Page 59 of A Duke for Diana

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Until I marry and have a son.”

She eyed him askance. “First of all, I seem to recall you saying you don’t wish to marry.”

“That’s not true. I do. One day. Many years into the future.”

“Even if—” At his scowl, she quickly amended her statement. “Whenyou marry, there’s no guarantee you’ll have a son.”

“True.” But he would damned well enjoy trying to sire one. With her, the only woman he’d ever thought he’d like to marry. Then, realizing he was heading into dangerous territory, he changed the subject. “Do you mean to dance this evening?”

She stared up at him with a raised brow. “If I’m asked.”

“Don’t look at me,” he warned. “That one lesson you gave me wasn’t nearly enough for me to be able to dance in public.”

She chuckled. “Then clearly we shall have to get you more lessons before Rosy’s ball next week. You simplymustdance at your sister’s ball, even if not with her.”

“If you insist.” He glanced up to see that the clock said nine. After looking around to make sure no one stood nearby, he lowered his voice. “You do mean to meet me in an hour, I hope.”

“I said I would, didn’t I?”

“Not exactly. Your note implied that you would, but ‘I can’ wasn’t as clear an answer as I was looking for.”

She sniffed. “If you will recall what you wrote, ‘I can’ is a direct answer to your last line about whether I can meet you.”

“Ah. I take it you will do anything to keep your reputation safe.”

“Not ‘anything,’ obviously, because I’ve agreed to meet privately with you. But you went to such great lengths to hideyouridentity in the note that I thought it only fair I do the same.” She drew herself up. “I don’t wish to ruin you, sir.”

He laughed. “Why sign the note ML?”

“‘My lady.’”

“Ohhh. I’m afraid I missed that.”

She flashed him a rueful smile. “It took me a while to figure out what ‘D’ stood for. When it hit me, I felt like a dunce. Perhaps I should have signed my note ‘D’ as well, for dunce.”

“Or ‘Diana.’ If anyone ever saw the note, they would assume you were writing to yourself.”

Her smile warmed him.

“Were you able to understand the floor plan?” he asked.

“I didn’t have time to study it.” She shook her head. “Leave it to you to include a floor plan.”

“What do you expect from an engineer? I request floor plans routinely. Besides which, I wasn’t familiar with the building, so I needed one.”

“Well, I’ll try to look it over before ten.”

“Better yet, do you know where the ladies’ retiring room is?”

“If you’re looking for privacy,” she whispered, “that is not the place to get it.”

He rolled his eyes. “I realize that. But there’s a stairwell right past the ladies’ retiring room door. If you pass up the retiring room around ten o’clock and go to the stairwell, I’ll meet you inside and take you to where we’re going. Just make sure not to be seen by anyone.”

“I shall do my best.”

At that moment, Lord Foxstead approached. She moved aside, apparently assuming that the earl wanted to talk to Geoffrey. But the rascal stopped in front ofherand bowed. “Lady Diana, will you give me the pleasure of dancing with you?”

She shot Geoffrey a veiled look. “I . . . I would be honored, sir. Thank you.”