His eyes met hers. “Your smiles brighten my evening.”
“That’s it,” Heart growled. “We are leaving, Leonora. Now.”
She returned his wink even as her brother all but hauled her from the ballroom. Dare tracked her until she was out of his sight before chuckling and shaking his head, any traces of a smile quickly fading from his face. He counted to sixty before lazily striding through the room to the cloakroom to retrieve his coat. There was no point in staying any longer.
None of what he’d said was a lie. Leonora Heartwasgood for him. She brought a spark to his evenings more and more with each encounter. He accepted his coat from the attendant who rushed over, flicking a coin to him.
“Thank you, my lord.”
Dare gave a curt nod, shrugging into his coat.
It wasn’t enough.More, something in him cried out at every one of her smiles. Was tonight’s sparse glimmer enough to tide him over to tomorrow’s ball?
Stop with the foolishness, Dare. You know . . .
He scowled, striding through the main doors of the Haversham residence and descending the stairs.
Yes, he did know.
While she was good for him, he was no good for her.
Chapter Three
Leonora laughed asher horse flew over a fallen log in the park. She had snuck away to ride, and she loved these early morning gallops. Especially on misty mornings when the crisp air brought a flush to her face. She hadn’t gotten much sleep last night after a certain rogue’s parting words and her brother marching her from the ball, but she was hoping the exercise would help finally clear her mind.
Shewas good forhim? Her?
Leonora grinned as she spurred Lightning faster. Ah! Why did such a simple thing bring such a thrill to her? It wasn’t that much of a compliment, and she would never read more into it given its owner, but the thought of being good for someone brought her a touch of delight.
In addition to Dare’s words, she had a certain duchess on her mind as well. She should have questioned Calstone more and rather regretted that she hadn’t seized the opportunity.
“Whoa!” a voice called.
Leonora’s head whipped to survey the vegetation from whence the shout came. She brought her horse slowly to a halt, every nerve going on alert. Her morning rides weren’t exactly proper, since she wore breeches beneath her skirts and rode her horse astride. Plus, she was a lady alone. Fortunately, the mist hung low today, obscuring her a bit to onlookers.
She patted Lightning’s neck. “Who could that be, do you think?” Her gaze tracked the parklands. “Let’s just be on theoutlook. Luckily, we have the skill to outride just about anyone, isn’t that right, Lightning?”
These rides were the only time she could unpin her hair and ride as though she were a breeze in the park. No restraints. No worries. No nagging Heart breathing down her neck. But continuing to enjoy these moments was contingent on them staying secret.
The galloping hooves of a horse approached, and Leonora bit her lip while she gathered the hood of her cape and shrugged it over her head, burrowing deeply into the shelter it provided. But there was no helping it—she would have to make a hard run for it. She sent one last glance over her shoulder before readying to spur Lighting into to run.
And froze.
Leonora blinked at the rider emerging from the mist like some mysterious phantom. Only, he was no phantom at all.
Dare?
Think of the rake and he shall appear.
He sat atop his thoroughbred as though he might as well have sat atop the world. Imperial, that’s what he was. He wore a white shirt with a black coat and no hat, his hair falling in wild disarray, giving her a rare, intimate glimpse of a side of him she hadn’t seen before. The ties of his shirt were fastened only up to his collarbone, offering her a view of the full breadth of his neck. A glimpse of his strength. One part elegant and nine parts rogue.
Undeniably handsome.
He brought his horse to a stop when he caught sight of her. “Greetings,” he said in a low, gruff voice. “Is all well, madam? Do you require some assistance?”
Oh, right. He probably didn’t even recognize her with her cloak pulled close and her hood up, and here she was, staring in his direction as if she’d never seen a man atop a horse before! But, Lord, oh Lord. What a delightful surprise! She grinnedbeneath her hood and pitched her voice low. “All is quite well, sir. In fact, my morning has taken a turn for the better.”
Surprise crossed his face before his gaze narrowed on her in a very obviously scrutinizing way. “You sound strangely familiar. Do I perhaps know you, my lady?”
