Page 49 of The Mistletoe Dare

“Would you care to go for a ride tomorrow, Lady Georgina?”

What was happening? Georgie gave herself a mental shake, trying to force her wits out of the stupor they’d fallen into. He was asking her to go for a ride with him, like… like he might if he were courting her. Oh. Oh, Lord. Danger! Run! shrieked the sensible voice in her head. Yes, yes, yes! squealed another which heeded nothing but pleasure. Georgie swallowed, too unnerved to reply.

“Is it such a revolting prospect?” he asked after a long moment, during which she only starred at him like a brainless twit. His voice held an edge to it, which she did not underestimate. She did not wish to hurt him, to reject him, but she did not wish to be hurt either.

“W-What happened to staying away from each other?” she managed breathlessly.

He shrugged, his gaze never leaving hers. “We’re neither of us up to that challenge, it seems, and besides which, I have changed my mind. I’ve changed my mind about a lot of things. About you.”

“Oh,” Georgie said faintly.

“It’s only a ride about the park,” he said, his deep voice resonating through her, inviting her to give in. “No strings attached.”

Ha! That’s what you think, she retorted inwardly. If she spent too much time with him, she might find herself tangled up in a Gordian knot that she could not undo.

“With a chaperone?” she said in a rush, because if she took the correct chaperone, there would be far less danger.

“Naturally,” he replied at once.

Georgie knew there was no choice, for she could not bear for him to feel rejected. She was too aware that he let no one close and that this was something rare and extraordinary. It was not in her to be cruel, especially to him, and so there was no other answer she could give. “Very well, Rochford. I will ride with you tomorrow.”

Evie kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet up on the settee, balancing a plate of food on her knee and holding a glass of wine in one hand. It was her third glass, which was very bad of her when she ought to stick to lemonade, but she was thirsty, and the server had been close at hand. She gave a little sigh of relief and sipped at the cold white wine with pleasure, her muscles relaxing as the alcohol entered her blood. The glow of an oil lamp plus the flickering firelight warmed the room, the flames leaping back to life since she’d stirred the coals and got it blazing again. It had been a long night. Not that it was quite over. People were still dancing and making merry, but Evie had danced until her feet hurt and she was worn out. It had been a marvellous evening, though, and she had enjoyed it very much, except… she was vexed and puzzled over Louis’ odd behaviour. What the devil had got into him tonight? Sighing, she considered the plate of food before her and picked up a delicate mushroom tart. She was about to devour it when the door opened, and she stiffened in alarm.

This was one of the family’s small, private parlours, well away from the ballroom. She’d thought she could hide here safely enough.

“Oh,” she said with relief as Louis appeared in the doorway. “It’s only you. What a relief.”

He sighed. “You devastate me, ma petite. Only you could set me down and shatter my confidence with so few words.”

“Don’t be silly,” she said crossly. “I only meant I was glad it wasn’t someone come to cause me trouble.”

“Like I said,” Louis muttered dryly, closing the door behind him.

He stayed where he was, leaning against the door, watching her.

“How did you know I’d be here?” she asked, regarding him warily. He was in an odd mood tonight. Was he foxed?

“I looked everywhere else.”

“Oh.”

“I believe Mr Hadley-Smythe is searching too, hoping you’ll grant him the last dance.”

“Is he?” Evie said, brightening. She had liked the young man very much, for he was rather sweet. He’d also seemed very taken with her, which was flattering.

“Ah, this pleases you,” he said, and she frowned, unnerved by his tone. How could she know this man so very well for so long and yet suddenly not understand him at all? “He’s not the only one, you know. I was right about that gown, was I not? You’ll have besotted suitors queuing up to call on you in the coming days.”

“You were right about the gown, but there’s no need to exaggerate. Besides, I’ve always had suitors,” she retorted, a little stung. “It’s just they’ve always been lured by my enormous dowry before, not my….”

She paused, deciding she’d best not be indelicate and refer to the amount of cleavage on display, even with Louis.

He snorted, amused. “Well, I can assure you they’re now lured by all the other delicious temptations you have previously hidden so well.”

Evie frowned but put the tart in her mouth and chewed rather than comment.

“I see you’re still cross with me.”

He pushed off the wall, moving about the room, inspecting the pictures, and picking up a small china shepherdess to study it. She watched him set it down and move to a large bookcase, selecting a title and running an elegant finger along the spine. For some reason, she shivered.