Page 97 of A Duke Changes Everything
He knew the moment she decided to accompany him. Not because she took his arm, but because her shoulders lifted an inch and her back went doorjamb-straight.
“Fine,” she said curtly. “If we’re to go, we should depart now or we’ll be late.”
Nick nodded and let her stride past him. He was proud of his self-control when everything in him told him to reach for her.
But as she stomped toward the front door, he couldn’t hold back a grin of triumph.
Now the evening had a hope of being bearable.
This was a mistake.
The minute they’d settled onto opposite benches in the Tremayne carriage, Mina regretted agreeing to accompany Nick to the Claxton ball.
Not that she was truly accompanying him. They weren’t attending together. They were simply headed to the same event, at the same time, in the same carriage. Once there, their roles would be entirely different.
He’d be expected to mingle and dance with Lady Lillian and every other young unmarried woman pushed his way. Her job would be to make sure the staff from the two estates didn’t step on each other’s toes or come to fisticuffs.
But now, in the dark confines of the brougham, all she could smell was his woodsy scent. Every time she glanced his way, she found his gaze was already focused on her. Intently. In the dim carriage lantern, his eyes glowed as they traced the shape of her mouth.
Every nerve in her vibrated when they were this close to each other. She could never be in a carriage with him again and not think of being in his arms or in his lap.
Thankfully the trip to the Claxtons’ was short. She willed her nerves to steady and her mind to stop thinking of the scandalous things he could do with his hands as he helped her down from the carriage.
The Claxton footman looked supremely confused as they approached the front door. Especially when Nick moved closer every time she tried to sidestep away. She lengthened her stride to reach the footman first.
“I’m here to assist Mr. Wilder and the other staff from Enderley Castle.”
“They arebelowstairs, miss.” The Claxton servant arched one thin eyebrow. “Down the hall, first door on your left.”
When he glanced past her and got a good view of Nick, both brows shot up. It was a reaction others often had at the first sight of him. Mina still wasn’t sure if it was his scar, his unusual eyes, his enormous bulk, or a combination of all his unique physical qualities combined in one singular man.
“That’s the Duke of Tremayne,” she whispered to the footman as she strode past, forcing herself not to look back as she left Nick.
“I will find you,” Nick called after her.
She kept going, despite the ribbon of heat that unfurled inside her.
Downstairs, she found the kitchen in a state of minor chaos. Two young men were arguing in the corner, an older woman sat fanning herself with a small dinner plate, and Mrs. Scribb looked on the verge of tears. Or outrage. Mina couldn’t tell which.
Wilder spotted her and immediately approached. “Miss Thorne. Thought you’d decided to stay back this evening.”
“Another pair of hands never goes to waste. What can I do?”
He leaned in to speak quietly. “Mrs. Scribb and the Claxton housekeeper are about to come to blows, and the two footmen have turned against each other to win Emma’s affections.”
Mina noticed that Emma stood on the other side of the two young men, hands on her hips as she chastised them both in her soft voice.
“Might be worthwhile to take Emma upstairs and see that all is as it should be in the refreshment room.” Wilder cast a weary look back at the two young men. “I’ll wade into the fray and settle the two young pups down.”
Mina found Emma more than happy to leave her newest suitors to their own devices. The girl was far more interested in how Mina had arrived.
“Did you come with the duke?”
“We traveled in the carriage together.”
“Alone?” she asked with a knowing pitch in her voice. “As you did from London?”
Mina bit her tongue and willed her cheeks not to burn.
