Page 30 of Dare to Risk it All

“When is your dance?” she asked him.

“The one after this,” he said, not taking his eyes from Aisling. “Who is that fellow?”

Greer shook her head. “I don’t know,” and then because she was wicked like that, added: “But he’s dreadfully handsome.”

Sylvester offered her a dark look, and she grinned at him.

“Where’s your brother?” she asked.

Obviously teasing her in return, Sylvester asked blandly, “Which brother?”

Greer sighed, and he smirked at her. “Raphe’s gone to find Ollie. He’s worried the little devil has disappeared in order to supply your sister with treats.”

“Oh, lud,” Greer said, though she could not hide her amusement. “I’d best check on her.”

She hurried off, leaving Sylvester to continue his scowling observation of the handsome man dancing with Aisling.

It took Greer a good quarter hour to retrace her steps back to the suite of rooms her family had been given. After several wrong turns and the help of a friendly footman, she finally made it to her sister’s room, only to find it empty.

“Oh, Alana!” she muttered crossly, and hurried out again.

She met Alana’s governess on the landing. “I only turned my back for a moment!” the woman said frantically.

“I know,” Greer said, giving her a sympathetic smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll find her.”

Where could the naughty girl have got to? She stood thinking, hearing the music swelling from the ballroom and wishing she were dancing with Raphe. Well, the night was young yet. First, she must find her sister. Where might she go?

The dogs.

Alana adored dogs and had been beside herself with excitement when Raphe had told her about the duke’s five mastiffs. The idea had similarly taken Ollie as both he and Alana had played with Dare’s pups at every opportunity, and the lot of them were always tumbling about the hall like mad things. The idea of the hulking mastiffs, though, had been a lure beyond bearing, and Alana had been itching to play with them. It had been love at first sight on both sides when she’d met Thorn, who had taken an instant liking to her and shamelessly rolled on his back to have his belly rubbed. Greer knew that the dogs, who were excitable and so large and intimidating they were liable to frighten the guests, were being kept in one of the larger stalls in the beautiful stable buildings next to the Royle House. The stables were almost as grand as the house itself, designed to accommodate the finest horses to be found anywhere in the country.

“Drat you, Alana,” Greer muttered, shivering as she made her way out of doors and glancing over her shoulder to ensure no one had observed her. She had just turned the corner and into the stable block when she saw Raphe coming in the other direction. They both froze, staring at each other.

“They’re not there,” he said, hurrying towards her, his expression grim. “And neither are the dogs.”

“Oh, dear,” Greer said, anxious for her sister but unable to take her eyes off Raphe.

He looked dreadfully wicked, dressed entirely in black except for his snowy white cravat and shirt collar, and the moonlight cast his profile in silver. Her heart gave a few erratic extra beats.

“You ought not be out here alone.” The words were an impatient growl of annoyance, but his gaze upon her was hot, displaying an altogether different emotion.

“I know,” she said, suddenly breathless. “But I was worried about Alana.”

“Then you ought to have fetched your father,” he replied, terse now.

“I never tattle,” she retorted indignantly.

Raphe raised his eyes to the heavens, as if praying for patience, and Greer was about to speak again when they both stiffened. Voices, and they were approaching from the house.

“Just you wait until I show you. I swear Jonas is the finest stallion that ever lived. He’s worth ten times what I’m asking.” The voice was loud and insistent, echoing easily about the stable yard.

Before Greer could react, Raphe tugged her by the arm, pulling her into an unoccupied stall. She gasped in shock, but Raphe’s hand covered her mouth to silence her, and they stood, unseen in the darkness, as two men passed them by. One was a short stocky fellow, still speaking with a belligerent tone, apparently annoyed by his companion’s lack of enthusiasm. The man beside him was the tall, handsome fellow who’d been dancing with Aisling. Raphe jolted in surprise as he saw them go by.

Once they’d gone out of earshot, Greer turned to look at him.

“Christ,” he said, shaking his head.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”