Tall, Duke, and Dangerous (Hazards of Dukes #2) - Megan Frampton Page 0,54

He had been sixteen then, and had carefully saved his allowance to purchase her a gift, since he’d known she wouldn’t get anything from anybody else.

Sebastian. She smiled just thinking about him and Ivy.

“Can I hope your smile is for me?” Lord Brunley said in what she could only categorize as a smug tone. Because she was not above being judgmental, especially when the gentleman of judgment had attempted to trap her in a room alone.

Thank goodness for fireplace tools, she thought to herself.

She didn’t answer, merely allowed her smile to dim a fraction. While he would weather the whole room-entrapment scandal handily, especially if they were to become engaged as a result, she could not even dare to seem as though she was not having the time of her life with him. She would be seen as snobbish, or condescending, or not knowing her place.

Any of which were just phrases designed to keep ladies from expressing their true emotions.

“I have a new pair of chestnuts,” Lord Brunley said, spinning her around. At least he was an excellent dancer, even if he was a not-so-excellent life partner. “I would very much like to show them to you. Perhaps tomorrow?”

Not “Would you like to see them?” or even “I wonder if you like horses as much as I believe you like flowers?”

No, it was all about him showing her his new possession.

Like he’d show her to everyone if she said yes.

She probably should just go toss her head in the punch bowl to cool herself off. At this rate, she’d end up making some sort of fractious scene because nobody cared to ask what she wanted.

I want to kiss you.

Which it seemed he’d wanted as well, but then he’d decided, himself, what was best for both of them.

Humph.

“My lady?” Lord Brunley now sounded . . . hesitant. Not a tone she was accustomed to from him.

She must’ve let some of her aggravation onto her face. That was one aspect of being a lady she didn’t think she would ever master—it seemed ladies who were bred for their parts since they were born were far more adept at masking what they thought.

Whereas she was likely always making a face.

Maybe she shouldn’t go gambling at Miss Ivy’s—the other players would be able to spot right away when she was bluffing.

But she never bluffed. And that was the problem, wasn’t it? She never tried to persuade anyone of something that might not actually occur because that was too close to lying, and she also did not lie.

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she had an engagement tomorrow, but then she remembered she did not lie. Drat.

“Please?” he added, sounding nearly humble. “I would like to prove to you that I can be the gentleman you deserve.”

The gentleman she deserved.

Not the gentleman she wanted.

She would not settle if she couldn’t have the latter. But she could go drive with Lord Brunley—after all, it wasn’t as though he would ever ask her to go out for a drive. And Lord Brunley seemed to want to make amends for his behavior.

Besides which, she wouldn’t mind seeing his face when or if she told him she would continue to keep Lord Brunley’s acquaintance. Even though that was entirely petty, and she should not think that way.

But she did.

“Thank you, my lord, that would be . . . fine,” she said. “Yes,” she added, as he looked entirely confused.

“Splendid,” he replied in a relieved tone.

There would be time to take herself on her own adventure, no men required, one where she could be free to explore all of her creativity.

Except in love.

In that arena, she was destined to be thwarted.

But it was better than settling.

“Your Grace.” Lady Felicity was an adequate dancer, and Nash had to admit she looked pleasing this evening. Her blond hair was atop her head in a riot of curls, and her appropriately white debutante’s gown managed to convey sensual innocence, even though he knew those two were opposites. Weren’t they?

He grunted in reply.

“Your grandmother, the dowager duchess, is a charming woman.”

He bit back the urge to stare at her in shock. His grandmother was many things—some of which he even admired—but he did not think she was charming.

“She mentioned that she is here to assist you in certain matters.” The lady’s coy tone made it clear she knew perfectly well what matters the dowager duchess referred to.

He grunted again. What was he to say, anyway? Yes? And then that