Page 43 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

Throsby watched Daisy for as long as he dared and then realized he’d better mingle with the other guests before someone noticed his interest in her. He circulated, but he was counting the minutes until she left so he could leave, too. But it was far too early to go without offending the hostess.

Across the room, he caught Daisy watching him. The fingers of her right hand wriggled in an almost wave and a blush colored her cheeks. After a moment, she whispered to her friend and headed for the front hall. She glanced his way once, though, before exiting the ballroom.

Max followed discreetly, as he usually would have as her guardian, attempting to cut her off from meeting some swain under the stairs.

Daisy was waiting for him there, but then giggled and disappeared into a nearby room. Max checked for other guests lurking about before he followed her inside.

It was too dark to see anything but a pair of small hands reaching to capture his face before the door closed, and then his head was pulled downward. “I couldn’t wait until later to kiss you. Don’t muss my gown too badly,” Daisy warned.

He smoothed his fingers over her cheeks, breathing hard. “I can make no promises about that, since you’re wearing a gown I expressly forbid you to wear in public.”

“I wore it just for you,” she promised. “Knowing you would scowl so fiercely, driven mad by wanting me.”

“I suspected that motive already,” he whispered back, rather flattered though. “And yes, all I want to do is tear it from your body with my teeth.”

“Later,” Daisy said, and then kissed him hard on the lips.

Max lifted her from her feet, pressed her against the nearest wall, and made love to her mouth with unhurried delight.

But after a moment or two, he heard the distinct sound of floorboards creaking behind his back.

Max froze and shielded Daisy from being seen. “Get out,” he ordered.

“I always said he liked you,” a woman said.

Throsby struggled to place the voice. Female. Young. Acquainted with them both and oddly familiar.

Daisy shifted out from behind him and faced the speaker. “So you did, Miss Dawes. I was still surprised, though.”

Max cursed softly but Daisy’s fingers settled over his lips, silencing him.

“And it’s clear to see you like him, too, now,” Miss Dawes accused.

“Yes, it seems I do. Very much so,” Daisy promised. Her hand moved to cup his jaw, and Max couldn’t help but kiss her palm.

“I will leave you to it,” Miss Dawes said.

“I appreciate that.”

The door opened and closed, exposing them in a flash of light, and the young woman was gone.

Daisy leaned against him. “I wonder what Justine was doing hiding in a dark room?”

“Dear God, that’s the least of our problems,” he whispered in horror, drawing back from Daisy. Miss Dawes had been in the room when they’d come in and started making love, and she had not yet made up with Daisy. “Will she talk about us? Tell her sister. You never know what Lady Brookes will do and say about us.”

“I don’t know what Justine will do or say. She might wish to see my reputation in tatters over this.” Daisy’s hand settled on his cheek again. “Not to worry, darling. We can deal with that later.”

“Daisy, you cannot ignore⁠—”

She shut him up with a long, heated kiss. Just when he thought they’d make love here, Daisy let him up for air and hugged him. “Stop worrying and rejoin me in the ballroom soon,” she whispered.

Then she disappeared from the room, leaving him with a thousand questions and even more worries. The last thing he wanted was trouble right now for either of them. Not when her reputation and good standing in society were at stake.

Max stood about, uncertain of what to do or how long to wait to return to the ballroom. He never imagined he might be the one who ruined Daisy.

And then he recalled something odd. Daisy had called him darling.

It took him ten minutes to wipe the smile off his face, but by then, Daisy was dancing with an unworthy swain.