Duke of Daring (Lords of Scandal 1)

“Our bargain. It has just started,” he said, but his gaze was on her lips.

Her heart hammered in her chest as her hands shook. Minnie took a step back. “I suppose it has.”

He trailed his fingers from her chin down the column of her neck before Tag finally dropped his hand. “And you’ll tell no one.”

His fingers on her neck made her skin shiver in excitement and when he pulled them back, she had the urge to hunch over in loss. She forced her shoulders to stay straight. “I’ll tell no one.”

He nodded and then held out his elbow once again. As Minnie slid her hand into the crook, she noted how her body relaxed as she touched him. Why was that? She understood why the kiss had made her heart beat faster. She was attracted to him. Though honestly, what girl wouldn’t be?

But why did she find comfort in touching Tag? She didn’t understand. Her affection with Lord Charleston had been built by a mutual understanding of complementary personalities.

She and Tag finished their circle about the hydrangeas in silence and looped their way back into the crowd, no one seeming the wiser. She scanned the group again and caught a woman with pale blonde hair looking at the two of them. Minnie sucked in her breath. But the woman turned away without incident and Minnie let out her breath. “If you’ll just return me to my cousins, you’re free to leave whenever you’d like. In fact, the shorter your stay, the easier managing my mother will be.”

He stepped around one of her great aunts and continued through the crowd. “You are in a rush to get rid of me, aren’t you?” She thought she heard a pang of disappointment in his voice but that couldn’t be true, could it?

The truth was, she wasn’t at all. “I have to confess, you’re not as bad as I first imagined—”

“High praise indeed.” He grinned over at her.

A smile played at her own lips. My, but he was handsome with his face so relaxed. “But it’s not you I’m concerned about.”

“Your Grace, you came,” her mother called from behind them.

Minnie let out a loud groan. “Do you see what we have to deal with now? She’s seen us. I’ll never be able to convince her that you’re not a suitor for my hand.”

He stopped, shifting around to face Minnie’s mother. “Mrs. Chase.” He straightened his elbow so that Minnie slid her fingers from his arm. He held in a grimace of dissatisfaction. When had he started to enjoy her touch so much? “I wish I could stay and chat but I’ve another engagement to attend.”

Minnie’s mother stopped short, her face falling. “Oh, that’s too bad.” Her gaze darted to her daughter, her brow furrowing and her mouth pinching. “Was it something my daughter said? She can be so—”

“Mother,” Minnie pleaded. “Please don’t.”

Darlington pressed his lips together, trying not to smile, but Minnie still saw the corners of his mouth pull up.

“It was nothing that Miss Chase said,” he replied. “I came today to support my friend, Lord Effington, the same reason I went to the dinner the other night.” He stepped away. “But thank you for your hospitality. Most appreciated.”

Her mother’s shoulders drooped. “Oh. Of course, Your Grace.”

Darlington might find this entertaining, but Minnie was humiliated. She closed her eyes, her head hanging low. Her mother was sure to be plotting a long lecture of feminine decorum. Which would only be more vehement if she didn’t straighten her spine. Opening her eyes, she looked at Tag. “Thank you, Your Grace, for the lovely walk. Best of luck in the future.”

His smile disappeared. “And you as well.”

She took another step toward her mother, clamping her lips together so the bottom one didn’t wobble. After that kiss, when he walked away, she might take herself to a corner and cry. “Goodbye,” she said softly, her eyes on the pebble path they stood upon. They itched at the corners. What a ninny she was. She didn’t actually want to cry, did she?

“Miss Chase,” he said, his voice so deep that her very core shook.

Her breath caught. “Yes?” She lifted her gaze to his, somehow not able to let the air out of her chest.

“I…”

“Auntie,” Cordelia cried, her feet shuffling along the gravel, the noise in stark contrast to the light pattern of people’s normal shuffling. Minnie tore her gaze away from Tag to watch her cousin as she nearly sprinted toward them her chest heaving. “Oh, Auntie, come quick. My mother needs you.?

??

“What the devil, child?” Minnie’s mother chastised, her hands coming to her hips. “We’re talking with His Grace.”

Cordelia skidded to stop, nearly knocking into Minnie. “Oh Auntie,” her voice dropped to a rough whisper. “I wouldn’t interrupt but this is an emergency. Please come.”

“Emergency?” Tag rumbled. “Is everything all right?”