Duke of Daring (Lords of Scandal 1)

He smiled against her cheek. “Let’s first focus on my plan with the countess. She’s managed to accumulate quite the list of ex-lovers.”

“Has she?” Minnie nibbled at her lip. “After tonight, I suppose I see why.”

Tag let out a little growl of dissatisfaction. “Minnie, I am the only man who will ever touch you like this.”

That made her smile. “We’ve yet to work out those details.”

“We’re going to.” He kissed her then. “Once I’ve eliminated the threat to your reputation.”

She caught her breath. “I like it when you talk like that.”

He still cupped her mound and moved his fingers again as sensation sizzled through her.

“Do you?” he said between kisses on her neck. Then he stopped. “Just be careful. The countess is likely to be upset. Avoid her if you can and let me know what social events you plan to attend. I want to make sure you’re safe.”

Her body hummed at his touch. “I will.” Then she bit her lip. “I’m going to a garden party tomorrow. I’ve invited Lord Charleston.”

He stopped, his hand stilling. “What?”

It was her turn to place a soft kiss on his neck as she wiggled under his fingers. “I need to tell him that I can’t accept his offer.”

“Oh,” he began touching her again. “In that case, carry on. And I’ll meet you there.”

“Tag,” she warned. Part of her wanted him there. He was softer today, more giving and she wanted to know more about this man. But she owed Lord Charleston a private explanation.

“I’ll be fashionably late, love.” He slid her off his lap and onto the bench as he shifted to crouch down on the floor of the carriage. “Now lay back. I want to know how you taste.”

“Oh,” she hummed. This was going to be fun indeed.

But the next day, she wasn’t as certain.

Minnie thread her arm through Diana’s as they circled their picnic spot at Hyde Park. She’d set up a more private meeting with Lord Charleston and Diana was coming as her chaperone. She couldn’t damage her reputation now.

“I’ve never seen a more morose woman who had two marriage proposals.” Diana teased.

Minnie had waved her hand. “You make it sound far better than it is. One isn’t a real proposal. Charleston means well but…” She sighed. Best not to finish that out loud. He could be just around the corner. “And Darlington has never actually said that he cares for me. I don’t want a marriage that is so…one-sided.”

“Your mother would disagree. She’s completely atwitter that a viscount and a duke have offered for your hand, on the same day.”

“Technically speaking, His Grace offered two days ago.” Heat filled her cheeks thinking about their time in the carriage last night. “And neither of his proposals were very good.”

Diana grinned. “Only you can refuse a duke because he didn’t propose the right way. Every other woman would be falling over herself to say yes.”

Minnie frowned. “Perhaps that is true. But only because she hadn’t thought through all the repercussions of marrying a man who didn’t really care about her.”

She desperately wished to say yes to Tag. Her heart thrummed in her chest as she thought about his broad shoulders and strong jaw. But she didn’t want half of him. She refused to become his wife out of charity. He either wanted all of her or none.

She tossed a lock of hair that had fallen forward back over her shoulder. “You’ve got me here, Diana. What would you do if you were me?”

Diana winked at her, steering her down a nearby path. “I am you, in many respects. You and I do not make the safe choices, Minnie. We reach for more.”

Well that certainly wasn’t Charleston. Not that she hadn’t decided that on her own already. “You can’t think the duke is more?”

“Doesn’t matter what I think. I’ve seen the way you look at Lord Darlington. Never have you looked at another man that way.” Diana gave her arm a squeeze.

She let out a sigh. “That’s not the question. I know how I feel. What I don’t understand is how strongly he does.” She twisted her fingers. “I know that Tag would marry me. That he feels an attraction and has the desire to care for me but beyond that…”

“Have you asked him?”