“What about you?” How could she slap that handsome face that had never been slapped by a woman before? She surely didn’t want to be the first. And she’d never slapped a man before, either. How hard a slap would be considered good enough to provide a way out? This was just too absurd!
“I don’t need a way out as you do.”
Right.
Only she would be tainted from this. But who was she if not a walking invisible scandal? Her family had done their best to shield her and give her the best life possible, but that did not take away the hidden truth that had been molding her for the past six years. Scandal didn’t scare her.
Her fingers, intertwined with his, tightened in a clasp.
He jerked.
Her smile brightened again in response.
“That is not how you slap a man,” his low voice came along with his fingers slowly unweaving from hers. She deliberated whether she should grip his hand harder.
“Dear God, the two of you are not just flirting, but flirting with scandal,” Calstone muttered.
As if his words could conjure catastrophe, Heart’s voice suddenly boomed “Leonora!” throughout the hall, causing everyone present to jolt on the spot.
Dare’s hands clamped firm again. Out of instinct, Leonora thought, as hers squeezed a bit tighter as well. And how could one’s heart take on such a speed so quickly? It almost defied reason.
Calstone suddenly blocked their view to the left—Heart’s view—to be exact. However, Leonora’s relief didn’t last long.
“I already saw everything, Calstone! Step aside.”
“It’s all right, Your Grace, thank you.” She quickly disengaged from Dare, a picture of poise as Calstone nodded and stepped off to the side. Her brother came into view in all his glorious fury.
Leonora lifted her chin, prepared for battle, but stilled—beside Heart walked the Duchess of Crane. She couldn’t tell where they’d come from, but it wasn’t the front entrance.
Heart had never left.
His personal businesshadbeen a certain duchess. She had been curious all this time, too hesitant to ask her family directly, circling around and around. Could tonight hold the answers she sought?
He marched to stop before them. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Meaning?” Leonora dragged her gaze away from the duchess, even though she wanted nothing but to stare. “What meaning would you attach to this rather public situation? It certainly cannot be a wicked one.”
“Leonora,” Heart bit out, stepping up to her, his figure looming like a hulking mountain. “Every single person here can interpret the poorly hidden meaning behind your little romantic display, or whatever you wish to call it. Is this your chaste friendship you told me about?”
Dare chuckled. “Chaste friendship. What a marvelous term.”
Leonora’s pulse surged. There was nothing chaste about them—not anymore. Perhaps there never had been. Mayhap that had only been her delusion. However, when she had rattled off that phrase—chaste friendship—she had believed herself and Dare to be nothing more than two people who enjoyed each other’s flirtations that could never be more.
“Well, the term—” she began.
“Is quite apt,” Dare interrupted. “In our previous lives, we must have been brother and sister, so chaste is our friendship.”
Low titters erupted once again.
Leonora glanced at Dare. This flat tone... yet his smile remained in place. The air of a rake never faltered. The only difference was that those stark, blue eyes refused to meet hers.
“Leonora,” a soft feminine voice came as the duchess stepped forward to place a hand on her arm. “Perhaps we should retire to a more private spot.”
Leonora stepped back, evading the touch. Clear as day, the woman supported Heart, and she didn’t feel like playing along at the moment. “I’m perfectly all right where I am.”
“I don’t think...” the duchess began again, but trailed off when Dare suddenly bowed.
Leonora blinked at him.
