An Unexpected Earl (Lords of the Armory #2) - Anna Harrington Page 0,47

hem. A blatant and sexually predacious look, as if he could see right through her clothes to her naked flesh beneath. And very much enjoyed what he saw.

All the tiny muscles in her belly contracted in a primal response to his presence that came so swiftly, so fiercely that it took her by surprise. So did the pulsating ache that followed on its heels. Under the heat of that brazen stare, she knew— She wanted him. More than she’d ever wanted a man in her life. Not just for physical pleasure, although as she shamelessly let her own gaze travel over him the way he’d done to her, she very much wanted that.

No, she wanted even more. She wanted him. In every way. Friend, confidante, hero, lover…

But that simply could never happen.

With his gaze pinned to hers, he lifted a brow. His sensuous lips twisted with private amusement to acknowledge her own lingering look.

Caught. She flushed and turned away, snagging a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing footman so she could lift it to her mouth and cover the expression of embarrassment blossoming on her face.

“You’re Miss Howard, aren’t you?” A beautiful auburn-haired woman sidled up to her from behind, catching her by surprise.

A second woman flanked her other side. This one younger, with a sprinkling of freckles across her pert nose. “Frederick Howard’s sister, correct?”

“We are so pleased to make your acquaintance.” The first woman smiled warmly and linked her arm around Amelia’s.

Amelia’s mouth fell open as she recognized the woman. The new Duchess of Hampton. “Your Grace.”

But when Amelia attempted to curtsy, the duchess would have none of it and held firmly to her arm, keeping her straight up. “Please call me Danielle. And this is my sister-in-law, Mrs. Claudia Trousdale.”

“A pleasure to meet both of you.” Amelia managed to squelch her surprise—and bewilderment—at the way the two ladies had descended upon her.

“You’ll forgive us that we forewent the stuffiness of a formal introduction and simply introduced ourselves, won’t you?” Claudia pressed.

Introduced themselves? No. They’d pounced. There was no other word for it. “Of course. But I don’t—”

“We have a friend in common.” The young duchess glanced across the ballroom toward Pearce and smiled. “The Earl of Sandhurst.”

Ah. Of course. The fog of confusion was beginning to clear. But when Amelia hardened her gaze on him for setting up this sneak attack, he didn’t look at all pleased. Downright miffed, in fact. So did the Duke of Hampton standing next to him.

Apparently the two women had taken it upon themselves to approach her.

“I understand that you’ve known each other for years.” Danielle wiggled her gloved fingers at Pearce in greeting. “From before he entered the army.”

“We knew each other as children in Birmingham.” Yet something told Amelia that the two women already knew that and were here to uncover other, more intimate details. So she threw the conversation back at them. “How do you know Sandhurst?”

“Marcus,” both women answered at once. Testimony to how close they were.

“My husband Marcus, Duke of Hampton,” Danielle explained. “That’s him there at Pearce’s side, scowling at us in dark irritation. He’s awfully good at it.”

Amelia had already lost the course of the conversation. “At being a duke?”

“Heavens no!” She laughed lightly. “At scowling with dark irritation.”

“An expert,” Claudia agreed. “That’s what made him such a good general.”

Yes. Amelia had heard about the man. His leadership had been rated second only to Wellington’s in the fight against the French. And looking at him now, she had to agree that he certainly possessed an imposing air that would have brooked no resistance when giving orders.

But standing next to Pearce, the man seemed a bit…lacking. Of course, she might have been biased, but Pearce appeared so much more untamed and dangerous, so much more muscular and solid. So much more dashing because of it.

“We’re quite fond of Pearce,” the duchess commented. “Marcus thinks of him as a brother, in fact.”

“So do all the men who served with him in the Coldstream Guards,” Claudia interjected. “He’s a true war hero, you know. Saved his men’s lives on several occasions when all should have been lost. He was a great brigadier.”

Amelia raised the glass to her lips to cover the proud smile lingering there. Of course he was. He was born for battle.

“But not so much an earl.”

Amelia froze, the flute at her lips, not at all expecting that. “Pardon?”

Even though Danielle’s voice lowered so that they wouldn’t be overheard by anyone in the