Page 37 of Would I Lie to the Duke
“Have a care,” Noel murmured. “The arrack punch here is notorious for making people forgetthemselves. I’ve seen more than a few arrack-fueled brawls.”
“I’m far tougher than I appear.”
“Then you must be Heracles’s daughter because I’ve never met someone so strong.” He took a handful of grapes from a salver and placed them onto her plate. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
“Noticed what?” Apprehension tightened along her neck, but she feigned nonchalance by popping a grape into her mouth.
She’d been careful to keep all of her comments about McGale & McGale couched in the language of merely an interested investor. She should have known that someone as observant and insightful as Noel had caught on to her.
“Many at the Bazaar seek your counsel,” he said. “With good cause—you’re damned insightful, and when it comes to financial matters, you’re bloody brilliant.”
“I fail to see the problem with that.” She’d been called pretty, and clever, but never brilliant. And that this praise came fromhim... But worry undercut her pleasure. Had he perceived her secret agenda?
“Youwere the one urging Sir Brantley to attend the Bazaar,” he continued. “It was your idea the whole time. Your being here is not happenstance.”
She exhaled a laugh as relief coursed through her. “Not happenstance at all.”
“I knew it.” Noel slapped his hand on the table.
A server presented a platter of what had to be the thinnest slices of ham Jess had ever beheld. With greatceremony, the server set the platter down and backed away.
“May I serve you?” Noel asked, his voice low and dark. “I’d enjoy it very much.”
“Yes, please,” she answered breathlessly.
As if from a great distance away, she heard Mr. Walditch talking with Lord Sundon. Neither of them seemed to be aware of the conversation happening beside them. Or they did notice, and opted not to involve themselves.
“You’re a star attraction.” She glanced toward a trio of perambulators, two women and a man. All three of them sent Noel clear looks of longing. And they weren’t the only passersby that showed him interest.
Yet Noel’s attention remained fixed on her. As he leaned back in his chair, his gaze didn’t waver from her face. “Tell me your favorite book.”
“Why?”
“I’m collecting pieces of you, like a beachcomber looking for polished stones and beautiful shells. Later, when they’re home, far inland, they can look at those stones and shells and remember.”
She pressed a hand to the pulse fluttering in her neck. “I’d no idea dukes were poetical.”
“When suitably motivated.”
“The answer depends,” she said. “Sometimes it’s Smith’sWealth of Nations. It isn’t my favorite, per se, but I can read it over and over again and find something new every time.” Her copy of the book was much battered, several of the pages loose in the binding. She had to secure the whole thing with twine.
He gave her a lopsided smile. “And what about when you’re not in the mood for economic theory?”
She’d made use of Lady Catherton’s library, and had inhaled the works of Shakespeare. “As You Like It.I know it’s a play and not exactly a book, but I’ve never had the chance to see it performed, so I only know it from reading.”
“It’s Rosalind’s story,” he said with a nod. “Everyone else is just a plaything for her to toy with. She deserves better than Orlando.”
She propped her chin in her hand. “Does anyone truly deserve her?”
“No,” he said thoughtfully, “but they can try.” His look scorched her. “There’s certainly pleasure in the attempt.”
She tipped up her chin, a wordless dare. “Andyourfavorite book?”
“Here, now,” Mr. Walditch interjected. “If you’re both going to discuss books in the middle of Vauxhall, I’m going to have the bully boys throw you out.”
Jess laughed, delightfully scandalized by Mr. Walditch’s threat to a duke.
Noel chuckled and held up his palms. “Fair enough. Tonight’s for pleasure, and I’m determined Lady Whitfield will have more than her share of it.”
