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Mr. Jameson was an even better dancer than Lord Victor, and more handsome as well. Perhaps he could be a substitute for Thomas, if the earl didn’t look her way again.
But as handsome and fluid on the floor as he was, Jonathan was not Thomas.
Jonathan hadn’t kissed her by his father’s gravesite.
Jonathan didn’t make her pulse race, or make that forbidden place between her legs quiver.
When the music ended, Tricia curtsied politely and smiled.
“Thank you, Lady Patricia,” Jonathan said. “It was an honor. I’m so glad we met.”
“As am I,” Tricia said. “But if you would excuse me, I need to rest for a moment.”
“Of course.” He bowed politely and then strode toward his cousin and aunt.
Tricia drew in a breath and walked out of the ballroom and toward the ladies’ retiring room.
Sarah was there, and she pounced on Tricia. “Two such handsome men! I’m fraught with envy, Tricia.”
Tricia sat down on a velvet stool and stared at her reflection in the looking glass. “Not the man I want, though.”
Sarah sighed. “The earl is scrumptious, to be sure, but either of the two you were dancing with would be suitable substitutes.”
Sarah’s words triggered a rush of warmth to Tricia’s face. She quickly looked around the room.
“Lower your voice!” Tricia warned. Indeed, they were alone, thank goodness. Sarah was the only person in whom Tricia had confided about her unrequited love for Thomas. “You’re welcome to either of them if you’d like. They’re perfectly fine gentlemen, but I’m not feeling so much as a spark.”
“Who needs a spark?” Sarah laughed. “We can get all the sparks we need by reading The Ruby. Surely you’ve…you know.”
Tricia raised her eyebrows. “Surely I’ve what?”
Sarah leaned closer. “While reading the stories, you can slide your hand under your garments and?—”
Tricia clasped her hand over her mouth. “Stop that right now!”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t tried it.”
“I have not, of course!”
Her words were not a lie, although she was well aware of the intense feeling down there. She had, on occasion, let her fingers wander under her chemise to her hard nipples. Just a fluttery touch and they responded, shooting more desire between her thighs. But those feelings were not from reading The Ruby. Indeed, she’d only read a few episodes of one story.
They were from dreaming of Thomas, the Earl of Ashford.
“You must,” Sarah whispered wickedly. “There’s a magic button called your clitoris. Touch it the next time you read one of the stories. See what happens.”
“I absolutely shall not!” Tricia whispered back. “Never in a million years.”
Then she closed her lips as two other ladies entered the room, one being the Duchess of Lybrook herself, Lily Farnsworth.
“Tricia, my dear,” she said. “You are looking lovely this evening.”
Tricia rose. “Thank you, Your Grace. As are you.”
She laughed. “What is this ‘your grace’ business? I’ve been Lily to you since Rose and Cam married.”
Tricia furrowed her brow. “I just thought…since we’re at a ball and all…”
“A ball at my brother’s estate,” she said. “You know I laugh in the face of convention. I’ve always thought it was a bunch of nonsense.”
