Page 22 of Duke of Wickedness

“Good evening, Your Grace,” she said. “Are you feeling all right this evening?”

And what an opening line! He was practically giddy with eagerness to see what she might say next.

“Indeed, I am,” he said, beaming at her. “Why do you ask?”

“You’ve been staring,” she said, sweet as sugar. “I thought perhaps you had something in your eye. Or maybe you have mastered the ability to sleep while standing, with your eyes open. If you haven’t been sleeping well, I can recommend a good physician.”

“Oh, I sleep marvelously,” he said. “In fact, I’ve had the loveliest dreams recently. All about a beautiful woman with the most curious mind. You see, we’re in a garden…” He trailed off. “Well, I shan’t bore you with the details.”

She gave him a disapproving frown, but again, her eyes told the truth; they sparked. He still didn’t know what she planned to do about his offer, but she did like the idea that he had been thinking about her.

“Your Grace, is that flirtation?” she demanded.

“Do you want it to be?”

Her expression cracked, a flicker of a smile breaking through.

“No,” she lied. “In fact, I must insist that you stop. For the sake of both our reputations.”

“Oh, come along now, my lady,” he said chidingly. “My reputation would be diminished if Ididn’tflirt with you.”

Her lips pressed together. David had been to bacchanals less satisfying than this one moment spent watching Lady Ariadne Lightholder try not to smile.

“You’re incorrigible,” she accused.

“That’s more like it,” he praised. “Be sure to spread the word. It’s the least you can do after doubting me so. Only through your hard work might my reputation be restored.”

That got an eye roll. It was even better than the half-smile.

Suddenly, David found that he could wait no longer. He needed to know.

“Have you thought about my offer?” He pitched his voice lower. Teasing aside, he did not intend to compromise Ariadne’s reputation. This party was relatively safe, populated as it was by people who knew the Lightholder family, but still. He wanted to reward her curiosity, not turn it into a liability.

Her eyes darted to the side.

“Not at all,” she said.

“Goodness, you are the most terrible liar,” he said, utterly charmed. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

“No.”

“Another lie! You do see the flaw in this system, don’t you?”

“Goodness, you are the most annoying man,” she mimicked. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

“Soverymany people,” he said. “Now, about that offer…”

She raised her chin petulantly. “I will have you know,” she said in a highly missish tone, “that I have begun educating myself on such matters. So I shan’t be needing assistance after all.”

If she had intended the comment to put him off, she had chosen averypoor strategy.

“Oh?” he asked.

Her eyes went wide as she realized what she’d confessed.

“Not—not withanother man,” she said hastily. “I just meant—it’s a—apersonaleducation.”

“You must know this is not making melessintrigued,” he told her.