A Regency Invitation to the House Party of the Season Read Online Free PDF Page B

it was gone before she could interpret it.
    ‘William Lyndhurst-Flint?’ he asked.
    ‘Yes. He is Cousin John’s brother. He has been trying to marry my money for years. My chaperon favours him as a suitor for me, but I do not care for him at all.’ A flush came into her cheeks. ‘He is a disgusting lecher. He pesters the maidservants. His valet is no better. Master and man have that much in common.’ She caught her breath as Peter put a hand beneath her chin and tilted her face up so that she met his eyes.
    ‘Has your cousin ever tried to touch you?’ he demanded. His fingers were gentle against her cheek, but his tone required an answer and this time there was no misreading the anger in his eyes.
    ‘Yes,’ Cassie said. She smiled a little. ‘He tried to kiss me once when he was drunk. I slapped his face. We never mentioned the incident again, but he knows not to try his tricks on me.’
    She expected Peter to let her go then, but instead she saw a flash of amusement in his eyes.
    ‘I might have guessed,’ he said softly. ‘You are a remarkable woman, Miss Cassandra Ward.’
    Cassie blushed and dropped her gaze. Peter’s fingers traced the line of her jaw with a featherlight stroke; it seemed extraordinary to her, but it felt as though there was wonderment in his touch. It felt as though he was discovering her and could not quite believe what he had found. She was not a fanciful girl, but Peter Quinlan’s touch wove dangerous enchantment.
    ‘And would you slap any gentleman who touched you?’ he asked. His tone was quiet, but there was something beneath it that made Cassie tremble.
    ‘I would do if I did not like him,’ she said, meetinglook for look, ‘and I have yet to meet a gentleman that I did like.’
    Peter smiled. ‘So the real question,’ he said gently, ‘is whether or not you like me …’
    He touched the corner of her mouth lightly, then slid one finger along her lower lip. There was an expression in his eyes that made Cassie feel weak inside. She swallowed hard. She could feel herself leaning towards him, her eyes already closing as though in anticipation of the kiss…
    Her eyes snapped open and she sat back swiftly. ‘I know what you are doing and you won’t succeed!’
    Peter burst out laughing. ‘What am I doing, sweetheart?’
    ‘You are trying to seduce me,’ Cassie said, struggling to ignore the skip of her heart that his endearment provoked. ‘It is too bad of you, my lord. You said that you would be honest with me.’
    Peter raised his eyebrows. ‘I assure you there is no pretence, Cassie.’
    ‘You want to kiss me!’
    The amusement deepened in Peter’s eyes. ‘I cannot deny it. Do you want to kiss me?’
    Cassie looked at him. The answer was yes, and it was written clearly on her face, but inside her there was a flutter of apprehension as well as a quiver of excitement. She bit her lip. Suddenly she looked—and felt—very young.
    ‘I…I do not know.’ She strove to be truthful. ‘That is—yes, I do…’ She went hot at the admission, looking at him from under her lashes.
    ‘You do want to kiss me?’
    ‘Yes! But…’
    ‘But?’ Peter shifted slightly. She sensed that he washolding himself under tight control and the thought heated her blood. He would not force himself on her. Of that she was certain. She felt a rush of relief and pleasure that he was not that sort of man. Experienced, perhaps. Persuasive and powerful, certainly, but he was still no ravisher of innocents. She could feel him easing back from her and she met his gaze very openly.
    ‘Your wooing is very swift, my lord. I am not certain I can keep up with you.’
    The dark desire in his eyes contrasted with the restraint in his touch. He leaned forward and brushed his lips to hers. ‘Do you want to try? It is a simple matter…’
    If he had pounced on her or crushed her in his arms, Cassie would probably have pulled away from him, but the gentleness of the caress stole her heart and