Page 42 of An Inconvenient Duke

Well, that was true.

“And if Lady Hartsham was worried that the earl would find out about Nightingale, then having me there to distract him while you speak with her should help calm her fears.”

“I suppose…” But apprehension pricked at the backs of her knees, not the least of which was because she would be there as his personal guest. The situation would all be nothing but a ruse, of course, yet it would also be far too close to how they would act if he were actually courting her. And far too enjoyable. She couldn’t help herself. The idea of being courted by Marcus Braddock sent butterflies twirling in her belly, and she didn’t want to risk her heart by having to accept his attentions when they were nothing but pretense. “Or I can just pay her an afternoon call.”

“Vauxhall’s better. I’ll be there with you to make certain nothing goes wrong.” The resolve behind that statement told her that he’d brook no argument about this. It was Vauxhall, with him, or nothing. “Surely you’ll be able to find a moment to maneuver her aside for a private conversation. No one will think twice if the two of you have to speak into each other’s ears to be heard over the noise of the music and fireworks.”

“You devious man,” she murmured, finding new appreciation for his battlefield cunning. “But I cannot attend with you. Aunt Harriett is away visiting friends, and my maid Alice won’t do at all for a proper chaperone.” The little thing would give away everything on her face. She was trustworthy and dependable, but she knew too much about Nightingale to carry off the relaxed, uncaring—even bored—expression of a lady’s companion necessary in the midst of sharks. “Unfortunately, Claudia won’t work either. As Elise’s sister, her presence would make Lady Hartsham too nervous to confide in me.”

“Perfect. Lady Hartsham can serve as your chaperone, then.”

She gaped at him. The man had lost his mind! “How on earth is that perfect?”

“Because you’ll have an excuse to remain close to her side all evening, from the moment their carriage arrives at your town house to collect you until it returns you home. No one will notice you two exchanging words when you’ll be expected to do so all evening.” His dark eyes shone. “By the time we leave, we’ll finally have answers.”

We…She warmed with the thought that he now considered them partners. That he no longer thought of her as the enemy. And yet—

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll be placing myself in danger?” she challenged. “The same way you wrongly think I do with Nightingale?”

“Youdoplace yourself in danger for that network.” When she began to argue, he cut her off. “But at Vauxhall, you’ll be surrounded by people and less than ten feet from my side. I don’t plan on letting you out of my sight all evening.”

His plan was madness and would most likely not turn up any new information at all about what trouble Elise had gotten herself into during her last days. But she couldn’t resist the chance to help find justice for her best friend.

She eased out a long exhale of acquiescence. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?”

“When the enemy changes position on the field, a good general has to adapt his battle plan or be defeated.”

“Indeed.” She was beginning to think she needed to study battle strategy if she ever hoped to understand this man. “Is that what I am, then? Part of your battle plan?”

“I think you’re worth fighting for.”

He tossed that comment off almost teasingly, yet the jolt that pierced her at its implications was decidedly serious. God help her. For one tempting beat, she wished his hands were on her again, but this timenotto button her up. This time to peel away her dress and all the layers beneath, to reveal her bare flesh to his hands and mouth—

“Yes,” she whispered, her foolish heart blurting out her answer before her logical head could stop her. “I’ll help you at Vauxhall.”

He took her hand and raised it to his lips to place a kiss to her palm. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” She slipped her hand away before he could feel the spike in her pulse. “I haven’t yet delivered terms of repayment.”

With a laugh, he watched her walk away toward the front room of the shop. For propriety’s sake, he lingered behind before following after her, but she felt his wolfish gaze on her back the entire way.

Thankfully, no clients had come into the shop while they’d been talking, but Dani suspected that Mrs. Harris would have known to make enough noise to alert them if anyone had so that Marcus could slip unseen out the rear door. After all, even though Mrs. Harris owed a large debt to Dani, she also had her own reputation to protect, and allowing former soldiers to scandalously approach unmarried misses in the rear of her shop while they were changing would severely damage her business. Even if they were dukes.

Dani pasted a smile on her face to hide the way he’d made her tremble. “You should have warned me,” she whispered to the dressmaker, checking her appearance one last time in the little mirror sitting on the front counter.

Good heavens, her cheeks were bright pink! One look at her, and anyone would have assumed that the two of them had done far more in that fitting room than simply strategize.

“His Grace’s sister is a client,” Mrs. Harris replied.

Dani arched a chastising brow. “You’ll need a better excuse than that.”

Her eyes gleamed mischievously. “Then how about because you, of all women, deserve the attentions of a handsome hero?”

Her mouth fell open in surprise. Before Dani could find her voice to answer, Marcus sauntered from the rear of the shop, looking like any other gentleman strolling along Bond Street that afternoon, tending to errands and paying off accounts.

Oh, who was she attempting to fool?Nothingabout him was ordinary, and the shopgirls noticed it, too, all of them pausing in their work to watch him as he walked past. Other men might have been more dashing and handsome. Others might have somehow been more powerful and commanding. But put all that together into one man…breathtaking.

He stepped up to her side.