Page 48 of Anything But a Duke
“Di is quite clever.” Lady Sophie’s mouth curved in a sad smile. “And she’s one of my dearest friends, so how can I not approve of whatever takes her fancy? But none of us believes she’s truly happy.” The noblewoman leaned an inch closer and said conspiratorially, “The responsibility she feels should not be hers to bear.”
“What responsibility?”
Lady Sophie retreated, scooting back on the settee and refusing to meet his gaze.
Before he could press her more, the dinner gong sounded and everyone sprang into motion. Lady Sophie seemed particularly relieved to escape the necessity of answering his question. He expected to escort her in, but her cousin, Lord Abernethy, approached to do the honors instead.
Aidan glanced around the room and noticed Miss Ashby lingering near the threshold. As soon as she caught his eye, she gestured in a jerking motion, indicating that he should follow her.
In the hallway, all the dinner guests filed one way, but Miss Ashby had ducked off into a room two doors down from the drawing room. After making sure no one noticed his departure from the throng, Aidan stepped inside.
The billiard room smelled of cigar smoke and spilled liquor. The interior was so dark, he wondered for a moment if he’d entered the correct room.
“I overheard you speaking to Sophie.”
Her voice sent an odd shiver spiking down his spine. “You mean you were eavesdropping.”
“There aren’t many guests. Your voices carried.” She stepped closer.
As his eyes adjusted, he could just make out the shape of her face and the curves of her body in the pale cream gown she’d worn. In the darkness, he noticed everything, the shift of the fabric, the click of beads embroidered along the hem, and the heat of her nearness.
“She is concerned about your happiness,” he told her.
“You should be more concerned with hers if you plan to marry her.”
“Don’t rush me, Miss Ashby. You agreed to introduce me to several debutantes. I intend to meet them all.”
She huffed out a long-suffering sigh. “You should strive to talk less about me and ask Sophie about herself.”
“Are you giving me lessons in wooing again?”
“Perhaps someone should. Speaking of one lady when you’re in the company of another is considered bad form,” she said, and then started past him toward the threshold.
He knew they should return to the others. He knew they would soon be missed. But he wanted the moment alone with her to stretch on just a little longer.
“I propose an exchange, Miss Ashby.”
She stopped beside him. They stood shoulder to shoulder, her bare arm brushing the sleeve of his suit.
Aidan turned and dipped his head so that his mouth wasn’t far from her ear. “One of your secrets for one of mine.”
“I told you, Mr. Iverson,” she said breathily. “I don’t have secrets.”
“Pity. That leaves you nothing with which to negotiate.”
She tilted her head, and in the light through the half-open door, he saw a flash of interest in her blue gaze. “You first.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she lifted a finger between them.
“I’m only agreeing to this so that I can know which of my friends might suit you best.”
“Of course.”
“Go on, then.”
“That night, a year ago. I think on it often.” His own heart began hammering in his chest. Every word was true, but the admission felt too raw, too revealing. The next breath stalled in his throat as he waited for her to respond.
He heard only her breath quickening.
