To Distraction Read Online Free PDF Page B

a wife, and I am here.”
    She nodded, and forced herself to hold his gaze. “And if you have any thought of me filling that position, you may put it out of your head—I have no interest in marriage. However, I realize Audrey and Edith have probably hatched some scheme and might well have got you down here under false pretenses. The least I can do is assist you in your search.”
    His eyes widened; the curve of his lips deepened. “Assist me?”
    “Yes. You clearly need help.” Folding her arms, she swung so that she could survey the assembled guests. He stood beside her, facing in the same direction, yet his gaze remained on her face. “Now, have you any physical preferences regarding your bride?”
    He didn’t immediately answer. She waited, eyes fixed on the crowd.
    Eventually, he said, voice deep and low, “Tall—she should be taller than the average.”
    Phoebe glanced over the heads, studying all the females. Other than old Lady Althorpe, she was the tallest lady present. None of the unmarried young ladies stood taller than the average, but perhaps Monica Simmons or Georgina Riley might do; heaven knew they were pretty enough. “Blond or brunette?”
    After a moment, his deep drawl reached her. “I’ve a penchant for a certain shade of dark red.”
    The color of her hair.
    Lips compressing, she kept her gaze on the crowd, then demanded, crisply, “Eye color?”
    “A curious blend of violet and blue.”
    She narrowed her eyes; slowly turning her head, she pinned him with a violet-blue stare. “This is not going to work. There is no point whatever in you fixing your attention on me.”
    His lips curved. “Too late.” He glanced at the others. “Introducing me to the others did nothing more than confirm that in pointing me in your direction, Audrey understood my needs remarkably well.”
    She drew a deep breath; lowering her arms, she turned to face the crowd. “Be that as it may, my lord, as I’ve already informed you, I have no interest in marriage.”
    “Yes, I know. I heard you the first time.”
    “Well, then you’ll realize that there is no benefit in spending any further time with me.” She made shooing motions toward the rest of the gathering. “Even if none here meet your requirements, I’d strongly suggest you use the opportunity to polish your approach. Permit me to inform you that you could use the practice.”
    It was an impertinent speech, but she meant every word—every insult. The damned man got under her skin as no other ever had. Eyes on the crowd, she waited for him to take his leave of her.
    A full minute ticked by.
    “I have a better idea.”
    Five simple words, but his tone, dark and infinitely dangerous, had her whipping her gaze back to his face.
    Her eyes, wide, locked with his. Her heart leapt; her lungs stilled. They stood at the edge of a crowd, yet in that moment she could have sworn they were alone, isolated, the two of them standing in some world out of time.
    His green gaze, sharp and hot, lazily, indolently, insolently roamed her face, lingered on her lips, then returned to her eyes.
    Her every pore registered his nearness—as heat, power, a threat she couldn’t name. His next words, when they came, seemed to wrap about her, a potent, flagrant seduction in sound.
    “Have you ever thought of changing your mind?”
    She looked into his eyes and saw, behind the charm and the lurking amusement, a hardness, a ruthlessness, a power that reminded her of a time, a place, an incident she had no wish to recall.
    Cold raced over her skin. “No.” Holding his gaze, she fought to quell a shiver. “That will never happen.”
    She had to get away. Folding her arms, tightening them, she inclined her head, then turned and left him.
     
    “What the devil’s the matter?”
    Phoebe lifted her gaze to the mirror before her and met her maid, Skinner’s, dark eyes. Gowned for the evening, she sat before the dressing table in the bedchamber she’d been assigned; it was nearly