Page 53 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
“She took my brother from me.” As though uncomfortable with his words, Edward shifted his stance, averted his gaze. “We should get down there. I’m in need of some good scotch.”
When there was a break in the line, Ashe and Edward were announced and began their descent into what Ashe fervently hoped would not be hell.
SHE’D been torn between hoping he’d be here and wishing he wouldn’t, but when he was announced, a delightful shiver of gladness coursed through her, and she quickly chastised herself for her reaction. It was ridiculous to think he’d give her any attention this evening. He didn’t know she was the woman he’d held in his arms the night before. Not that it would have mattered if he had known. They’d both been there for an unfettered encounter, nothing more. Certainly not anything that would extend their time together beyond the Nightingale, nothing that would cause them to seek each other out in public. Even though her eyes seemed not to have gotten the message and refused to stop staring athim.
Ladies swarmed to his side, dangling their dance cards in his face. His smile was broad, and he looked to be enjoying himself, touching a chin here, a cheek there, flattering the ladies with his attention. She tried not to be jealous. Tried not to be hurt or take offense. But she was having very little luck at accomplishing her goal. He was only hers at the Nightingale. Beyond that, he belonged to all of London.
She’d been enjoying herself as well until his arrival distracted her. Standing with her half brother and two other gents she considered family, she’d been discussing the merits of investing in a cattle venture in Texas.
“I like the idea of it,” Lord Langdon said, “but I’m not too keen on investing blindly. I think someone should go over there and have a look at it.”
Drake Darling grinned. “Would you even have a clue regarding what you’re looking at?”
“I didn’t say I should go.” Langdon gave her a pointed look.
She laughed. “Me? You want me to go?”
“Makes sense,” Lovingdon said. “You’re the best at analyzing things, and you’ve already put together a summary outlining the advantages to doing this. Besides, I’ve heard that there aren’t many women there.”
She knew he spoke with the best of intentions, but still, the words stung. “So I might find a husband among desperate men? Is that what you’re insinuating?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Well, it certainly sounded like it.”
“I don’t know why you’re offended,” Darling said. “Based on the Americans I’ve encountered, the men like their women headstrong and determined.”
“You’re not helping matters. If being unattached is a requirement to testing the waters, then Langdon can bloody well go.”
“Go where?” a familiar voice asked, and her chest tightened at Ashebury’s unexpected arrival at her side. Her face warmed at the harshness of her language. When she was with these gents, she didn’t always act the lady. They could bring out the worst in her. She didn’t know why she didn’t want Ashebury to witness her behavior, why she felt this ridiculous need to make a good impression. Perhaps because it struck her that she yearned for his attentions away from the Nightingale. She wanted him to find Miss Minerva Dodger as intriguing as he found Lady V.
Ashebury was gorgeous tonight, absolutely gorgeous in his black swallow-tailed coat and waistcoat. His shirt pristine white. His neckcloth knotted to perfection, and she couldn’t help but recall how intimate it had felt when she had taken care of it for him. He was freshly shaven, but she preferred the shadow of stubble along his jaw. It made him appear more dangerous, more alluring, more disrespectable. Until that moment, she didn’t realize that she rather liked the unpolished edge of a man.
“Forgive my intrusion,” he said. “I was rude to eavesdrop, but traveling is one of my passions. Even if I’m doing it vicariously through someone else. Where are you considering journeying?”
Everyone seemed to be waiting for her to speak, but how could she with him so near, breathing the same air as she, the heat from his body reaching for her? And that mouth, smiling ever so slightly, that beautifully formed, perfect mouth that had touched her in the most intimate of places until she screamed. Heat crawled up her face, threatened to consume every inch of her. She had to remind herself that he didn’t know she was Lady V. He didn’t know that she was the one he had suckled, and nipped, and stroked. Oh, dear God, it was a ghastly mistake to be here. But she couldn’t retreat and maintain any dignity.
Lovingdon cleared his throat. “We were considering the possibility of investing in cattle in Texas. Minerva has put together some numbers that indicate we could make a substantial return.”
Oh, yes, by all means inform him how skilled I am with facts and figures because men find that ability so appealing in a woman.
“But we’re thinking someone should go over to assess the situation more completely,” Langdon said. “We were arguing the merits—”
“We weren’t arguing,” Minerva cut in, because again men found argumentative women so appealing. She was beginning to have a clue regarding why she was a spinster. This lot was not helping her cause. Not that she was looking for a husband any longer, but she had an insane need to impress Ashebury. “We werediscussing.”
Ashebury’s lips curled up, and she thought of them against her skin, lingering, exploring, gliding over her flesh. Thought of him demonstrating so very well what a man could accomplish when on his knees. Not a position of surrender but one designed to conquer. Thought of the weight of him above her as he took complete possession. She’d never been one to swoon, but at that moment, she was finding it increasingly difficult to draw in air. Her maid must have cinched her corset too tight.
“Discussing then,” Langdon conceded. “Whether Minerva or I should go.”
“You,” Ashebury said sharply and succinctly. “Miss Dodger is far too delicate—”
“I’m not too delicate.” Another reason she was a spinster reared its ugly head. She didn’t like being viewed as incapable or prone to swooning. She thought it ridiculous that ladies held gatherings to practice fainting. A woman should be capable of standing on her own two feet. She tended to point that out at the most inopportune moments, such as this one.
Ashebury arched a brow. “My apologies, but you seemed upset by the notion of going. I must have misconstrued what I heard.”
“Not upset. Irritated. I don’t want to go, but it’s not because I don’t think I could handle myself.” Maybe she should put the shovel away now, as she’d dug a rather large hole. “Perhaps we ought to change topic as I’m sure Ashebury has no interest in our business ventures.” And ladies of quality didn’t discuss business ventures.
“I prefer Ashe,” he said, his gaze never leaving her. “And while I am fascinated by the topic, I’m more interested in a dance with Miss Dodger. I was wondering if there might be a space for me on your dance card.”
