Page 7 of Once Tempted

Three

During Frederick’s absence from the party last night, Humphrey Chase had gained the upper hand with the widow Franks. When Frederick returned downstairs, he’d found them talking by the pianoforte and looking very cozy indeed. He’d discreetly backed from the room and retired for the night, determined not to get in a friend’s way.

But apparently nothing more than that small moment of flirtation appeared to have occurred between the pair after he’d gone to bed.

His valet, who had heard about the wager from Humphrey Chase’s man, had reported that the widow retired early as well, and fool that Chase was, he had not followed Mrs. Franks to her door. Chase had finished off the bowl of spiked punch with their friends and had to be carried to bed by the servants.

He was nowhere to be found so far this morning, too. Probably nursing a sore head.

That left the way clear for Mrs. Franks to call out for his attention the minute Frederick strode into the dining room to take a late breakfast.

“Good morning, sir,” she gushed, waving from her seat.

He bowed. “Mrs. Franks. Ladies and gentlemen. Good morning to you all.”

Although she patted the seat by her side, Frederick claimed the seat he was shown to by the footman serving those still at breakfast. He had always found that flirtations were always better carried out when he wasn’t filling his mouth with ham and eggs.

And after last night’s rather intimate adventure with Minerva Chase, he’d awoken utterly famished.

He spoke to several of his friends about their plans for the day, but made no firm decision to join them or the widow, despite her subtle hints and come-hither glances. He was determined to make Humphrey Chase jealous, so he would make it seem as if he was trying to win the widow and the wager only when the other man was around.

But first, he had to eat then find their host, to learn what had gone wrong last night.

As he waited for a servant to attend him, he felt the full weight of Mrs. Franks’ interest from her spot across the table. She sat forward, shifting her shoulders in a way that drew the eye whenever she caught his attention and revealed just a hint of the delights hidden beneath her bodice.

A smirk lifted her lip as she noticed the direction of his gaze, and she then picked up her cup and pursed her lips to blow across the surface to cool the liquid within.

That was a blatant invitation if he’d ever seen one.

And yet the widow was not for him to pursue anymore. He was now determined to advance Humphrey’s cause after last night’s disappointment. If Humphrey was in love and had honorable intentions toward Mrs. Franks, Frederick wanted to support him and keep their friendship intact.

A sudden draft made him shiver, and he turned as Minerva Chase sat down next to him, muttering a good morning.

No one else acknowledged her arrival, and he soon realized she was returning to the breakfast room rather than being newly arrived, like him. She opened the paper she had brought in with her and picked up her teacup. When she blew across the top of her tea, he acutely recalled that her lips had been so soft against his last night, and more than a little enthusiastic. Yet unlike the widow across the table, Minerva remained unaware that such actions made her lips look entirely too kissable.

Again.

It was a surprise to discover he was more affected by Minerva’s unthinking pouts than by the widow’s practiced flirtations.

Minerva Chase didn’t pay him any more attention, but he noticed everything about her today. She wore a simple navy round gown, buttoned up to her throat, and a thick shawl wrapped tight about her shoulders. With the morning sun streaming over her body, she seemed almost to glow from within.

She’d been on his mind since last night, and certainly not in a sisterly way. He’d enjoyed kissing her, and talking with her just as much.

Since he disliked being overlooked, and was incapable of ignoring pretty women, sisters of friends or not, he leaned close and tapped her elbow. “What’s the news of the world today?”

“The same strife as ever,” she promised, folding the paper closed. “Do you want to read it first?”

“No, I’ll happily let you read it all and then tell me what I’m supposed to know. Later.”

She looked at him with surprise, and then her face fell. “Oh, drat. She’s gone.”

He glanced around and saw the room had emptied of all the other occupants, including the eager widow, while he’d been talking with Minerva. “Alone again.”

“Yes. So I’d better call for a chaperone to save you from my irresistible feminine wiles,” she teased.

He laughed and put his hand out, stopping her from calling anyone. He didn’t mind that they were alone. The doors to the room were wide open, so there would be no scandal. Besides, Minnie had become interesting to him. “Read your paper.”

“I really should be going. There’s so much to do, and a reading is taking place in the library soon. Mr. Hudson has promised a rousing poetry recital of his latest work for everyone’s enjoyment.”