Page 40 of A Chance to Dance with the Duke
“No,” she admitted.
His relief fell flat. He arched a brow, and she tried and failed to hide another smile. The result was an adorable dimple on her right cheek.
“Why do I feel as though your mission is to get me into trouble with your parents?” he asked.
“You?” She feigned shock. “A duke? Never.”
He chuckled and sighed at the same time. “Have you ever ridden?”
She pursed her lips. “Before or after the illness?”
“Meg.” He drew the word out in warning.
“Oh, all right, no. But I wish to. I imagine having the use of his four legs, and being able to move freely and quickly and?—”
“You will be the death of me.” The muttered comment slipped out. But he meant it. At her perplexed look, he added, “I cannot deny you anything, even though I know watching you alone up there is going to give me heart failure.”
She tried to smother a smile again and he had the most overwhelming urge to pull her close and kiss her.
He took a step back. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather start with an old mare? Maybe…a pony?”
She laughed.
“Very well. But if you’re in any danger?—”
“If I get hurt then we don’t have to move on to the next item on my list,” she pointed out.
He scowled. “Not amusing.”
She giggled.
Blast, it was impossible to keep a scowl in place when she laughed like that.
But his tone was still aggrieved when he added, “Dance lessons? Truly?”
She feigned seriousness. “We agreed, it’s only fair. You teach me to ride, and I’ll teach you to dance.”
His sigh was only partially in earnest. He wasn’t relishing the idea of humiliating himself in front of this young lady. But having an excuse to hold her in his arms…
Oh yes, that was most welcome indeed. “Very well. Let’s get this first lesson started then.”
He was rewarded with a brilliant smile.
Her maid looked on with a grimace of concern as he and a stablehand helped her onto the horse. He couldn’t blame her chaperone for being worried, but Meg assured him the woman could be trusted to keep this to herself.
Which was a relief. Her parents would surely disapprove of such activities. His friends’ words of warning about her parents’ assumptions were never far from his mind.
Truth be told, he had no fear of being forced to marry Meg, since marrying Meg was his greatest desire.
But he meant what he’d said about giving her options.
Even if the mere memory of her and that Everson fellow strolling about the room together still made him want to seek out the hapless man and plant a facer.
He held the reins tightly as he led the horse out of the stables. They walked slowly as she got the feel for it. When she let out a breathless laugh, he looked up, and her smile was more dazzling than the sun.
“How does it feel?” he asked.
“Better than I’d imagined.”
