Page 63 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
Then he disappeared through the doorway before she could respond.
“ITOLD you that if you got within three feet of her, I’d lay you flat,” Ashe growled.
Edward pressed his booted foot to the bench seat opposite him as Ashe’s coach rumbled through the streets. He was surprised his friend had waited so long to confront him. On the other hand, the close confines would make it easier for Ashe to pummel him. Ashe had two inches on him, dammit. “No, you warned me away from the white swan. So I assume Miss Dodgeristhe white swan. I thought as much. She’s the right size.”
“Edward—”
“Relax. I’m not going to say anything. But I take it she’s the one you’re planning to marry.”
“If I can convince her that I’m not marrying her for her dowry.”
“But you are.”
Even in the darkness, he felt Ashe’s gaze bore into him. “Oh, I see. Wouldn’t it be better to be honest with her?”
“Every man who has ever approached her has wanted her dowry. She wants love.”
“Can you give her that?”
Ashe sighed heavily. “I don’t know. Having seen what love did to Marsden ... How did Albert get past it?”
“Hell if I know. The thought of falling in love scares the bloody hell out of me. So I won’t do it. You know me. I always take the coward’s way.”
“Which is the reason you killed a lion with a damned knife.”
He shrugged. “My rifle jammed.”
“By the by, I’m not comfortable with the way you tell that story. If Locke had been at Lady Greyling’s, he’d not have allowed it.”
“But he wasn’t, now was he? So I could embellish to my heart’s content because you like my stories. Besides, you stabbed him as well.”
“You delivered the killing blow.”
“We can’t know that for sure.”
Ashe chuckled low. “God, you were a madman. I’m surprised your screech didn’t chase him off.”
“I didn’tscreech. I bellowed. Like an ancient warrior.”
“Like a madman.”
“Well, when you’re raised by one, what more can you expect?”
Silence settled in around them, broken only by the steady clopping of horses’ hooves.
“Why did you dance with her?” Ashe asked quietly.
“I recalled Lady Hyacinth’s words at the roulette table. I like dancing with spinsters. They’re always so grateful for the attention.”
“You’re an arse, Edward.”
Edward smiled. Yes, he was. But he was a relatively harmless one. As long as nothing threatened those he cared about.
Chapter 14
MINERVA had taken extra care in preparing for the day, choosing a pale pink dress that managed to draw out the red in her hair so it didn’t appear quite so dark. Her maid put it in a soft style that left tendrils curling along her cheeks, highlighting her eyes. She wasn’t conceited enough to think she looked pretty, but she considered herself more than passable.
Her nerves causing butterflies to alight in her stomach, she barely ate any breakfast, incredibly grateful that her father didn’t comment on it. She wasn’t accustomed to being anxious about a gentleman’s calling. She’d had plenty. But none with whom she’d lain. She knew the firmness of his muscles, the warmth of his skin, the way he moved against her—
