Duke of Daring (Lords of Scandal 1)

“Fine,” Minnie answered for once with a single word, unable to explain what had just happened. Her mind was rather blank, still focused on the feel of his hand.

“Miss Chase tripped coming out of the carriage, Lady Emily, but I’ve seen to her safety.” Darlington called, his sly grin returning.

“I didn’t fall, you cad. You pulled me.” But she spoke softly so only he could hear.

He coughed, clearly covering a laugh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She tsked, knowing more words wouldn’t get him to admit what he’d done. Instead they walked in silence, which might have been a mistake. Without sharp barbs between them, she became aware of how large he was, tall and muscular with broad shoulders and narrow hips that brushed hers as they moved.

She flexed her fingers on the hard ridge of his biceps, wondering what sort of activity he did to foster such strength. She supposed all his time wasn’t spent in leisurely pursuits. Were all his muscles so developed? What would he look like without his jacket and shirt?

She nibbled at her lip again, thinking of him without his clothes. Without intending to, she moved her fingers up the muscle of his arm, exploring the hard flesh.

He looked over at her, one of his eyebrows quirking. “Careful, Miss Chase. The way you’re touching me, someone might mistakenly think you like me.”

Her cheeks flared with heat. He’d completely caught her. “I don’t have to like you to appreciate that you are a finely built man.”

He chuckled even deeper, the sound running over her skin causing goose pimples to raise on the bare flesh of her arms. “I suppose you don’t. In fact, sometimes that can make things quite interesting.”

She slipped as her foot caught a loose stone on the path to the front door and she nearly tripped again. He steadied her once more, flattening his hand on her stomach to keep her from falling forward. “Miss Chase,” he said close to her ear once again. “Are you quite all right? You seem out of sorts.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask what things he referred to but she held her words. Instead she raised her chin higher. “I am disconcerted by being in the company of such a rogue.”

He removed his hand from her stomach, sliding his fingers across the bones of her corset. “Fair enough.”

She pressed her lips together to keep from gasping. He was doing this on purpose to rile her. It was working.

They climbed the steps and the door swung open, the sound of voices filtering out to them. Candles lit the interior of the foyer, giving it a warm glow. Darlington led her inside, stepping onto the marble floor. People milled on the balcony of the second floor near the entrance of the dining room.

“Minnie,” her mother’s familiar voice called from above.

She froze. Of course her mother was here. How had she not realized that her mother would be at her sister-in-law’s dinner party? Drat.

“Minnie, dear, is that you?”

Nearly everyone stopped speaking as they turned to look at her. Her cheeks flamed hotter. “Yes, Mother,” she replied weakly. No one should have heard her soft voice but the echo of the marble seemed to make it travel. Her mother, Mrs. Evelyn Chase, started down the stairs, beaming with a smile. No one had been more disappointed that Lord Charleston hadn’t offered than her mother. Except for herself, of course. “Dear, are you being escorted by the Duke of Darlington?”

No. No. No. Her mother could not get any ideas about matching Minnie with the duke. She knew her mother desperately wanted her to find a husband but Darlington was the last man she’d marry. Charleston had taught her what a good match looked like and Darlington was not that man. She looked at Darlington, her face surely displaying her horror.

“Why yes, she is.” Darlington gave a stiff bow, but Minnie caught the sparkle in his eye. He was going to encourage her mother just to torture Minnie. Irritation prickled all along her skin. “I’m a good friend of Lord Effington’s.”

“Of course. So lovely of you to join us.” Her mother floated over to them, all of the assembled guests watching the show they were now putting on. “You didn’t bring your sister tonight? And where is your companion?”

Dear lord in heaven, Minnie shrank into Darlington’s side. Please Lord, make her mother behave. And by that, Minnie could only pray that she didn’t completely embarrass her by suggesting the duke offer for Minnie’s hand. “Ada was out with Emily last night. She’s tired. And I didn’t need a companion. Emily and Jack are my escorts for the evening, not His Grace.”

“Pish,” her mother said as she waved her hand. “Your Grace, we’re honored to have you as a guest.” She dipped into a deep curtesy.

“I’m honored to be here.”

Minnie closed her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. She knew why her mother looked so joyful. She was dreaming of her daughter being matched with a duke. How did she tell her mother that hell would freeze over first?

Tag had all he could do not to laugh out loud though a small snort of amusement escaped. Minnie looked like a worm squirming on a hook. He realized what was happening. Her mother was having visions of matching her daughter to him. She wasn’t the first mother who’d tried and she certainly wouldn’t be the last.

In this case, however, he had reason to play along. If Mrs. Chase thought there was an opportunity for a match, he’d get more invitations. Just a week or two should do it. Then, he could catch Minnie alone and have a nice chat with her about discretion. He already knew she wasn’t the sort of woman to idly gossip or allow their secret to slip out of sheer silliness. Now, he was concerned she might let it fly out of annoyance, but he’d begun to formulate an argument to convince her that was a terrible idea.

She clearly didn’t think much of him as a lord but still. Daring had made a promise to watch over her. If during that time, he made a compelling case to keep his secret, all the better. If being an upstanding lord was important to her than perhaps he could argue that it was the people who depended on him that would suffer if Minnie should share.

He smiled, rather pleased with what he’d already managed to discover.