“Ah, I know that look,” Jack goaded.
“Pardon?” Lucas asked, but couldn’t pull his eyes away. There was something familiar about the woman, but she was turned away just enough that he couldn’t see her full face.
“That look… the besotted I’m going to ravage you expression that Hugh wore as well.”
“Hugh?” Lucas questioned, his curiosity enough that he turned to his brother.
“Ah, dear witless brother.” Jack shook his head. “May I present to you Lady Meredith Bright.”
“Bright?” Lucas choked on the name, his body freezing.
“Bright,” Jack enunciated.
“No.” Lucas turned to the beauty and watched in utter horror as she turned, noticed him, and all warmth in her expression solidified into a chip of ice that seemed to blow a cold wind his direction.
The beauty was a frigid witch. A hag.
Hell had officially frozen over!
But as quickly as his body revolted, it responded, meeting her gaze with a bold one of his own. As if daring him, she raised an eyebrow. Unable to resist himself, he slowly slid his gaze from the top of her crown of hair to the blue slipper she wore, then back up to meet her steely stare.
Then, as his competitive nature overrode any sense, he simply shook his head as if pitying her.
And walked away.
Struggling to appear relaxed, even as every part of his body was tight with a flashing desire that left him smoldering within.
She might be frozen.
But he on was fire.
The house party had just become a lot more interesting…
CHAPTER THREE
“AND HE JUST WALKED AWAY?” Louisa asked, her mouth agape as Meredith retold the events of the ball.
“Yes. Walked off,” Sara answered from her seat upon the bed where she was hugging a pillow. “Of course that was after he undressed you with his eyes. Meredith, I have never seen anything like it! I was just standing next to you and felt hot all over… how did you stand it?”
The truth was, Meredith didn’t know how she didn’t react… because the way he studied her… the way his dark eyes had smoldered was burned in her memory. Of course other men had seemed to study her before, but this… this was different. It was as if his gaze was filling a hunger too deep for words, and she was the feast.
Yet, as soon as he finished, he dismissed her.
Miserable man.
For a moment, she wondered if something had changed… but as soon as the thought formed in her mind, she was given her answer.
And his back.
A zebra cannot change its stripes, and the spawn of Satan will never be an angel of light.
Ever.
She’d best remember that.
“Did you happen to see any other brothers?” Louisa asked.
“Yes, there were two of them. Lucas was studying Meredith and the next one… Jack, he was watching his brother.”
“Sara, we mustn’t use their Christian names,” Meredith scolded.
“I am not…” She held up a finger, “… calling them Lord Ashbury, or Mr. Mayford… heavens.”
“Lord only knows what they’ll do with that kind of ego elevation.”
“And besides, they are Lucas, Hugh, and Jack to us! We’ve seen them in short pants and with bloody noses—”
“I get the picture… but we are ladies. They might be savage and uncouth natives, but we are not. We will address them as is proper because we are proper… they are simply beneficiaries of our manners.” Meredith folded her hands on her lap.
“You… are far too uptight,” Louisa sighed. “I’m going to bed. Can you imagine that they gave us all separate rooms? I don’t know whether to be thankful or afraid…”
“I know.”
“I’m heading to bed too. Make sure you lock your doors, ladies!” Sara called out as she walked to the door.
“And put a chair in front just for good measure,” Louisa added.
“Agreed,” Meredith replied as she watched her sisters leave.
Yet, as the hours wore on, sleep was not forthcoming. As she tossed the covers aside, she grumbled and stood, curling her toes as the cool air assaulted her feet. Her stomach growled, and her gaze shot to the door.
Dare she?
At the Wingham House?
Well, it wasn’t as if she didn’t know every inch of the estate…
Surely she could make it to the kitchens and back without incident.
It was the middle of the night, everyone else must be asleep.
As if her stomach agreed with her logic, it rumbled once more.
Nodding once, she glanced about for her coverlet. After slipping it on and tying the sash, she slowly opened the door. Candlelight burned low in the hall, offering enough light for her to see, but only just. Silently, she slipped into the hall and started toward the main staircase, but paused.