Ducal Encounters 02 - With the Duke's Approval Read Online Free PDF Page B

you did not love or respect. You will know when you find the right gentleman.”
    “Yes,” she said, the laughter dying on her lips. “But what if he does not desire me?”
    “Now, you are being foolish.” He fixed her with a smouldering expression that caused her breath to hitch in her throat and welcome heat to invade her frozen limbs. “There is not a gentleman alive who could resist your charms.”
    Except you . Anna was saved from the trouble of formulating a response when the door was thrown open and a gentleman headed towards Lord Romsey, waving a piece of paper in his direction.
    “What is it, Pierce?” Lord Romsey asked, clearly irritated by the interruption.
    “Pardon the intrusion, my lord. I have been looking for you everywhere. An urgent communique from the Foreign Office.”
    Lord Romsey turned to Anna with an exasperated air. “Allow me to escort you back—”
    “Always on duty, my lord,” she said softly. “No, don’t trouble yourself on my account. I shall remain here a moment longer. Read your note, by all means.”
    Lord Romsey appeared unsure of himself, a most unusual circumstance. “I really ought to take you back inside first.”
    “Nothing can happen to me here.”
    And she wasn’t ready to return to the fray quite yet, which meant fending off men who did not interest her. She moved away from the light being shed through the windows, allowing Lord Romsey to stand there and read his note in private. She strolled a little further away from him, dimly aware of him speaking in a lowered voice to Pierce who was presumably his secretary. She gazed out across the inky blackness of the gardens one floor below them, illuminated by the light spilling from the ballroom. She heard faint strains of music, louder overtones of hundreds of voices, and felt part of it all, yet strangely detached.
    There was something wrong with her, she thought. She ought to revel in being young, rich, and feted, and yet already, the entertainments of high society were losing their appeal. She moved further down the terrace. Lord Romsey appeared very agitated by whatever the communique said, and she didn’t wish to give the impression of eavesdropping. Presumably, he would leave the ball now. He was obviously needed somewhere else. Why send a note to him at this time of night otherwise? She felt disappointed. The ball would be a very dull affair without him, and she would prefer to go home. That would not happen. It was only just past midnight, and her mother would expect to remain for at least another hour or two.
    Anna lifted her face and felt fat snowflakes fall onto it. Lord Romsey had been right about the snow. She trailed her gloved hand along the frosty balustrade, crying out in surprise when she saw something move in the periphery of her vision and felt something lock onto her wrist. She wondered if Lord Romsey had crept up on her, taking her by surprise, but she glanced his way and saw he was still in deep conversation with Pierce. Besides, he would never clasp her wrist in such a vulgar manner. Panic consumed her. Lord Romsey hadn’t heard her exclaim above the noise coming from the ball, and she was glad of it. She was here alone, and tried to convince herself that the touch to her wrist was a product of her disturbed imagination. Except it hurt like the devil, so how could it be?
    Before Anna could decide, she felt a sharp tug on her arm, her feet left the floor, and her body tipped over the edge of the balustrade. Again she cried out, louder this time, but was unaware if she was heard. She was falling fast onto the frozen ground beneath her, and could do nothing to help herself. Lord above, she would break her bones, if not her neck. Either that or she would freeze to death before she was found.
    Except, she didn’t fall to the ground, but was caught by a strong pair of arms. The side of her face came into sharp contact with a rough jerkin that smelled disgusting. Then a sack was pulled over her head