The Viscount’s Secret Desire (Twist of Fate #3)

Chapter 1

London, England

Viscount Alexander Easton scanned the ballroom, looking for her.

The ball was being hosted by a lesser lord he didn’t usually associate with, but he knew she was supposed to attend this evening.

He’d been visiting his parents’ townhouse in Mayfair and overheard his mother, Lady Devon, talking with a friend about what a free spirit the young lady was and that she would do better in Society if she were a bit more modest. He didn’t need anyone to tell him that she was trouble.

He already knew that. It seemed her only goal these days was to have fun, regardless of decorum.

As he looked around, he was interrupted by his friend, who’d arrived at the ball moments ago. Easton had seen him enter, but purposely didn’t go to meet him. He wanted to find her first.

“Easton, I’m surprised to see you here,” Viscount Chandler said, strolling up to his friend. “I didn’t think you even knew the baron.”

Easton turned. It was true that if he hadn’t overheard where she would be tonight, he never would have attended the Thompson ball.

“Good evening, Chandler. I don’t really know Thompson, but I heard rumors that someone of interest is attending tonight and wanted to catch a glimpse of the infamous Lord Hardwick. ”

“That’s who you’re looking for?”

“Yes, why else would I be here?”

“Come now, Easton, I’ve known you for a long time, and there’s no way you’d attend this less-than-stellar ball to find Hardwick. Everyone knows he spends most of his nights at either Vauxhall Gardens or the club. Why don’t we go to the pleasure gardens if you want to see him?”

Easton shook his head. “I’ll pass on the gardens. Let’s go to the club instead.”

“You’ll get no argument from me on that point,” Chandler said. “Let’s leave before we’re ambushed by those matchmaking mamas I see heading in our direction.”

“Good idea.”

As they were leaving the ball, Easton took one last look around the ballroom, and that’s when he saw her.

She was hard to miss with her golden hair piled high on her head, and just as he’d predicted two years ago, she had a bevy of young bucks surrounding her this evening, hanging on her every word.

He had no intention of fighting for her attention.

After all, if he decided to marry this Season, which he was pretty sure he wouldn’t, there were plenty of debutantes to choose from.

He wasn’t even sure he wanted to contemplate being leg-shackled at all.

He was only seven and twenty and still had plenty of time to search for a proper wife, which she was not.

He was well aware of that, but it didn’t explain why she still fascinated him.

Everyone could see she was beautiful, with her creamy complexion, rosebud lips, and cornflower-blue eyes, but that wasn’t what intrigued Easton.

It was more than just her physical attributes that made him want to seek her out.

She had a spark about her that seemed to cast a light in even the darkest corners.

He would like nothing more than to have that light shine on him.

He turned away from her lilting laugh and followed his friend out the door into the cool April air. “Shall we walk?” Easton asked. “I’ve had enough of stuffy rooms for the moment.”

Chandler nodded, and they set off at a brisk pace. When they reached the club, a footman took their hats and walking sticks.

“Come on, I could use a brandy,” Easton said, leading the way up the stairs.

“Best idea all night,” Chandler agreed.

The club was bustling with gentlemen this evening. Easton spotted their mutual friend Baron Ludlow sitting in the corner, and they headed towards him.

Ludlow looked up from his newspaper when their shadows fell over him. “There you two are! Where have you been? I’ve been here for over an hour, waiting for you chaps to show up. I have a new investment idea I want to discuss with you.”

Both Easton and Chandler had wisely listened to their friend, who seemed to be some sort of wizard when it came to investment opportunities, and had earned tidy profits from the investments Ludlow had recommended.

Before Easton could utter a word, Chandler spoke up. “We were at the Thompson ball. Easton claims he went there to catch a glimpse of Hardwick, but I think there was someone else he was looking for.”

Ludlow chuckled. “Must be a woman. Only thing that can turn a man’s insides out. It’s always a woman.”

Easton plopped into the chair next to Ludlow and signaled the waiter for a brandy. “There’s no woman!” he said, more harshly than he’d intended.

“Hmmm…dost thou protest too much?” Chandler said, needling his friend. “That ball is a bloody bore. Let the young bucks have the night.”

“Hardwick is old news in any case. I’ve heard he’s fled to the Continent. Seems he’s found himself in a bit of trouble with more than a few unhappy husbands. You’d think he’d know better, but evidently one of the husbands challenged him to a duel,” Ludlow said.

“Coward. Of course he fled,” Easton said. “When did that happen?”

“Evidently, he was seen yesterday boarding a boat destined for Italy. From what I heard, he’s claiming the Italian climate is better for his delicate constitution.”

Easton chuckled. “Delicate constitution? That man has the constitution of an ox.”

“All I can tell you is what I heard,” Ludlow said.

The waiter brought a round of brandies for the three friends and passed them around. “Will there be anything else, my lord?”

Easton shook his head. He was in a foul mood, and his only excuse for attending that less-than-stellar ball had been to look for her.

Now that his lame reason for attending no longer held any merit, he’d have to be careful not to show too much interest in this year’s debutantes, especially one in particular.

He wasn’t about to admit that his infatuation with her had grown into more of a secret desire.

What was it about her that held him captive?

In the intervening eighteen months since he last saw her, he’d immersed himself in a few affairs, always walking away before the woman got too attached to him.

He enjoyed women and always made sure they enjoyed their time together as much as he did, but that was as far as he was willing to indulge them.

As soon as a lover became too clingy, he ended the affair.

He wasn’t a cruel or selfish man and had no intention of needlessly hurting his paramours.

His number one rule was that the affair be based on mutual pleasure, nothing more, no strings attached.

There would be no emotional attachment on his part, and he’d made that abundantly clear with each woman he was involved with, which led to some very enjoyable evenings with some lusty ladies.

He was careful to stay away from the married ones.

He didn’t need an angry husband coming after him.

In any event, none of those encounters had eased the desire that he felt for her.

“Easton, I’ve never seen you so quiet before. Are you listening to Ludlow’s idea? What’s gotten into you tonight?” Chandler asked.

Easton waved a dismissive hand at his friend. “Can’t I just sit and have a drink in peace without you two harping on me?”

He saw Chandler and Ludlow share a knowing look.

Did they believe him? Probably not, but he wasn’t going to tell them a different story.

He’d known them since their school days, and the friendship had continued at university.

They’d remained fast friends to this day.

While he wouldn’t ever want to lose their friendship, sometimes their knowing him so well made it difficult to hide anything from them.

“I hear there are a couple of beautiful stallions for sale at Tattersall’s this week. Who wants to accompany me?” Ludlow asked, mercifully changing the subject.

“I’ll go,” Chandler said. “Easton?”

Easton looked between his friends and knew he’d never get any peace until they were satisfied he wasn’t suffering from an infatuation. If they knew, there would be endless rounds of teasing, and that was the last thing he wanted.

“Sure, happy to look at the new stallions.”

“Good,” Ludlow said.

Easton sat sipping his brandy, determined not to fall under any woman’s spell.

Really?

Who was he kidding?

He was so far under her spell that he wouldn’t be able to dig his way out with a dozen shovels.

After a few more rounds, Easton excused himself and headed to his bachelor quarters at the Albany. A man could only take so much nonsense in one night, although he was looking forward to going to Tattersall’s with his friends, so something good had come out of his disappointing evening.