Chapter 5

Theo dreamt about her that night.

He woke up with a start, his naked torso covered in sweat and his sheets in a tangle around him.

What was wrong with him?

He knew nothing about the daft woman. Hell he wasn't even sure if he liked her.

Oh he desired her. But that was something he was familiar with, it was something he could deal with.

Or not, his member signalled rather urgently.

Theo sighed.

Yes, he was a rake and a libertine. Even so, he was not so shallow as to start wanting a woman without knowing squat about her.

Who knew, she was probably married.

No.

Which husband would allow his wife to traipse around like that? He certainly wouldn't, had she been his wife.

Which she wasn't, he reminded himself sternly.

Besides, he was experienced enough to detect maidenly shock in her the moment he'd kissed her.

Oh Lord, he didn't want to relive their kiss. It had been pure torture to touch his lips to her and yet not be able to know her taste, her essence. Her fragrance had enveloped him, the smell of soap and her.

He couldn't forget the way her soft skin had felt in his rough hands.

She had the most beautiful feet, the delicate turn of her ankles called to him. And yet, she was no delicate daisy. She was strong. He liked that, he realised.

He got up and donned his shirt. He needed to go for a ride.

To clear his mind if not to release the urgent desire that raced in him.

A few days later.

Rosalyn, Sarah, Alice and Vanessa were shopping. They were currently at Madame Navarre's boutique. The French woman was known and celebrated for her risqué tastes. She was a young woman with a backbone made of steel, not at all cowed by lofty titles. She was a little harsh and headstrong, but she liked these girls and treated them almost as her friends.

Rosalyn had needed this shopping excursion. She needed to forget about a certain scoundrel that occupied her thoughts all the time. And what better way to forget ones woes than shopping?

"I think this colour looks well on me," Alice said, twirling this way and that in front a full length mirror.

"You bosom is practically falling out," Sarah pointed out rather unnecessarily, in Rosalyn's opinion.

"Stop being such a prude, Sarah," Alice grumbled taking off the dress.

"And that gown is plain, Alice. There's not a piece of bead or embroidery on it," Vanessa said, picking out a fabric for herself.

"Vanessa dear, haven't you heard? Less is more," Madame Navarre said, walking into the private parlour.

"Exactly my point! Whatever that means," Alice said with a wave of her hand.

Rosalyn was watching all this with amusement. Her thoughts straying to Alice. She was damned funny and a force to be reckoned with. Rosalyn had never come across a woman like her. She was lovely, charming and kind-hearted. What she loved most about Alice was that she wasn't afraid to laugh at herself. And she laughed quite a lot. But Rosalyn knew a thing or two about people who laughed all the time.

Thanks to her coppery hair, startling green eyes, rare features and boisterous personality, she had been a great success during her first season. But something in her had changed after her that. She was friendly enough with the men, but never let them become close to her.

"And at least my tastes are better than Rosa's," Alice smirked, pulling Rosalyn out of her reverie.

"Hey!" Rosalyn objected, not really offended.

"I have to admit, your dresses wouldn't be half as tasteful if you went shopping without us," Sarah laughed, unable to resist ribbing her.

They were right anyway, Rosalyn couldn't tell chiffon from satin.

All the laughter suddenly stopped when Vanessa came out of the dressing room wearing a dress the colour of midnight blue. The girls gasped at how lovely it looked. She generally wore pale pastels, as was demanded of young ladies.

"You look amazing," Rosalyn said, gawking.

"You should definitely own this dress," Sarah said and Alice nodded in agreement.

"I want to...but my mother would never permit me to wear this," Vanessa moaned.

The dress was decent enough on the front but was extremely low cut at the back.

"If you do not buy it, I shall give it to you as a gift. This gown was made for you, Vanessa," Madame Navarre said, her French accent prominent.

And so they left the shop with Vanessa's new dress. This always happened. Every time they went shopping, she'd be the only one who'd end up buying something.

"I'm hungry," Alice complained.

"Me too, let's go to that dining room. I think it's on the next street," Rosalyn said.

The Clarence

Dover street, Mayfair.

They were sitting inside, taking coffee when Alice and Sarah suddenly gasped.

"Oh Lord! Two unbelievably handsome men just walked in," Sarah gushed, while Alice was fluttering her lashes, trying to appear nonchalant and failing miserably.

Rosalyn and Vanessa excitedly turned to look at them.

Rosa inhaled when she saw one of the men. She turned around and slouched down trying to hide herself.

"The blond one is the man that chased me in the woods," she furiously whispered.

"My my, you never told us he was so handsome," Vanessa grinned.

Alice and Sarah were smirking at her too.

Rosalyn groaned.

This is exactly why she hadn't told her friends about the incident at the horse race. She knew they'd tease her mercilessly.

And also because something about that day felt very personal.

But she pushed that thought out of her mind.

This couldn't be happening to her.

Well, maybe he wouldn't notice her, she thought trying to be optimistic.

Just as she formed that thought in her head, his companion and him sat down on the table next to theirs.

So much for optimism.

They looked at them and tipped their hats in greeting.

Rosalyn almost sighed her relief that he hadn't recognised her but he looked back at her sharply again.

All the relief she'd felt fizzed out of her.

She thought he was going to create a scene or confront her. But he just looked at his friend again and began to speak about some matters concerning his lands.

Rosalyn was almost disgruntled. He acted as if he'd never seen her before, as if he hadn't kissed her.

Well she had wanted this, hadn't she?

"Since the blond one is taken, I'll have to settle for the red head," Vanessa joked.

"Settle? He's just as handsome, if not more," Alice sighed wistfully while Rosalyn fumed.

Theo thought he was dreaming when he saw his blue eyed angel there.

He had thought she was attractive in masculine attire. But in a dress, she took his breath away.

It didn't showcase her figure as well as breeches, but it made her look more soft and feminine.

She had seemed more approachable in breeches, this dress reminded him of their stations. It reminded him that he couldn't just drag her to isolated places and kiss her. It wasn't proper.

Oh how he hated that word. Especially when he wanted to behave so, so improperly with this woman.

He'd forgotten he was here with Gavin. But he discovered that Gavin had forgotten his presence too and was busy staring at her, well whatever she was to him, dark haired friend. All the other three ladies were dazzling he noticed, but they didn't catch his fancy for some reason.

Soon the ladies got up and left, much to both the men's dismay.