Page 34 of Would I Lie to the Duke
Instead, he flexed his hands in an attempt to calm himself. The rodent didn’t worry him half as much as what he intended to do next. “Would you accompany me to Vauxhall tonight?”
“Ah, youasked.” A smile bloomed across her face, but the happiness it gave Noel dimmed when she added, “I am not certain that’s a wise idea.”
“What if we weren’t alone?”
“Depends on the company.”
He inclined his head. “The other Bazaar guests.” His breath held as he awaited her answer. She couldn’t know how difficult it was for him to offer himself up in this way, and he didn’twanther to know. All he desired was for her to exercise her free will in choosing him. That was what mattered. Her choice.
A long moment went by, and she was silent. Then, just as he was on the verge of begging her for an answer, she said, “I should like that.”
He said, “I suspect that, if I tried, at the moment I could literally walk across the surface of the Thames from sheer happiness.”
“Your Grace—”
“Noel,” he reminded her.
“It’smysuspicion that you are mainly pleased by my agreeing to go with you because you’re unused to women refusing you anything.”
“Like a child denied a toy.” He scowled as anger flared. “I amnota child. This is no tantrum.”
She inclined her head. “You’re right. You deserve better than I have given. My apologies. It’s only...” She glanced down. “You’re so verymuch, and I’m more than a little afraid of what I feel when I’m with you.”
His anger burned away, replaced by something he had little experience with: humility. Here again, shetransformed him. “We shall venture forth together, and take each moment as it presents itself.”
“A wise course of action.”
He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
“One thing first.” She pulled off his coat and handed it back to him. “Thank you for the loan, Noel. And for trusting me with your fear.”
“Ever the gallant.” He donned the garment, and his head fogged. Her honeyed fragrance surrounded him—trapped within the garment’s fibers—and as he led her back toward the warehouse, he vowed that Beale would never,neverclean his coat.
Chapter 10
As the gentleman giving the final presentation left the room, Noel immediately surged to his feet.
“A small treat tonight,” he said to the guests. “I’ve arranged private tables in supper boxes at Vauxhall. Nothing more revivifying than arrack and pyrotechnics.” He added, “That is, I ask you all to join me, if you will.”
Everyone murmured their appreciation and excitement over the prospect, and Jess couldn’t keep from smiling. It was forherthat he did this, and her head was full of stars. Even as she knew his secrets and vulnerabilities, he dazzled.
It was arranged that the Bazaar participants would meet at nine o’clock at Lord Trask’s home, and then caravan to minimize traffic congestion. When Noel acted, he acted decisively, with no detail omitted. She couldn’t help but be impressed by such thoroughness.
Nerves and excitement accompanied her home. She feared she would reveal herself to be a gauche country girl, gawking at the sophisticated pleasure garden. But how she longed to see it, and be there with Noel.
Tonight would be a night of making memories. None of this could last, and she would hold everything as tightly as she could.
Once at home, she and Lynch stood together in the stable yard and nursed whiskeys.
“Have you ever been to Vauxhall?” Jess asked him. “I’ve read about it. Tried to picture what the gardens might look like at night, lit up by thousands of lanterns.”
“Can’t say as I’ve gone there.” He scratched his fingers across his shining head. “It’s three shillings sixpence to get in, so I save my coin for a fine meal or some of Catton’s cakes.”
“Is it a dangerous place?” She lifted her shoulders. “There’s the Dark Walk. A place for assignations. But I’d heard its shadows hide cutpurses and men lurking there to prey upon unaccompanied women.”
“Might be. But all of London’s dangerous. Wallop anyone who tries anything. Better to give a lad a punch than have his groping paws all over you.” He shrugged. “His bruises and broken bones will heal. Or maybe the wounds will putrefy and he’ll rot from the inside out. Serve him right, won’t it?”
“A sensible attitude.” She lifted her hand, coiled into a fist. “I’ve knocked a few blokes onto their arses when they warranted it.”
