She lay awake in the dark staring at the ceiling. Its been long since the house quieted down and all retired for bed. Sleep eluded her. For as much as she willed her heavy lids to close and embrace sweet slumber she could not.

Her mind replayed the images of what happened between her and Adrian, they were vivid in her dreams as the day they occurred.

Memories of a few nights before burned in her mind. She had been in her room reading by her window when she'd glanced out. Adrian stood with one hand resting on the iron railing and the other held a glass of amber liquid. He sipped from it and continued to stare out into the nights sky.
He wore nothing but his breeches. He was magnificent. All hard muscle beneath dark , olive skin, broad shoulders , well defined chest, rippled stomach. He slowly turned to lean against the veranda and as if knowing she was there his eyes met hers. They held each others gaze for sometime. She reached her fingers up to the cool glass slowly and touched it wishing she could touch him.
His eyes looked at her as if they were burning into her soul.

But then her eyes caught the slim silhouette of a woman that joined him on the balcony. Alicia.
He quickly turned to face Alicia as she gave a sultry smile, reached up to caress his face and he fell into her embrace followed by a passionate kiss. She watched helplessly as Adrian turned into Alicia's arms and ushered her away from the veranda where they disappeared into their private heaven.

She shuddered as the sudden dip in her hearts rythmic beat jarred her back to the present. Dashing away a single tear, she turned her face into her pillow to drown out the onslaught of her cries. She was so foolish and wrong for starting this all. There was no way she could compete with a woman like that.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

They sat down for breakfast in the dinning room. She forced her mood to be as bright and as cheerful as Caroline's. She schooled her features well even when Henry their butler announced the arrival of Alicia.

Her nerves grated down her back as she watched her saunter gingerly into the dining room. She placed a sweet kiss on Adrian's lips before thanking Henry for pulling out a seat for her to sit. She was joining them.
How lovely.

The morning conversation carried on as if they were all use to it. There was no hint that any thing was wrong. Adrian sat back and observed beneath hooded eyes as the women talked and smiled at one another.
He glanced lightly over Evangeline as she politely spoke to Alicia and smiled beautifully with Caroline.

His gaze broke away from them the moment Henry appeared at his side with a note. Nodding and thanking him Henry turned and left.

He studied the letter and smiled.

"What has you so happy brother,?" Caroline asked sweetly.

Putting it down he regarded her.
"We have been invited to The Westerly's Ball"

Caroline squeeled joyously. Breathlessly she explained it would be quite the event and mayhap even better than their last. It was a splendid event with music, dancing, games and hunting.

He watched as Evangeline smiled with Caroline. Her eyes met his over the long table and quickly turned her attention to Caroline's as she gasped.

"What will we wear?" She looked quickly to Adrian.

Slouching back he chuckled at his sisters dismayed look.

"Henry will escort you both to buy whatever you need," his eyes rested lightly on his sister then to Evangeline as she shyly lowered her head.

Squealing with delight she rose from her chair rounded the table and wrapped her arms around him placing a loving kiss on his forehead followed by a strong hug.

"Thank you brother," she giggled.

Quickly she turned to pull Evangeline up from her chair in airy chatter of the gowns that were simply divine at Madam Gevalias' Boutique. All the while she gently held Evangeline's hands in check to trail behind her. She looked over to Adrian and their eyes met once more before she was hauled off.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

She sat quietly with them in the large Hackney on their way to the mansion of the Duke and Duchess of Westerly. Evangeline sat nervously listening to them chatter and talk amongst themselves.
"Are you ready for tonight, little one," the husky voice broke her from her thoughts.
Warm hands held hers as she blinked and looked into his eyes.
She smiled with trembling lips and nodded letting out the breath she forgot to exhale.
The sleek black carriage pulled up to the mansion. The door opened and the footman helped Caroline, Alicia then her out. Evangeline glanced up at the enormous mansion that looked as though it could house all of London.

Adrian stood behind her and she felt his hands gently rest on her shoulder.
He lowered his head and gently whispered assuring words to her.
She took Adrian's offered arm and tried to keep from trembling . How would she make it through the night?
She already felt so faint with fright.

Entering the enormous foyer, Adrian turned to her and helped her out of her cloak. She kept her eyes averted, but she could feel him staring at her.

She stood before him and felt the heat of his gaze on her. She shivered lightly as the cloak fell away and the soft cool air touched her skin.
She slowly looked up to him as his eyes were riveted on her.
His gaze looked her over and she was met with a look in his eyes as if he enjoyed a private secret.

"You look beautiful," he whispered.

"Thank you," she breathed shakily.

~•~•~•~•~•~

The moment he helped Evangeline remove her cloak it was as if a bucket of ice water poured over him.

She was breathtaking.

Her gown was a daring style. The ball gown was positively exquisite. It accentuated her curves from the bodice with an enticing low neckline down to the hem. Everything about it alarmed him all the way down to the color.

Peach!

He immediately caught the sparkling mischievous grey of his sisters eyes before turning with a smile to Evangeline.

Touché...

He had to admit that his sister played her cards very well. She was no fool and neither was he.

He turned and placed Evangelines fingers lightly on his sleeve and walked with her into the ballroom where hundreds of people socialized and danced.

She smiled sweetly at the crowd who turned to stare as she and Adrian passed. As they entered they were greeted by the hosts. The Duke and Duchess were in awe of the young enchantress in his company.

"St.James, you devil you finally made it," the Duke chuckled patting him heartily on the back.

The Duchess gave Evangeline a loving smile and whisked her away from Adrian's  hold. The two walked slowly arms intwined as if they knew each other for years.
She carried herself with the grace of a princess and he felt proud. Her beauty had always stunned him, yet tonight she was magnificent.

"The gossip of her beauty does not do her justice dear boy, what you have in your possession is pure temptation," The Duke spoke following his gaze.

If you only knew....

Auburn tendrils glistened beneath the large chandeliers lights above them. She wore it loose in coquetish ringlets that fell all the way past her back just shy of her petite waist. The lush peach colored bodice caressed her breasts giving any in close proximity a vantage view to their imagination of what lays hidden beneath it.
Though she looked incredible in the gown, he wished he would have seen her before they'd left. He would have suggested she wear something a bit more demure. Because every man within a few feet stared at her as if she were the main course meal of the night.

He did not like that at all.

Moments later he was joined by a familiar voice. His good friend Edward Sinclair, Earl of Arlington.

"Adrian , your secret is finally out, you are either the luckiest bastard alive or the most unfortunate at this moment," he chuckled at Adrians puzzled stare. " Because by the looks of it you may have just about every young buck of the ton at your steps by dawn."

Adrian smiled at his friends analysis. "Indeed I am," he replied, not taking his gaze off his ward and the handsome man that approached her.

He watched as she gracefully followed suit in the dance with the rest.
Arlington turned to him with a wicked smile and said, "I bid you good luck, dear friend, for I fear you will need it." A second later Arlington had made his way to the dance floor, conveniently right as the next chord of music began, where he took Evangeline off the young beau's hands.

~•~•~•~•~•~

He fell into conversation after conversation with some here and there. He danced a ballad or two with Alicia and returned to his spot. They spoke often although he found it hard to keep from looking past her shoulder to his ward, who by all appearances seemed to be having the time of her life . Light on her feet like a swan gliding over water, she smiled shyly as she went through the steps of the waltz with her dance partner.

A sudden stab of jealousy pierced his chest, hot and sharp inside him, but he dared not act on the urge to whisk her up in his arms and carry her away back to the manor, behind closed doors where she would be safe from these scoundrels. He waited--and as he anticipated, she looked at him, her nervous smile passing across her partners shoulder her eyes sought and found his, as they always did. He smiled back, with an assuring smile.

The dance drew to a close. High colour burned in her cheeks, as she curtsied to her partner. He took that time to approach her as she turned to face him.

He smiled slowly like old times when they would practice their Waltz.
Her heart fluttered as he held out his hand.

"May I have this dance, peach?" he whispered.

Her eyes slowly raised from his outstretched hand to focus on his eyes. His heart warmed because in her eyes as much as she would deny it, he could see a mixture of emotions swirling in their depths.

When she clasped his fingers, he felt hers tremble. His thumb slowly caressed her inner palm then grasped them more firmly, and moved to bring her into his hold. His fingers settled on her back, just in between her shoulder blades, while her hand lifted to his shoulder.

They had waltzed together so many times it was easy for Evangeline to immediately relax into the flow of the dance, moving her feet in time with his.

"Have I told you already how beautiful you look tonight, peach," his voice a husky whisper.

His compliment caressed her and her cheeks pinkened with her smile.

He twirled her around gently in pattern to the dance feeling the brush of her hair against his fingers. He was so in tuned to everything about her tonight. He could get lost in her amber eyes. What he wouldn't give to pull her body close to his. Or, even better get lost with her in a private corner just to devour her.

She was so unaware of the desire she stirred in the hearts of many this evening. Or the fact that she possessed the qualities to bring a legion of men to their knees with her beauty. Such innocence made her attractive to men.
To him.....