“Keep up the charade.”
“With your entire family so near? Sarah says Xavier is not best pleased with us.”
“He has more than once threatened to toss me through the ice in the lake. I do realize continuing our act when under such scrutiny is a risk, but you came to a party you said you would never attend, so I have decided to interpret that as a sign. We must pretend a little longer. It is your turn to protect me.”
“Very well.”
A quick, succinct agreement. Warmed his soul.
“Will you come out now?” she asked.
He slid out from behind the tree to join her. “I owe you my eternal gratitude, Lady Gee.”
She waved his gratitude away with a frosty flick of her hand. “We will be even after this. Does she know you have no time for a wife?”
“I mentioned it a time or two. But it has not seemed to sink in. I found her waiting outside my bedroom door this morning.”
“Thatisdaring.” Her gaze floated to the girl, a touch of admiration there. “I would like to get to know her even if you do not.”
“She pretended it was by chance.” He rolled his eyes. “As if I did not know better.”
“Brazen chit. Was there a lady in your room?”
“No!” There had been no ladies in his room, or he in theirs, in months.
She shrugged. “A natural assumption with you. A village mistress perhaps?”
“There is no such creature.” He poked her in the shoulder. “The lady wounds with such assertions.”
She lifted one eyebrow, merriment in the slope of her cheeks and in every bounce of the dancing curls around her face. “Give me a dagger, and I’ll show you wounds.”
He leaned forward, closing the small distance between them. “You’re showing your teeth, Lady Gee.”
She snapped those teeth at him, straight and white and sharp behind berry red lips.
They grinned. This—their sharp back and forth—would soothe her grief. What knight ever rode into battle armed with insults? He did if it helped.
He laughed. “Damn, it’s good to see you. I’ve been so bored I can’t feel my face.”
“Never say so, Mr. E. How will you feel the kisses of all your ladies?”
“True, but I must know. Why did you come? I know how you feel about mud. Did you try the thing with the boot scraper first and decide you’d made the wrong choice?”
She shrugged, licking her lips to tame her smile. “I am here only because your sister-in-law dared me to come.”
He tightened his jaw, but that didn’t stop it, so he slapped a hand over his mouth, but that proved no barrier either. Finally, the laugh escaped, and he hunched forward in an attempt to corral the sound, keep it from rolling across the gathered guests. “A dare!” he wheezed. “Of course.”
Her bow-shaped lips pursed, and her eyes brimmed with ire. “I do not see the humor.”
“‘Course you don’t, Gee. Not surprised. You debutantes always take your dares seriously.”
“I’ve not been a debutante for some time now,” she huffed. “Men. My aunt did warn me.”
“Ah, your aunt,” he said, recovering and straightening to his full height. “Please say you’ve brought her memoirs. I must know more of them.”
“I have, but I shan’t share them with you. You are not worthy.”
“Naturally. But let us put aside our differences and seek out more pleasant diversions.” He stepped away from the plant and held out his hand.
