Page 45 of The Dangerous Love of a Rogue
He even liked that she was angry over what she must consider his betrayal – it supported his belief that she would not behave like that.
But the poor little mouse of a woman on her arm…
‘Lord Framlington.’ Mary released her friend and dropped a too-shallow, insulting curtsy. Her friend lowered much further. Mary turned to Peter and dropped deeper too, saying, ‘Lord Brooke.’ Bless her, she was mocking him before his friends. The little firebrand. His future wife had a spirit beyond his hopes. He bit his tongue to prevent any sound of amusement escaping.
She acknowledged Mark and Harry too, then introduced the mouse she was using as her cover. ‘May I introduce Miss Emily Smithfield.’ It was like tossing a lamb into a dog pit. The poor child curtsied again. She was no match for Mary’s magnificent beauty, but she was pretty, with brown hair and brown eyes. She would, unfortunately for her, be of interest to his friends.
‘Lord Framlington.’ Mary ruthlessly dragged his attention back to her.
‘Miss Marlow.’ He bowed as insultingly as she’d curtsied to him, his smile broadening. He could not hold back his joy as he wondered if he would need to fight over who wore the trousers in his wedded bliss.
She opened her mouth to speak?—
‘Before you begin, Lady Kilbride is my younger sister.’ He kept his pitch cold, for the benefit of his friends’ ears.
The storm in her eyes blew out instantly. ‘Your sister?’
‘Yes, my dear, and you may wish to rescue your friend. It is rather rash of you to throw her to the wolves, Mary.’
She glanced at Miss Smithfield, then back to him and stuttered, ‘Forgive me. I… I… am sorry.’
‘I am not sorry. Your jealously heartens me. It bodes well for our future. It proves you care.’ A rakish pitch rang in his voice, but he cursed internally when he saw her blush and her eyes cloud with uncertainty – yet his friends were in earshot.
His fingers itched to stroke a curl back from her brow to reassure her – but he could not touch her here.
The first notes of a waltz began. Peter asked Miss Smithfield to the floor. The poor girl.
He would risk everything if he asked Mary, but he thrived on risk. He looked towards her family and caught her father’s glare.
Drew looked back at her and said quietly to avoid Mark and Harry overhearing, ‘Your father is watching, you had better go, but tell me one thing first, are your family busy any days in the next week or so?’
Her eyebrows lifted. ‘Not that I know.’
Drew caught Harry’s glance. He lowered his voice further. ‘I think it best if we leave after breakfast so we can travel during the day. Contact me when you know your absence will go unnoticed from morning until at least the dinner hour.’
She nodded, her gaze searching his expression, looking for proof of his loyalty.
His fingers lifted and touched the bare skin above her long evening gloves, his action hidden by her body so her father could not see.
She shivered.
‘You must trust that I love you.’ He was desperate for her to believe him, even though he did not wholly believe himself.
‘I am sorry, I misjudged?—’
‘It does not matter.’ The whole world misjudged him.
Mark moved closer. Drew threw him a look that saidstay away.
‘When you have a date, I will send you the details of our arrangements.’
A shallow smile touched her lips as she nodded again.
Glancing past her shoulder, Drew saw her father striding towards them. ‘Your papa is coming, darling.’
She did not turn away, still defying her father.
A tight feeling clenched hard in his chest. ‘Go, sweetheart. Write soon and set a date. Then no one can come between us.’
