He watched the women a while longer. It was clear the ladies had lost something as they surveyed the ground around them. After checking her reticule, the Duchess of Arlington went back into the clothing boutique. He stepped out of the carriage, the wind whipping his black tailcoat behind his large frame as he made his approach. Determination hummed inside him. Moving closer, his loins tightened. Lady Lydia had a disturbingly strong effect on him.
***
Lydia saw the Earl of Sinclair coming toward her and her heart immediately sped up. Her eyes watered in the wind and she quickly absorbed a tear with a white-gloved finger. She ended up poking herself in the eye, which hurt, and caused her eye to water more.
Tendrils of hair kept blowing against her neck, a vivid reminder of her last encounter with the earl. Truth be told, after her brother’s wedding, she had thought of little else but this man. He was one of the reasons she wanted to hurry back to London. She just didn’t expect to see him so soon. Thrills of pleasure and excitement coursed down her spine. He was almost upon her. What would he say? What should she say?
He was impeccably dressed all in black, as he always was, which gave him a dangerous appeal. At least she found him appealing. He was a large man, broad shouldered, tall, and slim of waist. Perfectly formed, in her opinion. The way he stared at her caused tingles of excitement to dance in her stomach. Why a man this handsome kept himself hidden away in the country for the last few years was a mystery she wanted solved. He interested her to such a degree, in fact, that she couldn’t help wanting to know everything there was to know about him.
She watched him move with panther-like grace. His jet-black hair was cut shoulder length, and his skin was a light bronze, giving him an exotic appearance. He wore the same sinister grin he always had on when he saw her, which warned her to be wary. She felt butterflies in her stomach and hoped her voice wouldn’t fail her due to her nerves.
“Hello, my lord.” She smiled, feeling her confidence return. She always seemed to work herself up to a near frenzy and then calmed when necessary. Her brother Paxton had teased her mercilessly about it since they were little. They would be going to a gathering and she’d become nervous, which unfortunately made her clumsy. Then as soon as she was at the event, she’d feel completely in control again and almost overly self-assured. It was comical. That is, when she didn’t hurt herself, which tended to happen.
“Lady Lydia, it’s wonderful to see you. I believe you grow more beautiful with every passing day.” She tried not to blush when Aiden’s piercing blue eyes traveled down the length of her figure as he raised one of her gloved hands to his lips. “I have missed you.”
She was flattered he noticed she’d been out of town. Of course, her brother’s wedding and the near tragedy that turned into a triumph had been in all of the papers. She watched his lips touch the back of her hand and felt the heat of his lips through her glove travel up her arm.
He was unbelievably handsome in spite of his dangerous demeanor, and he was so bold in his attraction toward her that it took her breath away. Who cares if there was an undercurrent of mischief about him. That’s what held her enthralled. “I was in the country celebrating my brother’s nuptials.”
“So I heard. I never did receive my invitation.”
Lydia couldn’t help herself. His expression was so serious that she had to laugh. “Yes, well, I don’t think he likes you much.”
Aiden smiled.
“You didn’t make a stellar first impression,” she said, referring to the kiss he placed on her neck, a moment in time she couldn’t seem to clear from her mind. She really wished he’d explain such an insane act, but a lady doesn’t bring up such an inappropriate topic, she reminded herself. It was probably best to put the incident behind her and be grateful her reputation didn’t suffer as a result. Lucky for her no one had seen his daring kiss but people she could trust not to tell the world.
“Perhaps not.” Aiden shrugged indifferently. “But then it’s not your brother’s opinion I care about.” He reached over and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Lydia quickly backed up a step. She certainly had to watch this one. “Yes, well, one shouldn’t be so forward, especially in front of a lady’s overprotective brother.”
She noticed Aiden’s brow scrunch as if he wanted to point out that her brother hadn’t protected her at all, but she was glad he held his tongue. “I hear your brother’s friend, Lord Geary, has been asking about me.”
“Cole is Paxton’s best friend, and he looks on me as a younger sister and thus feels it his duty to find out more about you, since you… Well, because you…” She didn’t want to say it and sound silly. After all, it was only a little kiss, and not even on her lips, although it made her heart stop. She was sure it probably hadn’t affected him in the least. Just as she was sure that men like him didn’t think much about kissing a lady’s neck.
***
“I kissed your sweet neck.” Aiden’s voice was purposely husky as he held her gaze with his. He wanted to kiss her again, this time on her pouty mouth and right in the middle of Bond Street. What was the matter with him? He had to remind himself about his goal to destroy Lady Veronica, this girl’s mother. Sweet Lydia was nothing but a pawn. “Yes, that wasn’t very gentlemanly of me.”
She said nothing, just stared up at him in the most endearing manner. She turned when she heard her cousin’s approaching footsteps, immediately breaking eye contact. Disappointment speared through him and he held back a sigh.
“I found my other glove. It was under a chair and…” The duchess placed her glove in her reticule and stopped speaking when she saw him. “Hello.”
Lydia immediately made the introductions. “Lord Sinclair, may I introduce my cousin Rebecca, the Duchess of Arlington. Rebecca, this is Aiden Northwood, the Earl of Sinclair.”
Aiden bowed in greeting. “A pleasure, Your Grace.” He was surprised Lydia had found out his Christian name. The grin on her face told him she was quite proud of herself for shocking him. He lifted his brow at her, wondering what else she’d learned. Did she know his mind was fixated on vengeance, how he wanted to lash out at her family? Tightness squeezed his chest.
“I will leave you ladies to your shopping. Will I see you at Lord Talbot’s soiree this evening?” he asked.
***
“Perhaps,” Lydia replied without displaying much interest in her tone. She had to at least try to behave as if she were indifferent about seeing him again. The man was too sure of himself, which in turn made him too daring toward her person. He had to know that, while she enjoyed the game, she was in control, even if she didn’t at all feel like it. Her heart continued to hammer wildly in her chest as she watched him walk away.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
THE PERFECT SUITOR
Also by L. A. Hilden
About the Author
Excerpt from “The Vengeful Earl” - Book #2 in the Bewildering Love Series
The Perfect Suitor (Bewildering Love Series) Page 30