*
Fabulous?
Dare’s gaze flicked between Lady Leonora, Heart, and Calstone. How the hell had they ended up in the same rowboat? Heart he could understand. But did the duke really have to join them? Could he not have excused himself? Or was he interested in courting Lady Leonora?
Dare didn’t think so.
Or perhaps there was a possibility that Calstone, like the duchess staring at them with a burning gaze from her blanket atthe edge of the lake, was part of this mystery Lady Leonora was trying to solve.
However, he didn’t really think that either.
In which case, it was mostly likely that the man was truly just bored and was now entertaining himself with this drama. But he could have entertained himself from the bank. Dare sent him a sour look. Why cramp himself in this small boat with them?
Time and time again, he found himself entangled in Heart affairs. Part of him couldn’t rightly help himself, but the other part, the times-like-this part, he must be bloody insane. He was like a defenseless child in the face of her beseeching looks.
Dare gritted his teeth. His father would roll in his grave if he saw him now. Perhaps that was a good thing. However, every brooding glance from the man across from him was a damn warning. If he weren’t more careful, he might end up in a park, pistol in hand, second at his back, defending his honor when he hadn’t even seduced the chit!
His eyes met Lady Leonora’s, seated next to her brother, and she winked at him. Winked! Daring minx. Her entire demeanor was the exact opposite of her gloomy sibling. She practically brimmed with delight, except for the occasional annoyed glances she directed at their chaperones.
“Well, this certainly is relaxing,” Calstone remarked.
Relaxing my arse.This was about as relaxing as falling arse first into a bed of thorns. Although, who needed thorns with Heart’s cold, glowing eyes stabbing steel at him? It was all he could do to sit still and not wiggle about in discomfort.
“Was this really necessary?” Lady Leonora asked, mimicking his thoughts with that one question.
“Yes.” Heart didn’t back down an inch. “I warned you.”
“And me,” Dare murmured.
“Yes! About that, Heart,” Lady Leonora said with a narrowed look to her brother. “How could you confront the earl when he has done nothing wrong?”
“Donenothing?”
Dare stared at the man. Boldness certainly ran in the family. Given Lady Leonora’s comment earlier, it was plain he hadn’t informed his sister about his little visit to Dare’s home. Or about his other visitor. Perhaps it was time she found out. “I did do nothing. However, I do applaud the concern of you and your lady friend.”
Heart’s face fell.
Lady Leonora glanced at him. “Lady friend?”
“It’s nothing.” Heart sent him a warning look.
Dare smirked. “If you say so. The Duchess of Crane was quite startled when you left so abruptly.”
Lady Leonora’s eyes stretched wide before they narrowed to slits, unfortunately aimed at him. “The duchess came to see you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I’d like to know that as well,” Heart muttered.
Lady Leonora’s gaze whipped from him to her brother, her eyes taking on a different glow, as though she were a baby shark who had just got her first whiff of blood. “Why would you like to know that as well?”
“I . . .”
She arched a brow.
“That . . .”