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from his body nearly setting her on fire. A shiver raced through her.
    “I assure you. I had an invitation. Being the heir apparent to a dukedom does have its privileges.”
    She turned her back to him and focused on the other guests that conversed in small groups. She knew her action was blatantly rude, but didn’t care. She wished Montfort would take her hint and leave her alone.
    He didn’t.
    “Would you like to stroll through the gardens before the performance?” His voice was a husky whisper in her ear.
    Her heart pounded in her breast and her stomach swirled as if someone had released a thousand butterflies inside her. She couldn’t look into his midnight blue eyes without getting lost. The affect he had on her emotions terrified her.
    Allison pasted a sweet smile on her face and turned back to him. “Lord Archbite suggested the same thing. I prefer to wait for him.”
    He arched a brow. “Then at least walk with me through the corridors. It will be much quieter.”
    He didn’t give her a choice, but placed his arm beneath her elbow and escorted her toward the door. Before she could escape him, they were strolling down the long, narrow gallery where all the ancestral Archbite portraits hung.
    Mirrored candles glimmered on either side of each portrait that cast the room in muted brightness. It also accentuated Montfort’s perfect features in a brilliant glow.
    “They’re not a particularly handsome lot, are they?” He stopped in front of one of the ugliest men she’d ever seen.
    “The merit of a man is not determined by his looks.”
    “I suppose you’re right,” he answered, then turned again and walked further down the long aisle. “You aren’t seriously considering dear old Percy, are you, Allison?”
    “What I am considering, seriously or not, is none of your concern. And I don’t recall giving you leave to call me by my Christian name.”
    He stopped. “I assumed the kiss we shared the other night was all the permission I needed.”
    “That was rude.” Allison’s cheeks burned like fire. She tried to pull her hand from Montfort’s arm but he clamped his hand over hers and held her tighter.
    “There’s no need to take offense. It was just a kiss.”
    Just a kiss!
    She tried to avert her gaze but he placed his finger beneath her chin and forced her to look into his face.
    “A very enjoyable kiss, I might add.”
    Then he smiled.
    His teeth glowed bright against his bronzed flesh. The two creases on either side of his mouth deepened, causing his handsome face to become even more breathtaking. Her stomach flipped.
    His noble features—high cheekbones, square-cut jaw, deep cleft in his chin—combined to give him a rugged look. She considered it a sin for anyone to be so handsome. A sin for her body to react like it did. No wonder he was so sure of himself. His looks had no doubt gotten him anything he ever wanted.
    “I’m sorry I missed you this afternoon.”
    She gave him a curious look.
    “I took a turn through the Park, hoping to see you.”
    “You were hoping to bother me.” She tried to keep from clenching her teeth. Even though she didn’t look at him, she could feel the warmth from his smile.
    “I assure you, I only wanted to see you. But I had business to attend to that took longer than I thought.”
    “I can imagine. You were no doubt in the middle of a game of cards that couldn’t be interrupted. Or more likely visiting one of your many female friends. Perhaps even the renowned Mademoiselle Bochaut. A ride through Hyde Park would hardly be worth the interruption.”
    “You don’t have a good impression of me, do you? I can’t imagine what I’ve done to deserve it.”
    “The rumors surrounding you don’t leave room for a good impression. Which brings me back to an earlier question. Why have you taken an interest in me?”
    “Perhaps I find you fascinating.”
    “Fascinating in what regard? Surely not as a friend. Definitely not as a mistress. Perhaps as a sparring