Rose In The Mist
Ana Seymour

Excerpt

Rose in the Mist by Ana Seymour Excerpt

Niall Riordan has become captivated by Queen Elizabeth’s elusive lady-in-waiting, Catriona Sherwood. Though his friend John Black suspects the lovely Lady Cat’s motives, Niall is delighted when the two Irishmen receive an invitation to a ball at the home of her guardian, Lord Wolverton.

Niall Riordan turned to his companion. "Gambling is a sport that brings out the competitive side of a man. Much like politics. 'Tis why I've decided that I like neither activity."

"Yet you participate in both," Catriona observed.

"Nay, I'm not a gambler. And as for politics, I intend for these negotiations to be my first and last venture into the realm."

She looked surprised. "You have the look of a man who relishes a fight."

He laughed. "Because my hose are not pink? The only fights I relish are wrestling matches with my brothers. There's something clean and true about a contest of strength between men. You match your mettle honestly and above board. Best man wins. In politics, as in cards, nothing is as it seems. The game goes to the one who can be the most devious." He made a grimace of disgust.

Catriona shifted her glance to the dance floor. "Sometimes the game may be worth the price," she said softly.

As usual, her words were not what he had expected. It was one of the intriguing things about Catriona Sherwood. Just when he thought he was beginning to read her, she would take a different turn. When she'd been so cold to him in the garden the other day, he'd been sure that she was not interested in his company. Then they'd received the invitation for this night's gathering.

Which was it to be tonight? he wondered. The icy beauty who could freeze with a look...or the flesh-and- blood woman whose smile had turned his blood to liquid heat.

As if reading his question, she turned her face back to look at him. Her eyelashes swept upward and her voice was inviting as she said, "I should go now and greet our other guests, but perhaps later in the evening, you would care to have me show you my guardian's orangery."

There was an unmistakable implication to her invitation. Niall's body responded instantly to the thought of spending some time with her alone, even as his mind sounded a bell of warning. Was it simply her nature to be cold one moment and hot the next? Or was John right that there may be something more sinister behind Mistress Sherwood's interest? Either way, at that moment he could no more turn down her invitation than chop off his right arm.

"I would love to see...er....your orangery," he answered with a smile.

Once again the long lashes swept. "At midnight?" she asked.

Niall's answer came out hoarse. "Aye," he said. "At midnight."