Excerpt of Nothing Denied by Jess Michaels

Oh great God,” her friend breathed.

Beatrice stared at Amelia, unaccustomed to any kind of real emotion from her empty little shell of a friend. Now Amelia’s eyes were wide, her mouth made an “o” and she was actually trembling as she stared passed Beatrice into the ballroom.

“What is it?” she asked.

Her friend shook her head. “Did you not see who just entered the ballroom?”

Beatrice turned and almost took a step back herself. The man who had just entered was not one she was personally familiar with, of course, but she knew him by reputation.

“Is that the Marquis of Highcroft?” she breathed.

Amelia nodded. “Gareth Berenger.”

“Gareth,” Beatrice repeated, staring at the man.

He remained across the room, so she could not discern individual features in any kind of depth, but she got a good sense of him nonetheless. He was tall, broad shouldered and very handsome. His dark hair was too long in front and curled around his forehead like he couldn’t be bothered to give a damn about it. He had a strong, well- defined jaw that even from this distance appeared clenched and tense.

“Well, he is certainly as beautiful a man as gossip has labeled him,” Beatrice said softly.

Her friend gasped beside her and let go of her arm suddenly. “Why should anyone care about that?”

“Everyone always cares about that,” Beatrice said with a snort of laughter. “Please, you could do almost anything and get away with it if you are attractive. Especially men.”

“That may be true most of the time,” Amelia huffed. “But not in this case. My Mama says a man like that will never be accepted back into good Society. Not after what he did. It doesn’t matter how much money or beauty he brings out for everyone to see.”

Beatrice narrowed her eyes as she looked once more at the specimen of a man who was moving across the floor. She couldn’t help it, she moved toward the entrance to the room to see him better. Now she could tell that his eyes were as dark as the aura that surrounded him.

People stepped back as he moved through them, cutting a swath through the room like he was a pariah. Of course, he was, wasn’t he?

“Do you really think he would never find acceptance in Society?” she murmured. “Even with all the benefits he could bring to the lady he courted?”

“Never,” Amelia hissed. “After all, everyone knows he murdered his wife.”