Lord Sebastian's Secret (The Duke's Sons #3)(101)

Flora could only nod. He hadn’t spoken to her so curtly even when they’d been mired in one of their running debates last summer. He seemed different in other ways as well. His clothes looked more—she groped for a word—complicated than they had in Russell Square and Oxford. His neckcloth was more intricate, his waistcoat more opulent. More than that, though, he had a larger presence. If she’d thought of it at all she would have predicted that he’d be less impressive surrounded by the cream of the haut ton. Outshone or overshadowed with other noblemen all around him. In fact, it was the opposite. He stood out—polished, assured, every inch a duke’s son. And just, perhaps, the tiniest bit intimidating?

“I was startled to see you,” he went on when she didn’t speak. “Knowing how you hate the fashionable set.”

“Hate is a strong word.”

“We can dispute my word choice, but you cannot deny that you’ve expressed contempt for the ton. Emphatically and often.”

“Contempt is—”

“Another strong word. Indeed.” He smiled at her.

Abruptly, treacherously, Flora was ambushed by a memory. It had been late, at her home in Russell Square. A group of her father’s old friends were making their farewells to her mother. She and Lord Robert had lingered in a dim corner of the drawing room. She couldn’t recall how that had come about, but it was one of the rare moments when they hadn’t been arguing. Indeed, they’d been in charity with one another, for once. And he’d looked down at her with admiration, and tenderness, and longing. She couldn’t mistake it. His gaze had sent shivers through her body. She’d wanted to step into his arms and lose herself in a wild kiss and let passion take them where it would.

Flora blinked and swallowed. She’d shoved that simmering desire away, out of sight, almost out of mind. She’d been so sure that he’d walk out of her life as easily as he’d walked in, that he would make a fool of her. Then, recently, she’d wondered if she was mistaken. Now she faced a new version of this unfathomable man.