Excerpt: Dancing in the Dark

-- While at a ball, Connor retires to Albert Lowe's study to await his host. They have planned to meet there briefly to discuss a business matter. To Connor's surprise, someone else shows up instead. --

When the door of Albert Lowe's study opened, Connor started to get up, but an inner awareness held him back. It was not Albert Lowe who entered. Connor remained silent, waiting and listening as tiny footsteps scurried across the hardwood floor. Even through the shadows he recognized the intruder at once. Although he didn't know her name, he knew it was the same silly-minded little twit he'd encountered earlier in the garden.

Why was she prowling around in Albert Lowe's study? More specifically, why was she now rummaging about in the drawers of the man's desk? Connor heard her mumble a few unintelligible words, and he could restrain himself no longer. Partly from curiosity, partly from concern for the poor girl, and partly for reasons he wasn't sure he wanted to admit, he slipped from his darkened corner and pounced, quickly clamping a hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming.

"Be quiet. I'm not going to hurt you."

To her credit, she didn't cry out.

But she bit.

Hard.

"Ouch!" Connor reacted instinctively, loosing his hold on the girl and bringing his hand to his mouth. She wriggled free, but he wasn't letting her get away quite so easily. He lunged for her, caught hold of her gown and down they tumbled into a heap on the floor.

Which is precisely where Albert Lowe found them when he opened the door a moment later.

"Well, it looks as though the two of you are certainly enjoying the night." Their host stood over them, chuckling.

"Mr. Lowe, I assure you, this is not what it appears!" Millicent managed to get to her feet and brush off her gown. "Please, don't think --"

A strong arm went around her waist, pulling her close. "Sweetheart, he knows what we were doing, and there's no way we can deny it." He appeared contrite. "I trust Mr. Lowe will be enough of a gentleman to keep this to himself, of course."

"Oh, of course, of course." Lowe seemed more amused than shocked by the scene. "Now, are you of a mind to conduct business, Mr. Templeton? Or should I perhaps leave the two of you alone for a bit?"

"Give us a few minutes."

Millicent elbowed the tall man at her side. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded as soon as the door closed behind Albert Lowe.

"Saving your hide, and I would think you'd be grateful for it."

"Grateful? For destroying my reputation? For letting Mr. Lowe think we ... we... --" She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Would you rather he think you were snooping in his office, maybe burglarizing the place? Just what were you doing in here?"

Millicent choked, realizing this obnoxious man was right. "If you hadn't interrupted me, I would have found what I was looking for and been gone before Mr. Lowe ever came in. You didn't do me any favors, really."

"Suit yourself. If you'd rather tell him the truth, go ahead."

"I can't do that, and you know it. All I'm saying is couldn't you have come up with a more decent lie?"

"Right off hand, I can't think of too many good reasons for a man and woman to be rolling around on the floor together other than ... the obvious," he finished with a wicked grin.