Twice the Temptation by Suzanne Enoch Read Free Book Online Page B

see.”
     
      “I do try.” He paused for a moment, but when nointroductions seemed to be forthcoming, he stuck out his hand. “Connoll Addison,” he said. “You must be Lord Munroe.”
     
      The viscount shook his hand. “I am indeed,” he said warmly. “I was just on my way to…elsewhere.”
     
      “It is stifling in here, isn’t it?” Connoll agreed. “I don’t blame you for wanting to escape. In fact, after I secure a place on your daughter’s dance card, I may just join you.”
     
      When he finally turned his attention to Gilly, her expression had become an intriguing meld of annoyance and surprise. “I already told you that I won’t dance with you, my lord.”
     
      He smiled, wishing for a moment that her parents weren’t present. “Change your mind, Evangeline.”
     
      “I don’t wish to change my mind.”
     
      “Very well. Then I shall keep you company for the entire evening.” He eyed her coolly. “That won’t prevent any other eligible men from approaching you, I hope.”
     
      “You know it will. Why won’t you simply go away?”
     
      “Gilly! You shouldn’t speak to a gentleman in that tone.”
     
      “But he’s impossible, Mama. What am I to do? I can’t challenge him to a duel.”
     
      “All you have to do is give me a dance, and I’ll leave you be for the remainder of the evening.”
     
      She glared at him for a moment. “Very well.” Her jaw tight, she pulled her dance card from her reticule and handed it to him.
     
      Several spaces were already taken. Lord Redmond had reserved the only waltz of the evening, damn the old fool. Waltzes should be left for those who could enjoy them. Keeping his expression mildly amused, Connollselected a country dance toward the end of the evening and handed the card back to her.
     
      Gilly gazed at his selection, then lifted her eyes to his. “Now you’ll have to wait about for two hours, and not in my vicinity.”
     
      “Mm-hm. Excuse me. Lord Munroe, would you care to step outside for a cigar?”
     
      The viscount lifted both eyebrows. “I would love to. My thanks, my lord.”
     
      Evangeline had some interesting—and unflattering—ideas about men, and about him in particular. Lord Munroe could very likely be the key to why she held those ideas, and Connoll felt in the mood for some answers. With a nod at Gilly and her mother, he gestured for her father to lead the way outside. Bloody Almacks’s bloody patronesses didn’t allow a gentleman to smoke inside the bloody building. With no liquor served, either, he couldn’t imagine how it had become so popular.
     
      “You and my Gilly seem to be having something of a disagreement,” the viscount commented as they stopped at the foot of the front steps.
     
      Connoll handed him a cigar. “We’ve been in conflict since the moment we met,” he agreed.
     
      With a deep sigh, Munroe breathed in the scent of the cigar. “Very nice,” he said. “Heloise doesn’t allow me to smoke—says it’s a smelly vice—so you have no idea how much I appreciate this.”
     
      “If I couldn’t have a cigar on occasion, I think I would consider putting a pistol to my head.” With a swift grin Connoll lifted the glass lamp on the side of one of the waiting coaches and lit his cigar. Munroe followed suit.
     
      “It’s not as tragic as that, lad, though…ah…very few things satisfy as well.”
     
      Connoll could disagree with that, but since he’d just scheduled a dance with the man’s daughter, he kept his silence. “Why is it that I’ve never seen you in London before?” he asked instead.
     
      “My wife doesn’t like me to be gone from Shropshire without her. Now that Gilly’s come of age and we can all journey to London together, well, we did.”
     
      “You’re an indulgent husband, my lord. I doubt anything could keep me from London during the Season. For Parliament, if nothing else.”
     
      “Ah, Parliament.