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.How you would laugh, Holt, he thought to himself grimly.I've finally met the woman who could be the perfect match, and she has an angel'sface, and she's more seductive than sin& and she already belongs to another man."I've got to leave," he said, and Mira nodded slowly.He's a man of little moderation, she thought, watching him ride away as if the devilwere in pursuit.The drawing room was packed with guests, the air scented with coffee, tea, and perfume.It was eleven o'clock at night, the men and women all reunited after a dayof hunting and social calls, having just shared a splendorous supper together.Privately Alec considered the room the least preferable of all to spend the post-mealhours in, for it was decorated in shades of red so brilliant as to affront the eyes.Thedark, ornate scheme of crimson and gold swirled in endless patterns over the ceilingand carpet, rococo curves that connected intricately in confusing proliferation.Itwas a large room, the windows and the red draperies at least fourteen feet high.Cavorting angels pranced through the rampant designs of the elaborately painted andcarved ceiling.The drawing room was a vision of overabundance unrelieved by anytasteful simplicity.As they all sat down to relax and enjoy an evening's entertainment, Alec winced ashe realized that Clara ellesmere had managed to procure the seat next to his.She wascompletely amoral, indifferent to the needs and desires of anyone but herself& ahungry woman who enjoyed physical pleasure in all its various forms.Perhaps if shecared for anyone's opinion, it was that of her husband, who appeared to be indiffer-ent to Clara and her reprehensible habits.Sometimes she would interrupt herflirtations to glance at Lord Ellesmere's resigned countenance in a taunting manner,but he never displayed any reaction to her activities.It was generally hoped thatsomeday Ellesmere would take his wife in hand and either take a whip to her orconfine her on a leash.Her public displays ranged from amusing to exasperating.Itwas entirely likely that she had slept with more than half the men present in the room no small feat, considering the large number of the gathering.Alec only regrettedthat he had been one of them.It had been a mistake to sleep with Clara that one night two years ago.She hadbeen entertaining in bed, but Alec had found that all of her sophisticated sexual trickswere curiously one-dimensional, exciting the body but not the mind.He hadexperienced no further desire for her after that night, though she still professed towanting him.She was a beautiful woman without a conscience& a lonely, lustywoman who used men and was used by them.She had nothing to offer except herwell-groomed body a poor substitute for a real woman with honest emotions."Have you enjoyed your hunting so far?" she asked silkily."Have you?" Alec countered.She laughed lightly."I have heard that you've had considerable success, LordFalkner.""Perhaps success but little satisfaction," he replied, his gray eyes fixed on thepiano as the Countess of Shrewsbury began to play."How ironic," Clara said, her red mouth curving enticingly."I feel the same way."Her voice lowered conspiratorially."But I never forget a good souce of satsifaction,Alec& and you're very satisfying." She leaned closer and began to whisper, eachsyllable cloying and sweet."Do you recall that night we shared? It could happenagain& perhaps even tonight.I remember everything, everything you did to me, andeach time I look at you the memory becomes " "I'm sure you have many such memories," he drawled."Are you certain thatyou're not confusing me with someone else?""Not you& I would never forget you, Alec," she said, rising in a sinuousmovement to leave the room."Excuse me, mon cher& I'll return soon."Lord Sackville, who was seated on Alec's left, tapped him on the shoulder asClara disappeared."Is Lady Ellesmere retiring for the night?" Sackville asked."Unfortunately not& and when she does, it won't be with me.""Poor fellow& when I advised you to find a woman, I didn't mean her kind.""I know exactly which kind I want," Alec assured him dryly."I propose," Squire Osbaldeston said amid the halfhearted applause for LadyShrewsbury's performance, his face flushed with too much wine, "that my wife,Lady Osbaldeston, follow her recital with a song!"Alec groaned inwardly, settling lower into his seat.Mira heard the inept crooning of yet another would-be songstress as she camefrom the kitchen.Grinning, she slowed her pace and went to the closeddrawing-room doors to hear better.This assemblage might contain some of thewealthiest, most elegant aristocrats in England, but talented they were not.The voicethat emanated from inside the room was reedy and wavering, as someone sang arecent poem of Byron's that had been put to music."Poor lamb& what are you doing out here?" Mira spun around to see Lada ClaraEllesmere directly behind her.Mira's smile disappeared instantly.Lady Ellesmereleaned closer to the door, tilting her sleek blond head to hear the dreadful strains ofthe singer's final verse."Ah, not a very inspiring performance, is it?" Lady Ellesmereasked."But not many people are as talented as you, my pet.""My lady," Mira began,- "if you'll excuse me ""But why are you listening all alone?" Lady Ellesmere inquired kindly."Youshould be in there with the rest of us, lending your support to the efforts of theentertainers.""No, I must " Mira stopped speaking with a gasp as she found her wrist held ina tight, clawlike grip."Ouch what are you doing?"The applause for the song came in a muffled clatter through the doors."Come, I will escort you in," Lady Ellesmere said, her eyes glowing with malice."No!" Mira answered in rapidly growing panic, tugging at her wrist.The otherwoman was surprisingly strong; her long-nailed grip was unyielding."Let me go!"Clara flung open the doors, pushing them hard enough so that they swung againstthe walls and alerted everyone's attention.Mira began to shake as a sea of headsturned toward them
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