Lord Sebastian Taylor, second son to the Marquess of Pitt, watched Lady Polly Harrington make her way back through the crowd of the ballroom below, appreciating the girl’s beauty and spirit.

It was, in fact, a new and unusual feeling, and not one he particularly appreciated.

And yet, still, he could not take his eyes from her. He felt rather daft for causing her to spill on her dress, though from what he could see it seemed she was not overly concerned. He watched as she smiled and laughed while speaking with a couple of gentlemen, her mother standing nearby, smiling in approval.

Apparently, Lady Polly was now eligible.

That in itself should come as no surprise to him, given that his close friend had married her older sister around a year ago. Still, he was surprised to see her so … womanly. It was as if she had been hiding behind Violet, impatiently waiting for her to step out of the way so that she might leave her girlhood behind and mature into a young lady. Polly had always been vibrant, as he recalled, but her exuberance had calmed to a rather shining light that seemed to follow her around.

And what a light it was.

It had been a year at least since he had been introduced to her, but Sebastian had to admit that he had never forgotten her. She had always been beautiful, of course, but over this last year it now seemed as though she had become even more lovely. She was tall and willowy, moving gracefully across the floor as she began to dance with her partner. Her eyes were bright, her smile as soft as the flaxen curls that bounced around her temples.

Goodness, but she quite took his breath away.

The thought hit him like a lightning bolt. Frozen in place, Sebastian reminded himself that this would not be a lady for him. For one, she was rather young. Despite the fact she must be over twenty now, she was likely eight years his junior. Not that age seemed to hold back many in society, but she was the sister-in-law to his closest friend, Lord Greville. He was not at all certain that either Violet or Greville would be glad of his current feelings regarding Lady Polly.

“I have no feelings,” he muttered to himself, turning away from his view of the dance floor. “I was just taken a little by surprise by a beautiful woman, that is all. I’ve barely even spoken with the girl!” Telling himself that he need not stand here all night long simply to watch her and talk to himself, Sebastian chose to return downstairs, thinking he might try his hand in the card room.

However, rather than making his way there, Sebastian found his feet wandering in the direction of the ballroom, as though, no matter what he thought, his body was determined to take him that way. He did not want to go to the ballroom, he told himself, yet something in his consciousness forced him to enter it.

“Lord Taylor,” one of his acquaintances greeted, looking rather pleased with himself. “Thought you’d join the party, eh? I thought you rather a cold fish when it comes to these sorts of things.”

“Not a cold fish, no,” Sebastian replied, firmly. “I just prefer to watch rather than attempt to make conversation with a great many people I do not know all that well.”

The man looked a little taken aback, but Sebastian didn’t care. He had never particularly enjoyed the crush of the Season. He abhorred the pretentious conversation that took place at events such as this and the gossip that was continually on the lips of men and women alike.

His own smaller estate was running beautifully and, were it not for the times he was able to assist the Bow Street Runners with their investigations, he would most likely have simply been enjoying a few quiet weeks at home.

However, they had requested his help with a certain concern, and given that Lord Greville was currently enjoying his new marital situation and did not seem interested in his former work, Sebastian had been more than willing to assist.

His quiet involvement with London’s burgeoning investigative force brought excitement to what would be an otherwise slightly tedious, though still enjoyable life. It also provided him with a sense of doing something that mattered. This particular case did not require much on his part but watching and listening. It was thought that one of the nobility had been taking advantage of young women. It was not a crime, per se, but noblemen had overcome the shame brought upon their families and were trying to hold the man accountable.

They named Lord Yardley, but it was difficult to prove anything, not when young women refused to come forward publicly and say anything regarding the new earl and his actions.

Sebastian was looking forward to when, in due time, all was resolved and he could return to his estate and ensure that the land was producing decent crops and that all was in order with his tenants. Until then, however, he felt quite at his leisure. Not that he found the actual conversation and dancing and the like of any interest, although he did enjoy simply watching the members of the beau monde as they played their little games. There was something vastly entertaining about them.

He had played the game himself at one point in time, years ago, and it had ended rather badly. He would not make the same mistake again.

No, Sebastian had no intention of finding himself a wife or being in any way caught up with an eligible young lady – which meant that his sudden interest in Lady Polly had to be extinguished immediately.

Which did not explain why he now found himself standing in front of both her and her mother, bowing deeply.

“Duchess,” he exclaimed as he rose, “how very good it is to see you again.”

The recognition in her eyes was instant – something he would expect from any lady with a high title. It was her job to be aware of each and every one of her acquaintances, for to forget someone’s title would be something of a black mark against her.

“Lord Taylor,” she smiled, glancing quickly at Polly. “Polly told me that she had seen you again. How good of you to come and introduce yourself once more.”

“I thought it would be rude not to do so,” Sebastian replied, quickly. “How wonderful to hear that Lord and Lady Greville have settled in so quickly.”

The Duchess’ eyes warmed. “Indeed, it is,” she said, with a bright smile. “I have been very glad to hear of Violet’s contentment. And now, as you see, my attention is turned to Polly.”

More than aware of the blush that dusted Lady Polly’s cheeks, Sebastian could not help but smile. “How lovely. I do hope you have a very enjoyable season, Lady Polly. I am quite sure you shall capture a great many hearts.”

Polly made to answer, only for her mother to interrupt.

“Do you not intend to remain here in town then, Lord Taylor?”

Sebastian paused, not quite sure how to answer. “I am not yet certain of my plans, Your Grace.”

“Well, I do hope that you will remain,” came the polite reply. “Polly needs to have as wide a number of acquaintances as possible, and I am sure you are well aware of many young gentlemen.”

Sebastian left his smile in place, as Polly let out a whisper of embarrassment.

“But of course,” he managed to say, realizing that he was nothing more than an acquaintance who could prove useful. A woman such as the Duchess of Ware would find the second son of a marquess to be a perfect partner for her daughter’s dance card, but certainly nothing further.

The Duchess looked up at the presence of a man standing politely at her shoulder. “Do excuse us, Lord Taylor. I can see that another gentleman is come to take Lady Polly to the dance floor.” She turned away then, and Sebastian, knowing he was dismissed, gave a quick nod to Lady Polly’s whisper of apology but did not meet her eyes, which he could feel boring into him as he walked away.

* * *

Finding nothing to keep him at the ball, Sebastian shortly made to leave, only to pause as an acquaintance, Lord Penn, caught his arm and invited him into the card room. Thinking that it would be rather foolish to leave simply because of the embarrassment of being so easily dismissed by the Duchess of Ware, Sebastian decided that he might linger for another hour or so before finally returning home.

The card room, however, held no enjoyment. Sebastian poured himself a glass of brandy from the sideboard and simply stewed after badly losing one more hand of whist. Instead of concentrating on the game, he began overthinking the situation, as he so often did. That was what made him valuable to the Bow Street Runners, but it was rather tedious in personal situations such as this one, as he mused over what had occurred and why, therefore, he was reacting so badly to it.

Lady Polly had apparently been surprised to see him and had made as quick an exit from his presence as she could. Of course, that might have been simply because it was improper for her to be alone with him, but he could not help but feel that there was more to it than that. When the duchess had turned her back on him, clearly favoring another, Sebastian knew exactly why.

“Is something the matter with you?” Lord Penn asked, cutting into his thoughts. Sebastian looked up to see the man had raised his eyebrows in question.

“I say, Penn, have you ever found yourself completely overlooked, simply because you are the second son?”

“All the time,” laughed his friend. “Is that what has you so deep in thought? I figured you would be rather used to it by now.”

“I suppose so,” he said. “I know I’m not anyone’s first choice as I’ll never gain the lofty title my brother will inherit, but it does rather cut to be completely ignored.”

“Is there a particular woman you rather have in mind, then, Taylor?” asked Penn, smirking at him.

Sebastian just shook his head. Did he hope Lady Polly would see him differently? She was clearly looking for a suitable husband, and, to her mother’s way of thinking, a suitable husband he was not. Besides, he himself agreed with that sentiment, so what did it matter?

Pushing his empty glass away from him, Sebastian shook his head at his own foolish behavior as he rose from the table.

“Had enough, then?” Penn asked and Sebastian nodded, having lost enough for one night. He took a seat at a side table. Whatever was the matter with him? One look at Lady Polly and he had lost his head. He had no intention of marrying, being quite content with his life as it was, and yet here he was wondering desperately what the girl thought of him.

“Quite foolish, indeed,” he muttered aloud, passing a hand over his eyes. “Get a hold of yourself, man.”

Lifting his hand so as to summon the footman to refill his brandy, Sebastian leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, trying to regain his sense of equilibrium. He had no need to worry about Lady Polly or her mother. There was no sense in being upset over such a small thing, especially when he had no intention of pursuing the lady. He was being quite ridiculous.

“You should have seen the way her mother dragged her away from me!” came a rather loud voice from behind him, as laughter rang out. “She took one look at me and hauled her quite delectable daughter away.”

Sebastian’s eyes opened, and he gripped the arm of the chair, wondering who it was that was speaking. He could not exactly pull himself out of the chair and look, for to eavesdrop was one thing but to make it so obvious that he was doing so was entirely another.

“What do you expect, Yardley?” cried one of the fellow’s acquaintances.

Yardley! The very man Sebastian had been following. “You are well known to be a rake and a rogue—”

“Something I take very great pride in, I assure you!” Yardley exclaimed, drawing more laughter from his friends.

“And that is well known amongst the ton,” the first fellow continued. “It is no wonder the Duchess of Ware pulled her daughter away.”

“Yet, she was so very beautiful,” Yardley replied, his words a little dry. “Quite pretty indeed. And so young and rather innocent…”

Sebastian’s hands tightened on the chair as he struggled to contain himself at the malice in the man’s words.

“You do not intend to pursue her, do you?” asked one of Yardley’s friends, his astonishment obvious. “That I cannot believe!”

Yardley chuckled, his tone dark. “Marry her I will not, but pursue her — you think I cannot do it? That I cannot secure her affection when her mother has made it so very obvious that she is not to come near me?”

“She is the daughter of a duke, Yardley,” came a warning voice. “You had best not.”

“No, indeed,” Sebastian muttered to himself, anger beginning to boil in his veins. “You had best not, Lord Yardley.”

There was a short pause, as though they were all waiting to hear what Yardley had to say.

“We shall see,” Yardley murmured, quietly. “Lady Polly would be something of a challenge, would she not? And you all know how I respond to such things.”

His friends laughed and scoffed, and soon the conversation began to drift toward other things.

Sebastian remained in his chair, dampening down his anger. All thoughts of leaving London and returning to his estate left his mind in a moment. Lady Polly would need to be protected from Lord Yardley’s intentions, and he fully intended to be the one to do it.