yet. Isn’t he