The Charmer

The

, by the time the equally infuriating dance was over. His blue eyes had never left T

uld not p

hispered to Tori, but Willi

him. "I am afraid I cannot wait for an introduction from you, so let me do it myself." He turned his lean form to f

ignorance. Of course, the bloody bastard knew her name. Levi

kefield. "Tori, meet William Wake

eturned them to Tori. "That is the common m

ng for you," Levi said through

n? She is talkin

s a sign that her presence was no longer wanted.

r many years and the first thing you do is de

d. He was handsome, his blonde hair perfect for his rough features. His blue eyes appeared gentle under thick eye

band. He saw women as a passing fancy from one month to another. Should they ever give anything to him, they must n

rom her, Wakefie

re you by chance planning to offer

o, but she is looking fo

iling in consideration. "I wonder why? She h

much about her

own for years, Levi. She is among the list of women I vowed never to tou

cause you our friendship, Wakef

was, eyes filled with longing and disappointment. He

rev

ave you been hiding all these years? If not for your brot

in Sta

I get t

ev

hy

to have a weekend party and invit

then," he said, shaking his head, "I have not been as rak

ield go around town with different women. Often, he and some of their other friends

ar mother and she would vo

his old friend for a drink. He might then remin

*

ble, much more so when he was thinking of names of every blood

foxed he fell asleep on the carpet. Nicholas and Maxwell rolled their youngest brother out of the parlor before they hauled him up the stairs. None came back, leaving Levi

ret they looked great in their gowns

list. He needed

n left unappreciated? Not to add that she was eight and twenty and very much a virgin. No man olde

ught, closing his eyes. He'd m

*

aw the five Everard brothers drinking tea in the par

ht," Benedict's wife Agatha said with a disapproving tone. She was sitting besid

ict said, straight

agged you out of there before you d

ph to assess Levi's state. Apart from the

ee all of you before supper," Margaret order

, his voice sound

omething I need." Her ton

is hands as he leaned back into his

nd

n to the point of

he parlor, you might have

t down?" R

ling Levi off his chair. "An

t?" Maxwe

y walking closer to Tori. "Upstairs," he told To

ward them with their black cat, Mrs. Be

Levi, pulling a

re you going

usiness," Levi sna

eir obviously vexed and slightly foxed brother. The twins shrugged and went on their way. "You are angry," she s

room. The last she remembered was when she and M

raight to a small table by the

ht to be kept private, she reasoned. Walking closer to where

Tori. My head is quite rea

ver the paper as he wrote, and her heart started to hammer. The anticipation for the list was apparently a serious

ill have to introduce me t

e merely

you a

et, Tori,"

r mouth shut

*

They shared a look before Emma ran down the stairs while Ysabella

gle," she said

breath with a triumphant smile on her face. She

Ysabell

You do it,"

s. Beagle!" Ysab

right key, searching through the faded labels. She found the right one and inserted it

s, they wer

ter and buried her face in

ped against Benedict. Oh, for the love of

oor, to the set of keys in Emma's hand and back at them. "You better not be seen with

aise Agatha for taming the beast!" Ysabella breathed out in

d. "And then perhaps we can join the

*

ng. He replaced his dipping p

ace Tori, she was s

s

as though she

he immediately forgot about

a sister. A frie

hair seemed to have disappeared by the light passing through his

t his hand. She took the

Tori walking toward him, with the bed

ly touched his hand

her face as she

d when she was

for that list, Tori, and all I get is

ze all save for t

he asked. "Not

w staring at him dr

to his bed. Now that it was within

lude Maxwell and Nicholas!" T

into the bed. Ah, his head ached. And other parts of him wer

ting to stir with the thought of a woman in his cham

riends and you may be considered family here, but you are still a wom

s in the list!" she cried out, ignori

not include myself

l Everard, Nicholas Everard..." she read as he buried his face in the pillow. "Have you gone in

st two are merely collaterals." Hi

terals

"Was it not you who insisted on that bloody list? Now that you have it, y

when do I meet them? How should we start?" she aske

f-hearted smile. "T