Bewitching the Viscount (Regency Romance) (Regency Lords Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Isabella Gerard he is dancing with?”
    “I think so.” Rose replied. “My, she has grown to be so beautiful since last we saw her.”
    “I know. She is stunning. It is a pity she has always had a terribly stormy demeanour. Rumour has it even her maids can hardly bear to be around her.” Abigail responded with a more sour disposition than she would have wished.
    “Who knows, maybe she is changed?”
    “Maybe, but I doubt it. Not when she comes from a family like hers.” Abigail said and the girls both laughed.
    “If you girls are done giggling,” Christopher said as he approached them, “Father would like to introduce you to his new partner.”
    With a final chuckle, Abigail and Rose followed after their brother.
     
    ***
     
    Later into the night while Abigail stood conversing with a new acquaintance, Miss Dawes, and Rose, she experienced the strange sensation that someone was watching her.
    Casually scanning the room, her eyes met the Viscount’s! His face lit up in an amused smile, which completely transformed his features. Abigail felt her lips curl up at the ends, returning the smile. It was clear he had recognised her. She promptly looked away and scolded herself. She would not be taken in by his charms! He surely smiled like that to all women.
    “Abi, he is looking at you,” Rose whispered into her ear. Abigail gently pushed her away.
    “I can see that,” she frowned. “I am sure it is but fleeting curiosity,” she responded fanning herself. “Furthermore, my affections require more than a title to be aroused.”
    “I thought you were not the type to pass judgement on someone you had not yet be introduced to?” Rose teased, prodding her in the ribs.
    “Who claims I am passing judgement?” Abigail replied. But she knew that she was doing just that.
    There was something about the Viscount’s demeanour that bothered her, though she could not quite discern what it was. She was sure it had nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that he had spent the last couple of hours dancing with every eligible young woman at the ball. Every eligible woman, but me.
    She knew she was being silly. The Upper Assembly Rooms could easily hold 800 people. A fair few hundred were in the ballroom. If half of those were women, the Viscount would have been very busy indeed to have danced with all of them.
    “Don’t look now Abi, but the Viscount is talking to father,” Rose whispered with excitement.
    At this point, the two Baxter sisters had been ignoring Miss Dawes for some time and the young lady finally decided to remind them of her existence.
    “What are you two whispering about?” she asked, her crossed arms giving the impression she was losing patience.
    “I beg your pardon, Mary. We are being awfully inconsiderate,” Abigail exclaimed, apologetically. “My sister was just bringing the Viscount of Wiltshire’s attention to mine. She seems to believe he might ask to be added to my dance card.”
    “Oh my, what a delicious turn of events. But why you would ever want to capture the attention of that insufferable man, I do not know,” Mary’s face shifted into a slight scowl.
    “You take issue with him?” Abigail asked.
    “Somewhat. Do not mistake me, he is as charming a gentleman as can be and I gladly welcome his company. But he lives only to drink and frequent the gentleman clubs.”
    “Begging your pardon but it sounds as if you had your eyes set on him in the past?”
    “I did, at one point. An arrangement was discussed. But, of course, he had no designs for my person or my dowry. He wants for no woman.”
    “What about the Lady Isabella? He looked to be quite taken with her during their dance.” Rose offered her thoughts on the matter and Mary cast an icy gaze her way.
    “I am certain he was only being polite. A man like Lord Wiltshire would not fall for so haughty a woman as Lady Isabella.” Mary said, and Abigail thought she seemed rather put out that the Viscount had not been taken by