His Wicked Embrace novel Chapter 16

Bloody balls.

Lawrence despised wearing the obligatory knee breeches required for balls and dancing. He much preferred the cut of a good pair of trousers. He was no foppish dandy, but he did like to look like a gentleman, even if his behavior suggested he wasn't.

"She knows I don't want to be here," Lawrence muttered to his brother, Lucien, who was leaning against the back wall next to him. Side by side they could have been mistaken for twins if one didn't know they were four years apart in age.

Lucien chuckled. "None of us want to be here. But you know how Mother is. The woman knows precisely what to say to get us to do as she wishes."

"What did she say to make you come?" Lawrence asked. Even at three and thirty, Lucien still bowed to their mother's dictates, just as they all did.

"She reminded me that Horatia won't have the chance to dance during the late summer or fall because of her pregnancy. I have no intention of cloistering my wife away, but Mother's right that she won't be able to dance. Ergo, I am accepting any and all social engagements Horatia wishes to attend while she is able."

He nodded toward a distant figure, a lovely brunette who was dancing with their youngest brother, Linus. She was beaming, her face alight with the sheer pleasure of the dance. Lawrence's heart gave a little jerk. He wished he could've brought Zehra here tonight, but Avery was right. She had no connections, no way to be included in society properly. She would be viewed as his mistress, or worse, and could not be introduced to gentle-bred ladies. All she wished for was to attend a ball, and he couldn't even give her that.

Or could he? A plan caught him by surprise. One that made him almost giddy with its possibilities.

As the dance ended, Horatia and Linus came over to them.

"Horatia, I wonder if I might speak to you for a moment?" Lawrence asked.

His sister-in-law's eyes widened in surprise. The last time Lawrence had been alone with Horatia, he'd tried to kiss her to make Lucien jealous, and his good-faith attempt to bring the lovebirds together had not been welcome. Still, all had been explained and forgiven. He hoped.

"I suppose so." Her cheeks were still flushed with color from the dance, and she nodded at Lucien, who narrowed his gaze but reluctantly let her go.

Lawrence took Horatia over to an alcove in the Raleighs' ballroom, where they would not be overheard by anyone standing close by.

"This item is very lonely and honestly quite lovely, not just in face and form, but in the mind. And..." He paused, dropping all pretenses and steeling himself for rejection. "Could you help me to please her? She's not going to be in England long, and she'd love to attend a ball before she leaves. I want to make her happy. After everything she's been through, she deserves that much."

"And you want me to help? How exactly?"

She had not rejected his idea outright. That was promising.

"Perhaps you, Lucien, and a few others could come to dinner sometime this week and we could have a bit of dancing? I have a decent-sized drawing room. We could push back chairs, and someone can play the pianoforte." He sounded hopelessly foolish, but still she didn't reject his idea. "I know it sounds terrible, but I swear to you, she isn't what you expect, and she is certainly not a..." He swallowed down the word prostitute. "She was taken from her home against her will. That's why Avery was involved. I..." He raked a hand through his hair. "Please, I am begging you." He reached out to grasp her hands, ready to get down on his knees in the middle of the Raleighs' ball, scandal be damned.

She smiled. "Lawrence, please. You mustn't worry. I shall be glad to help. I am merely trying to decide how best to go about it. I ought to speak with Emily and-"

"No. Not Emily. I could not have her involved," he cut in. If it ever got out that the Duchess of Essex had come to a private ball with a bought woman... He didn't want to taint the pretty young lady by association with Zehra's situation. Not to mention her husband, the Duke of Essex, would beat him to a bloody pulp if Emily's reputation was harmed.