Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,356

back to the safety of the ballroom.

Her delicate jaw tightened. She wasn’t letting Lord Fallon bully her. To Blade’s dismay, it almost looked as if she was taking pleasure in verbally dueling with the rake.

He knew Harriet had a brain, and the way she was scolding Lord Fallon proved it. She, unlike other young ladies, seemed to be totally immune to the rake’s good looks. Not that he found Lord Fallon attractive, but the ladies certainly did.

Blade had never liked the man because of the way he treated women. Stories of his cruelty to his mistresses and ladies of the night did not go unnoticed. And the most disturbing rumor of late was that Fallon had tried to abduct a wealthy young lady. Fallon had thought to ruin her by carrying her off to Gretna Green. Thankfully, his evil plan had been foiled with not too much damage done.

Blade’s mind sharpened back to the present when he saw the nobleman reach out and trail a languid finger along Harriet’s bare throat to the low neckline of her gown.

The resounding slap that filled the air only dimmed the urgent need to wrap his hands around the lecher’s throat.

“You will keep your hands to yourself, my lord, or you will be even more sorry for it.”

Lord Fallon gave a low, seductive laugh that pierced his ire further, and uttered, “I do love a female with spirit.”

She took a step backward, which unfortunately took her further into the gloomy bounds of the terrace and away from her avenue of escape. “Stay away from me or I shall tell my brother.” Every haughty line on her face screamed distaste.

Lord Fallon moved closer, but she stood her ground as if aware moving backward took her away from safety. When Blade noted Fallon’s hand reaching for her once again, he could stand still no longer.

“Fallon, the lady does not welcome your advances. It’s time you took your leave. In fact, if you do not walk down those steps and leave this ball, I shall be forced to call you out.”

At his appearance, Lady Harriet swung to face him, relief clear on her lovely face.

“This is none of your affair, Blade,” Fallon snapped.

“Oh, but it is. As Lady Harriet’s close family friend, I am standing in for her brother. Thank your lucky stars it is not Trello standing here.”

Fallon’s face flushed with anger. As Blade took a step closer, Fallon turned and fled down the steps into the garden.

Alone on the terrace with her, Blade turned and found his gaze arrested by Harriet’s beauty. “This was not well done, my lady. It could have cost you everything.”

She stepped close, her scent swirling round him, making his breath hitch. “But my knight in shining armor arrived to save me. Thank you.”

It was hard to stay angry when Harriet stood before him, her smile as bright as the sun, her perfume a heady mixture of allure and innocence. “You wouldn’t need saving if you acted as any respectable young lady should.”

Her answering giggle was full of flirtation. Or perhaps too much wine had been drunk.

“I hardly think one stroll out on the terrace could label me reckless, Blade. And if it brought you running…” She stepped closer. “This is the first ball where I’ve spoken with you all season.” She poked his chest. “If I didn’t know you like me well enough, I’d think you were avoiding me.”

He wasn’t avoiding her exactly. His favor for Prinny meant he had to keep a low profile where the ladies were concerned. “I have many duties and obligations.”

“But you’ve been at almost all the balls and yet not once have you asked me to dance.”

He sighed. “Have you seen me dance with any lady?”

A frown saw her cute button nose wrinkle. “No.” She assessed him with beautiful blue eyes. “You seemed glued to Princess Charlotte’s side.” Intelligent eyes that missed nothing. Her smile wavered. “Are you planning on marrying into royalty?”

There’s the rub. What did he tell her? What had Prinny allowed him to tell anyone? Bloody hell. What did he say? He did what any man in his situation does.

“There is a chill in the air and you’ve been out here far too long. Shall we,” and he presented her with his arm.

Her almond-shaped eyes flashed with anger, but she said nothing. Slipping her arm through his, she let him guide her back inside where her friend Lady Ariane was waiting.

Lady Ariane gave her a beaming smile. “Lord Bladestow, how lovely